Make a Code 128 barcode

Encode asset tags, ticket IDs, or serial strings into a scannable barcode — and know when EAN is the wrong tool.

Tools used in this guide

Code 128 barcode
EAN-13 barcode generator

The job

You need a scannable label for “SKU-0042” or a ticket code — letters mixed with digits, not just a 13-digit number. That is the job Code 128 was built for.

Code 128 versus EAN-13

EAN-13 encodes exactly 12–13 digits and is what retail checkout scanners expect on products. Code 128 encodes letters, digits, and punctuation — the right choice for inventory tags, tickets, and internal IDs.

This tool produces CODE128-B (printable ASCII) with the standard mod-103 checksum, so any reader that supports Code 128 will decode it.

Print and test

Download the PNG and test it with the scanner you actually plan to use. Very long strings shrink the bars — keep codes short, and keep the white quiet zone around the bars intact when you place the image.