Barcode Generator

The LK Forge Barcode Generator draws seven 1D symbologies — Code 128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 39, ITF-14 and Codabar — each rendered live in the page. Turn text or numbers into a scannable barcode as you type. Pick the symbology, size and colour, then download a crisp PNG or scalable SVG — all in your browser.

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Free, no sign-up Encoded in your browser Works offline

How to Make a Barcode

Three steps, all in your browser.

1

Enter your value

Type or paste the text or number you want to encode. The barcode is drawn live as you type — there is no convert button to wait on.

2

Pick the type and style

Choose a symbology — Code 128 for anything, EAN or UPC for retail — then set the size, colour and whether the value prints under the bars. Need a 2D code instead? Use the QR Code Generator, and read a finished code back with the QR code scanner to confirm it decodes.

3

Download

Save the barcode as a PNG for labels and documents or an SVG for crisp print at any size. Nothing is uploaded — the encoding happens entirely on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a barcode generator?
A barcode generator turns text or numbers into a 1D barcode — the familiar pattern of parallel black bars and white spaces that a laser or camera scanner reads. You type or paste the value you want to encode, choose a symbology such as Code 128, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 39, ITF-14 or Codabar, and the tool draws the matching barcode live in your browser. Once it appears you can download it as a PNG image for documents and labels or as an SVG that stays razor-sharp at any size, ready for print. This generator runs entirely on your device, so the value you encode is never uploaded to a server, and it keeps working even offline once the page has loaded.
Which barcode type should I choose?
Code 128 is the best default barcode type: it encodes any letters, digits and symbols in a compact code and suits shipping labels, asset tags and internal SKUs. Use EAN-13 or UPC-A for retail products sold at a checkout — EAN-13 is the 13-digit international standard and UPC-A the 12-digit North American one, both purchased from GS1. Choose Code 39 for older industrial and ID systems that accept letters and a limited symbol set, ITF-14 for outer shipping cartons of retail goods, and Codabar for libraries, blood banks and logistics that still rely on it. If you are unsure and just need a scannable code from any text, keep Code 128.
Why does my value show as invalid?
Each retail symbology only accepts a fixed kind of input, so the tool refuses a value that could never scan correctly. EAN-13 needs exactly 12 or 13 digits, EAN-8 needs 7 or 8, UPC-A needs 11 or 12, and ITF-14 needs 13 or 14 — in each case the final check digit is calculated for you if you leave it off. Code 39 accepts capital letters, digits and a few symbols (- . $ / + % and space) but not lowercase, while Codabar expects digits with optional A–D start and stop letters. Code 128 is the most forgiving and takes almost anything. If a value is rejected, switch to Code 128 or adjust the input to match the format's rule shown in the message.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
Choose PNG when you need a ready-to-use image — for a label template, a slide, a spreadsheet or anywhere that expects a normal picture. PNG is a fixed-resolution raster, so pick the large size if it will be printed big. Choose SVG when the barcode will be scaled or printed professionally: SVG is vector, defined by shapes rather than pixels, so it stays perfectly crisp at any size from a small label to a full carton face, with a tiny file size. Both downloads use the exact colours, size and symbology shown in the preview, so what you see is what you get. The PNG is saved as barcode.png and the SVG as barcode.svg.
Can I change the barcode colours and size?
Yes — the LK Forge Barcode Generator lets you set both colours and the size. Use the bar-colour picker for the dark bars and the background picker for the space behind them, and pick small, medium or large to set the bar width and height. The one rule that matters is contrast: scanners need dark bars on a light background, so keep the bars black or a very dark colour and the background white or near-white. Avoid light bars on a dark background and low-contrast pairs, which many scanners cannot read. You can also toggle whether the human-readable value is printed under the bars — leave it on for retail and shipping codes so a person can read the number if a scan fails.
Is the barcode generator really free and private?
Yes on both counts — the LK Forge Barcode Generator is free and private. There is no account, no payment, no watermark and no limit on how many barcodes you create. Privacy is built in because the encoding happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript — the value you type is turned into a barcode on your own device and is never sent to, logged by, or stored on any server. That means you can safely encode internal SKUs, asset tags or order numbers without them leaving your machine. Because nothing depends on a network call, the generator also keeps working if you go offline after the page has loaded, and closing the tab clears everything you entered.

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