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Code 128 generator

A general-purpose barcode for logistics and warehouses. It holds letters, digits and ASCII symbols.

Code settings

Letters without accents, digits and punctuation, up to 80 characters.

The narrowest bar of the code. Recommended 0.19 to 1.016 mm.

From 3 to 300 mm.

Blank margin around the code required by the standard. Keep it on.

Appearance

The human readable digits or characters, set in OCR-B.

Height of a digit, from 1 to 30 mm.

Hexadecimal, for example #000000.

Fills the quiet zone too.

Preview

Size with quiet zone: 54.45 × 17.43 mm. The on-screen preview is enlarged.

Download the code

PNG file: 660 × 211 px, 307.9 DPI. Each module gets whole pixels and the DPI is set so the printout has exactly the size in mm shown above.

What is Code 128

Code 128 is a high-density barcode that holds digits, upper- and lower-case letters and ASCII punctuation. It is used on warehouse labels, parcels, documents and in internal company systems.

The code has three character sets: A, B and C. Set C stores two digits in one character, so long numbers give a shorter code. Qreska picks the sets automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Which characters can Code 128 hold?

All printable ASCII characters: digits, letters A–Z and a–z, space and punctuation. Typical scanners cannot read accented letters from Code 128, so the generator rejects them.

How is Code 128 different from GS1-128?

GS1-128 is Code 128 with an FNC1 character at the start and data written with GS1 application identifiers, e.g. (01) GTIN, (10) batch, (17) expiry date. Plain Code 128 has no such structure and is meant for internal labelling.

How long can the code be?

The standard sets no fixed limit, but a long code is wide and harder to scan. Qreska accepts up to 80 characters. Digits take less space, because set C stores them in pairs.

Which module width should I choose?

A smaller module gives a narrower code but needs a better printer and scanner. Start with X = 0.33 mm and go smaller only if the code does not fit. Leave a quiet zone of at least 10 modules on each side.

Can Code 128 be used on retail products?

No. Retail tills expect EAN-13 or UPC codes with a GTIN. Code 128 is for logistics and internal labelling.

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