# Code 128 Barcode Generator

Generate a Code 128 barcode from any printable ASCII text, such as order numbers, serial numbers, SKUs and shipping references. Code 128 encodes letters, digits and punctuation compactly and is read by almost every scanner. The tool draws the barcode as a PNG image or an SVG file and lets warehouses, shops and developers set the scale, the bar height and the printed text.

## Frequently asked questions

### What can I encode with Code 128?

Any printable ASCII text: uppercase and lowercase letters, digits, space and standard punctuation, up to 80 characters in this tool. Accented letters, emoji and line breaks are refused because scanners decode them inconsistently in Code 128.

### Do I need to add start, stop or check characters?

No. The tool chooses the Code 128 character sets automatically, switches between them for the shortest result and adds the start character, the modulo 103 check character and the stop pattern. You only enter the text itself.

### Why is my barcode wider than expected?

Code 128 grows with the length of the text, and letters take more space than pairs of digits, which the tool packs two per character. Long texts at a high scale can exceed the 4000 pixel limit, and the tool then asks you to lower the scale or shorten the text.

### Should I download the Code 128 barcode as PNG or SVG?

Choose SVG for print work, packaging artwork and anything you scale later, because the bars stay sharp at every size. Choose PNG for documents, web pages and label software that only accept raster images. The PNG has a white background and the SVG draws a white background rectangle, so both scan on any page color.

### What does the scale do?

The scale from 1 to 10 multiplies the width of every bar and space, so the barcode grows proportionally. The default is 3, which prints well on standard labels. Higher values help when the barcode is printed large or read from a distance.

### How tall are the bars?

By default the bars are about 25 millimeters (1 inch) tall at the nominal size. Enter a bar height from 5 to 50 millimeters to change it. Short bars are fine for fixed scanners but harder to hit with a handheld one.

### Can I show the text below the barcode?

Yes, the human readable text option is on by default and prints the encoded text under the bars. Turn it off if your label already shows the text elsewhere.

### Is Code 128 the same as GS1-128?

No. GS1-128 is a Code 128 barcode that starts with a special FNC1 character and carries GS1 application identifiers such as (01) for a GTIN. Use the GS1-128 Barcode Generator for supply chain labels and this tool for free text.

### Will my scanner read it?

Practically every handheld, fixed and phone based barcode reader supports Code 128. If a scan fails, increase the scale, keep the white margin around the barcode and print in black on a light background.

### Is the text I enter stored?

No. The text is used only to draw the barcode image you download. The tool runs on our server without saving the input or the output.

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