How do I create a Data Matrix or other 2D barcode?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 2 min read · Starter, Pro and Business (paid plans only)
Open Create new → Create a QR Code, click More under the type grid and pick the 2D Barcode tile. Choose the Barcode Format, pick a Use Case, fill in the fields it shows and click Download ✓. A Data Matrix is small enough to mark a component that a normal barcode will not fit. These codes are Static only, and static codes need a paid plan.
Video transcript
Here is how to create a 2D Barcode QR code. It is a tiny Data Matrix code that carries the part number, serial and lot.
Use it for part marking on a component, on small labels and vials where a normal barcode will not fit, and with a different format for boarding passes, transport tickets or ID documents. It is static, so the data is printed into the code itself.
In the dashboard, click Create new, then Create a QR Code. Click More, pick 2D Barcode and choose Static. Give the code a name, set the use case to Industrial Part Marking, then type the part number, serial and lot. Choose a theme, then Download. The code is saved and ready to print.
Three fields matter. First, the use case. Pick Industrial Part Marking for a component. Second, the part number and the serial number. Type them exactly as they appear on your records. Third, the lot. It is optional and ties the part to its batch.
Try it on the seven-day free trial. No credit card, five dynamic QR codes. Link in the description.
When to use a 2D barcode
- Part marking. Etched or printed on a component where a linear barcode will not fit.
- Small labels and vials. The code stays readable at a size an ordinary barcode cannot manage.
- Tickets and documents. Switch the format for boarding passes, transport tickets or ID documents.
The data is printed into the code itself, so nothing can be changed afterwards and there are no scan analytics — the scanner that reads it never reaches our servers.
Static codes need a paid plan. The 7-day free trial includes 5 dynamic codes and 0 static, so the wizard shows "Static QR codes need a paid plan" if you try. See plans and limits.
Steps in the dashboard
- Start the wizard. Click Create new, then Create a QR Code.
- Pick the type. On the Type step click More and choose 2D Barcode. The toggle locks to Static.
- Name it. On the Content step type a QR Code Name such as "Pump housing part mark".
- Barcode Format. Four symbologies: Data Matrix, GS1 Data Matrix (Healthcare/Pharma), PDF417 (ID cards, boarding passes) and Aztec Code (Transport tickets).
- Use Case. The second selector changes the fields below it. Data Matrix offers Plain Text, Industrial Part Marking and URL; GS1 Data Matrix offers Pharmaceutical, Food / Grocery, Healthcare / Medical Device and Logistics / Shipping; PDF417 offers Plain Text, Boarding Pass, Shipping Label and ID Document; Aztec offers Plain Text, Transport / Train Ticket, Boarding Pass and Event Ticket.
- Fill in the fields. For industrial part marking that is Part Number and Serial Number (both required), plus optional Manufacturer / CAGE Code, Lot / Batch and Manufacture Date. The form composes the encoded value from what you enter.
- Download. Click Next →, choose a theme on the QR Design step, then Download ✓ and pick a format in Save as....
You can also start from the Data Matrix generator page.
After you download
The code is saved to My QR Codes, so you can download it again at a different size or in another format. The encoded data is fixed: a different part number means a new code.
The detail page shows a Static QR Code card — No Scan Analytics, Content is Fixed, Want Analytics? — in place of the usual charts. Name, tags and folder can still be changed.
Before you mark a part
Download vector, not a screenshot
Marking equipment needs clean geometry. Use SVG, which scales without quality loss and ignores the size picker entirely.
Keep the data short
The more you encode, the denser the grid and the larger the code has to be to stay readable. Encode the identifiers your system looks up, not a full description.
Test with the scanner that will read it
Handheld industrial scanners, phone cameras and ticket gates all behave differently. Check the printed or etched sample on the real device before committing to a run.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 2D barcode be dynamic?
No. The Dynamic tab is disabled for this type — the data is encoded in the code itself, so it cannot point at an editable link.
Which format should I pick?
Data Matrix for parts and small labels, GS1 Data Matrix for pharma and healthcare packaging, PDF417 for ID documents and boarding passes, Aztec for transport tickets.
Do I get scan analytics?
No. Static codes produce none. If you need scan counts, create a dynamic QR code alongside the part mark.
Can a phone camera read a Data Matrix?
Most modern phone cameras do, but not all, and not at the small sizes used for part marking. Test with the device that will actually read it.
Which plan do I need?
Any paid plan — Starter, Pro or Business — all include unlimited static codes. The free trial includes 0 static codes.
Related articles
How do I create a barcode (EAN-13, UPC, Code 128)?
Pick Barcode in the type grid, choose the format, type the number under your existing barcode and download. Barcodes are static and need a paid plan.
How do I create a GS1 Digital Link QR code?
Pick GS1 in the type grid, enter the product name and the GTIN under your barcode, add a batch if you need one, then design and download.
Static vs dynamic QR codes in QRCodeStack: which should I choose?
Dynamic encodes a redirect, so it can be edited and tracked. Static embeds the content in the pattern: no edits, no analytics, and it needs a paid plan.
What are the plan limits, and what counts against them?
Starter allows 10 dynamic codes, Pro 50, Business 600, the free trial 5. Only active codes count — archiving one frees a slot immediately.
Can I download my QR code as SVG, PDF or another vector format?
Yes. Open the code, click Download, and pick SVG in the Save as... dialog. JPEG, PNG and PDF are there too. Paid plans and the free trial get all four.
Still stuck?
Email support@qrcodestack.com with the email on your account and, if it is about one code, its name or short link. A person replies within one business day, usually sooner.