Barcode generator for Shopify
Generate the barcode, paste the value into Shopify's barcode field, print the label. Code 128 for your own SKUs, UPC or EAN if you're selling into retail.
EAN-13 — enter 12 digits and the check digit is calculated for you, or paste all 13.
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Free, unlimited, no account required. Nothing you type is sent to our servers — the barcode is drawn in your browser.
Where barcodes live in Shopify
Shopify stores a barcode value on each product variant, and it drives scanning in Shopify POS, stocktakes and most fulfilment apps. It is not generated for you — you supply the value, and this page draws the symbol for it.
- In your Shopify admin, open Products and pick a product.
- Scroll to the variant's Inventory section and find the Barcode (ISBN, UPC, GTIN, etc.) field.
- Paste your value there. For internal use, your existing SKU works. For retail, this must be a GS1-licensed GTIN.
- Generate the matching barcode above, download the SVG, and place it on your label artwork.
If you have hundreds of variants, edit the barcode column in a CSV export and re-import rather than doing it by hand — Shopify's product CSV includes a Variant Barcode column.
Which format for a Shopify store
| Situation | Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your own SKUs, scanned in your own POS | Code 128 | No licence needed, encodes letters and digits, compact. The default for most stores. |
| Selling into retail stores | EAN-13 or UPC-A | Retail checkout systems expect a GS1 GTIN. You must licence the number from GS1. |
| Very small items | EAN-8 | A shortened retail code for packaging too small for EAN-13. |
| Outer cartons and cases | ITF-14 | Survives printing on corrugated cardboard far better. |
The common mistake is buying a cheap "resold" barcode number from a marketplace. Retailers and Amazon both validate GTINs against the GS1 registry, and resold numbers fail that check.
Printing labels that scan at the till
- Download SVG, not PNG. Barcode scanners measure bar widths precisely, and a scaled-up raster loses that precision.
- Keep at least 10mm of bar height so the scanner finds the code at an angle.
- Preserve the quiet zone — the clear margin either side. Label templates crop it constantly.
- Print dark bars on a light background. Never invert.
- Test with the actual scanner you use in store, not just your phone.
Full detail in the print guide.
Barcodes handle stock. QR codes handle customers.
A barcode identifies the variant at the till. It does nothing for the person holding your product.
A dynamic QR code on the same packaging can take a customer to care instructions, a reorder page, a review request or a warranty registration — and because it is dynamic, you can change where it goes long after the packaging is printed, and see how many people scanned it.
Plenty of Shopify stores run both: the barcode for operations, a QR code for the customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shopify generate barcodes automatically?
No. Shopify stores a barcode value against each variant but does not create the number or draw the symbol. You supply the value and generate the barcode image yourself, which is what this page is for.
Can I use my SKU as the barcode?
For internal use, yes — pick Code 128, which encodes letters and digits, and scan it in Shopify POS. For selling through retailers or most marketplaces you need a GS1-licensed GTIN instead, because the number has to be globally unique.
Do I need to buy barcodes for a Shopify store?
Only if you sell through retail channels or marketplaces that require a GTIN. If you sell exclusively through your own store and use barcodes for your own stock control, any consistent numbering scheme works and costs nothing.
Will these barcodes scan in Shopify POS?
Yes, provided the value in the barcode matches the value in the variant's barcode field exactly, and the label is printed at a sensible size from a vector file.
How do I add barcodes to hundreds of products?
Export your products to CSV, fill the Variant Barcode column, and re-import. Generating the images in bulk is available in the dashboard on paid plans — see the bulk barcode generator.
Add a customer-facing scan to your packaging
A barcode runs your stock. A dynamic QR code brings the buyer back — reorders, care guides, review requests — and you can change the destination after printing.
7-day free trial, no credit card. Barcodes stay free forever.