The bars on a snack packet, the stripe on a parcel and the dotted square on a ticket are all barcodes, each built for a different job. QRnaka's barcode page offers more than 60 standards, yet most people need only a handful.
1D and 2D
1D barcodes are rows of bars holding a short code, usually a key a system looks up, such as the product number a shop till uses to find the price. 2D barcodes use squares or dots in both directions (QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417) and hold far more in a small space.
A QR code is a 2D barcode too; for codes people scan with a phone, use the QR generator.
Retail barcodes
- EAN-13: 13 digits, the barcode on most products in Thai shops.
- EAN-8: a short version for small packs.
- UPC-A and UPC-E: mostly used in North America.
- ISBN and ISSN: books and magazines.
- EAN-14 / GTIN-14: cases holding several units.
Check digits
The last digit of EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A and ITF-14 is a check digit calculated from the others, so a scanner can catch a misread. The barcode page handles it: type 12 digits for EAN-13 and it adds the 13th; type all 13 and it checks the last one, giving the right digit if yours is wrong. The others work the same way.
Do you need a registered number?
You can draw a barcode for any number, but the number matters. To sell through supermarkets or other retailers you will usually need a registered one. The barcode page notes that EAN-13 numbers starting with 885 belong to products registered with GS1 Thailand, so never make one up.
Requirements vary, so ask GS1 Thailand or the retailer before printing labels. For codes used only in your own shop, ask your point-of-sale provider what it accepts.
General-purpose barcodes
- Code 128: letters, digits and symbols, any length, compact. The usual choice for internal labels, parcels, asset tags and documents.
- Code 39: older and wider, capitals, digits and a few symbols.
- ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5): digits only, an even number of them.
The page's rule of thumb: retail products use EAN-13, everything else Code 128.
EAN-13 vs Code 128
| EAN-13 | Code 128 | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds | Exactly 13 digits | Letters, digits, symbols |
| Length | Fixed | Variable |
| Check | 13th digit, printed | Hidden in the bars |
| Best for | Retail checkout | Labels, internal codes |
| The number | Ask GS1 Thailand or the retailer | Your own, unless a partner sets a format |
Logistics (GS1)
- ITF-14 for cartons: type 13 digits and the page adds the 14th.
- GS1-128 packs several facts into one barcode, each led by a code in brackets: (01) a 14-digit GTIN, (17) an expiry date as YYMMDD, (10) a lot number.
- SSCC-18 identifies a shipping unit such as a pallet.
- GS1 DataBar and GS1 versions of Data Matrix and QR Code suit small items or more data.
Here your trading partner usually sets the format, so follow their specification.
Other 2D codes and specialist groups
Data Matrix suits tiny parts; PDF417 holds a lot and appears on some boarding passes; Aztec Code appears on some e-tickets; Micro QR and rMQR fit narrow spaces. Phones read QR codes with the camera, but other 2D codes may need a scanner that supports them. The page also has pharma codes (Pharmacode, HIBC) and foreign postal codes (USPS, Royal Mail): use them only when someone asks for them.
Thai bill payment barcodes
The Thailand group has the bill payment barcode: Code 128 in the Bank of Thailand format, with Biller ID, Ref1, Ref2 and amount, for counter scanners at banks and convenience stores. See Bill payment QR codes for business.
Making a barcode
- Open the barcode page, press "Change standard" and search, for example EAN or GS1.
- Type the data; the hint under the field shows what the standard accepts.
- Adjust bar height, quiet zone, rotation, text size and colours, keeping dark bars on a light background.
- Download PNG, SVG, JPG or PDF, or copy the image.
Signed out, barcodes are made on your device and sent nowhere; signed in, those you download or copy are kept in your history. Hundreds at once? See Bulk QR codes from Excel or CSV.
Test before printing
Print a sample and scan it with the scanner you will really use. Keep white space at both ends, and avoid red bars, since many laser scanners use red light. The QR reader also reads barcodes from the camera or a picture.
FAQ
How many barcode types are there?
Dozens; our page has more than 60. Most jobs need only EAN-13, Code 128 or a GS1 code.
Can I make an EAN-13 here and sell in supermarkets?
You can make the image, but the number must be valid for your product. Ask GS1 Thailand or the retailer first.
Can a barcode hold Thai text?
Code 128 takes English letters, digits and symbols only. For Thai text, use a QR code.
Picked your standard? Open the barcode page and test a printed sample on the real scanner before printing in bulk.
