A barcode is a machine-readable representation of a unique number, allowing retailers to track product sales in their inventory system. It typically consists of dark ink on a light background, forming high and low reflectance patterns that are converted to binary digits. UPCs (12 digits) and EANs (13 digits) are common types of barcodes.

20,000+ happy Australian customers | 1m+ Barcodes in circulation | 10,000+ scans daily

Product Barcodes

What is a barcode?

Are you curious about barcodes (also referred to as bar codes) and their uses? Barcodes are machine-readable bar codes that visually represent information. They are widely used across various industries in Australia, including retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. Barcodes play a vital role in inventory management and product tracking across industries in Australia.

What are the most common types of barcodes?

For retail the most common format is EAN-13, There is also UPC (more common in North America), ITF-14 Carton Codes for outers, SSCC codes for pallets, Code 128, and QR codes.

Which barcode do I need?

Try our handy barcode selector tool to work out which bar code format you need.

What barcodes are used in Australia

The vast majority of retail products in Australia use EAN-13 barcodes. These are standard 13-digit retail barcodes for use on all products except books and magazines. Some people may also use UPC-A Barcodes. However, these are primarily used in the USA and Canada.

What is the difference between UPC and EAN barcodes?

EAN13 are 13 digits long and UPC is 12 digits long. EAN13 barcodes are the most commonly used for retail products in Australia. These barcodes help businesses manage inventory and streamline the checkout process, making them essential in the retail sector. To learn more about the difference between EAN and UPC formats, click here.

How do I get a barcode for my product?

Obtaining product barcodes is quick and simple on our website. Our service is automated so you can order and receive your barcodes in 5 minutes. The barcodes are ready for use. Buy barcodes here.

How do I print barcodes for my products?

Most clients give the barcode images to their graphic designer, printer or factory to put onto the packaging design. Please read our expert advice on positioning the barcode on a product. We also supply barcode labels if your packaging was created without barcodes.

How do I scan a barcode with my phone?

With the proliferation of smartphones, many people want to scan barcodes using their devices. Download our FREE scanning app to your smartphone and use it to scan products.

What is a QR code and how is it different from a barcode?

As QR codes become more prevalent, users are curious about their differences from traditional barcodes and their applications. Currently QR codes are not used at checkout. As of 2027 products will move to using QR codes at checkout. Don’t worry, you will still need that barcode number (GTIN). Sign up for our FREE trial for retail QR codes (2D digital link codes).

Why isn’t my barcode scanning correctly?

Common issues include poor print quality, incorrect placement, or scanner compatibility problems. Addressing these concerns is vital for smooth operations. We offer an artwork testing service as well as a full verification report testing (required by Woolworths, Coles and Bunnings). Check our barcode size and colour tips.

Are there free barcode generators?

Free barcode generators are just image generators. They do not issue barcode numbers (GTINs). The number is the important part. You need to own your barcode numbers. You cannot make up barcode numbers; the number may already be in use and owned by another company.

Barcode numbers are carefully issued to make sure the same number is never issued twice. That would cause confusion in retail systems. Free online barcode generators just create barcode images without you having to purchase software. When you buy a barcode from us, we email you the barcode images at the same time. You don’t need to get your images elsewhere.

Australia Barcode requirements

There are a few restrictions on our barcodes in Australia. Some stores require verification reports (which we can arrange), whereas others (although very few) only accept barcodes from GS1 Australia. Please see barcode acceptance for more details.

Member of the International Barcodes Network

We are members of the International Barcodes Network. The International Barcodes Network enables the purchase of high-quality barcodes throughout the world.