Create Code 128 barcodes online: high-density linear barcodes for labels, logistics and asset tags. Free, instant PNG download, nothing uploaded. Type → instant barcode · nothing is uploaded
Code 128 is the default choice when no industry standard forces another symbology: it encodes all 128 ASCII characters at high density, so part numbers, serial numbers, order IDs and license plates all fit in short labels. It achieves that density with three internal subsets — A (uppercase and control characters), B (full ASCII) and C (pairs of digits packed two-per-codeword) — and the encoder switches between them automatically. A purely numeric string encodes at roughly double density, which is why serial numbers in Code 128 produce such compact labels.
You will find Code 128 on warehouse bin labels, asset tags, library cards, blood-bank labels and most internal shipping paperwork. Its shipping-industry cousin, GS1-128, adds a FNC1 marker and application identifiers to carry batch numbers and dates in a standard layout; if a trading partner asks for GS1-128 or a UCC/EAN-128 label specifically, use their field spec — the underlying bars are the same symbology.
Code 128 has no length limit in the symbology itself, but scanners have width limits: keep label data under ~20 characters where possible. Every symbol ends with a modulo-103 check character, which the encoder adds automatically — you never type it. For the sharpest print, keep bars pure black on white and avoid scaling the PNG unevenly in both directions.
All 128 ASCII characters: upper- and lowercase letters, digits, punctuation and control codes. It cannot encode accented or non-Latin characters directly — stick to ASCII for reliable scanning.
Code 128 is denser and encodes the full ASCII set including lowercase; Code 39 is an older, wider format limited to uppercase, digits and a few symbols. Unless a legacy system demands Code 39, Code 128 produces shorter, more reliable labels.
No. Unlike retail EAN/UPC numbers, Code 128 content is entirely yours — encode any identifier you like. No GS1 membership, no registry, no fee.
Yes — subset B handles mixed case, and the encoder picks the subset automatically. Scanners return exactly the characters you typed, case included.
No. Everything on this page runs inside your browser using JavaScript and WebAssembly. Your file never leaves your device — you can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tool still works.