Barcode Types Explained — Which Format Should You Use?
Code 128 — The Universal Choice
Code 128 is the most versatile barcode format. It encodes all 128 ASCII characters — letters, numbers, and symbols. Used in shipping labels, logistics, and internal inventory. If you're unsure which format to use, Code 128 is almost always the right choice.
EAN-13 and UPC-A — Retail Products
Selling products in stores? EAN-13 is the international standard (13 digits) used in Europe, Asia, and most of the world. UPC-A is the US/Canadian standard (12 digits). For smaller products, EAN-8 uses just 8 digits.
Code 39 and ITF-14
Code 39 encodes uppercase letters and digits — widely used in automotive, defense, and healthcare industries. ITF-14 is used for outer shipping containers and cartons (14 digits). Both are highly reliable even on rough surfaces.
Specialized Formats
MSI Plessey is used primarily for inventory control and marking store shelves. Pharmacode is a specialized format used exclusively in pharmaceutical packaging to prevent medication errors during automated packaging.