How to Generate Barcodes for Inventory, Retail & Shipping

Barcodes: A Practical Guide

Barcodes are the backbone of inventory management, retail, and logistics. Understanding which format to use and how to generate them saves time and prevents errors.

Common Barcode Formats

Format	Use Case	Characters
EAN-13	International retail products	13 digits
UPC-A	North American retail	12 digits
Code 128	Shipping, logistics	Alphanumeric
Code 39	Industrial, military	Alphanumeric
ITF-14	Outer packaging	14 digits
EAN-8	Small products	8 digits

### Creating Barcodes with Fluranto

The Barcode Generator supports multiple formats:

Select your barcode type

Enter the data to encode

Customize size and display options

Download as PNG for print or digital use

Best Practices for Printing

• Minimum size: Never print barcodes smaller than the format's minimum size
• Quiet zones: Leave white space on both sides of the barcode
• Contrast: Always use dark bars on a light background
• Test scanning: Always scan a printed barcode before mass production
• Resolution: Print at 300 DPI minimum for reliable scanning

When to Use QR Codes vs Barcodes

Use barcodes when:

• Working with existing retail/inventory systems
• You need fast, single-line scanning
• Data is numeric or short alphanumeric

Use QR codes when:

• Encoding URLs or long text
• Users will scan with smartphones
• You need error correction for rough surfaces

Need QR codes instead? Check out our QR Code Generator.