Code 128 Barcode Generator
This Code 128 barcode generator turns any text or number into a clean, scannable CODE128 barcode right in your browser — the go-to symbology for shipping labels, logistics, asset tags, and internal SKUs, with no sign-up and nothing uploaded.
Create common barcodes.
How to use the code 128
- Leave the type set to CODE128 (the preset here)
- Type or paste the text or number you want to encode
- Set the size and choose whether to show the human-readable value
- Download a scannable PNG or vector SVG — or switch to Bulk mode for a whole list
About the code 128
The Code 128 barcode generator is preset to the CODE128 symbology, the workhorse of warehouses and back offices. Unlike retail codes that only accept digits, Code 128 encodes the full ASCII set — uppercase and lowercase letters, digits 0-9, and symbols like dashes, slashes, and dots. That makes it the right choice when your value is a mixed string: an order number like SO-48213, an asset tag such as IT/LAPTOP/0091, a location bin like A12-R4-S3, or an internal SKU that isn't a registered retail product. Type the value, watch the live preview redraw, set the size to Small, Medium, or Large, and keep or hide the human-readable text printed under the bars.\n\nCode 128 is also compact. It has a dense numeric mode (Code Set C) that packs pairs of digits into a single bar pattern, so a long number stays narrow enough to fit a shipping label or a spine sticker without wrapping. This tool uses jsBarcode's automatic mode, which switches between character sets for you to keep the barcode as short as it can be — you don't need to know or pick a subset. It draws true black bars on a white background at a scannable resolution, so the result holds up whether it comes off a thermal label printer or a plain office laser.\n\nKnowing when NOT to use Code 128 matters just as much. If your barcode is going on a product headed for a store shelf and needs to scan at a retail point of sale, you want a fixed retail symbology instead — EAN-13 or UPC-A — because those are what registers and GS1 databases expect. Reach for the sibling EAN-13 barcode generator for those. Code 128 is for everything internal and operational: cartons, totes, work orders, badges, shelf edges, and the countless things that only your own systems need to read. For 14-digit shipping-carton codes specifically, the main Barcode Generator also offers ITF-14.\n\nThis page is part of everyboringtool.com's Barcode Generator. It shares the same engine and the same conveniences: per-type validation that rejects a bad value with a message before you print it, single-code download as PNG or vector SVG, and a Bulk mode that turns a pasted list into a whole batch. In bulk you can generate hundreds of Code 128 labels at once, download them as a ZIP of PNGs, or open a printable label sheet you can send straight to a printer or save as PDF — ideal for tagging a shelf of inventory in one pass. If you need crisp print artwork that scales, the SVG barcode generator sibling exports the same Code 128 as a vector. Everything runs locally on your device, so SKUs, order numbers, and asset IDs never leave your browser. Note the tool encodes the value you already have — it doesn't assign or register GS1 company prefixes, and it doesn't make QR codes.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a Code 128 barcode generator?
- It's a tool that encodes any text or number into a CODE128 barcode — the dense, alphanumeric symbology used for shipping labels, logistics, asset tags, and internal SKUs. This one runs entirely in your browser and preset the type to CODE128 for you.
- What can a Code 128 barcode contain?
- The full ASCII set: uppercase and lowercase letters, digits, and common symbols like dashes, slashes, and dots. That's why it suits order numbers, asset tags, and location codes rather than digits-only retail products.
- When should I use Code 128 instead of EAN-13 or UPC-A?
- Use Code 128 for anything internal or operational — cartons, bins, work orders, badges, and SKUs your own systems read. Use EAN-13 or UPC-A only for products that scan at a retail checkout; see our sibling EAN-13 barcode generator for those.
- Do I need to pick a Code 128 subset (A, B, or C)?
- No. The generator uses automatic mode, which switches between character sets — including the compact numeric Code Set C — to keep the barcode as short as possible. You just type the value.
- Can I generate many Code 128 barcodes at once?
- Yes. Switch to Bulk mode, paste your values one per line (optionally 'value,caption'), and generate the whole batch. Download a ZIP of PNGs or open a printable label sheet to print or save as PDF, up to 250 at a time.
- Can I download a Code 128 barcode as a vector?
- Yes. In single mode you can download either a PNG or a vector SVG. SVG stays crisp at any print size, which is useful for packaging and signage — the SVG barcode generator sibling page is built around that use case.
- Why does my value say it's invalid?
- Code 128 is forgiving and accepts almost any text, so an error usually means an unsupported character slipped in. Remove it, or check you're not on a stricter type like EAN-13. The tool validates before you print so you catch it early.
- Does this register a barcode number or make QR codes?
- No. It encodes the value you already have into a Code 128 image — it doesn't assign or register GS1 company prefixes (buy those from GS1), and it doesn't create QR codes, which are a separate 2D format with its own tool.