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PDF417 generator

A stacked code for documents, boarding passes and shipping labels. It holds a lot of text in a long rectangle.

Code settings

Any text, up to 1000 bytes.

The side of one square (module) of the code. Recommended 0.25 to 1 mm.

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

A higher level lets a damaged code be read but makes the symbol bigger.

Appearance

Hexadecimal, for example #000000.

Fills the quiet zone too.

Preview

Size with quiet zone: 35.31 × 10.23 mm. The on-screen preview is enlarged.

Download the code

PNG file: 428 × 124 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 PDF417

PDF417 consists of a few to several dozen rows stacked on top of each other. Each row is three modules tall. The code is wide and low, so it suits documents and labels well.

PDF417 has nine error correction levels, 0 to 8. By default the generator picks a level that suits the data length.

Frequently asked questions

Where is PDF417 used?

On identity documents in many countries, boarding passes, consignment notes and shipping labels.

Can a phone read PDF417?

Most barcode apps read it. The code is wide, so hold the phone so that all of it fits in the frame.

How much data fits in PDF417?

The generator accepts up to 1000 bytes. At a high error correction level long text may not fit; the preview then shows an error.

Which error correction level should I choose?

Automatic is enough in most cases. Choose a higher level when the code may get dirty or bent.

Which module size should I choose?

Typically 0.25 to 0.5 mm. Leave at least 2 modules of blank space around the code.

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