Barcode Types Guide
Comprehensive guide to barcode formats supported by Printivo's ZPL renderer.
Linear (1D) Barcodes
High-density barcode supporting all 128 ASCII characters. Most versatile 1D barcode.
Characters
Full ASCII (0-127)
Length
Variable
Check Digit
Automatic (mod 103)
Best for: Shipping labels, inventory, product identification
^FO100,100^BY3^BCN,100,Y,N,N^FD123456789^FS
Self-checking barcode supporting uppercase letters, numbers, and some special characters.
Characters
A-Z, 0-9, -.$/+%*space
Length
Variable
Check Digit
Optional (mod 43)
Best for: Automotive, defense, healthcare industries
^FO100,100^BY2^B3N,N,100,Y,N^FDABC123^FS
International retail barcode. 13-digit code used worldwide for product identification.
Characters
Numeric only (0-9)
Length
12 digits + 1 check
Check Digit
Automatic
Best for: Retail products (international)
^FO100,100^BY3^BEN,100,Y,N^FD590123412345^FS
Compact version of EAN-13 for small packages.
Characters
Numeric only
Length
7 digits + 1 check
Best for: Small retail products
^FO100,100^BY3^B8N,100,Y,N^FD1234567^FS
12-digit barcode used primarily in North America for retail products.
Characters
Numeric only
Length
11 digits + 1 check
Best for: US/Canada retail products
^FO100,100^BY3^BUN,100,Y,N^FD01234567890^FS
Compressed version of UPC-A for small products.
Characters
Numeric only
Length
6 digits
Best for: Small US retail products
^FO100,100^BY3^B9N,100,Y,N^FD012345^FS
Numeric-only barcode with high density. Characters must be even (pairs).
Characters
Numeric only
Length
Even number of digits
Best for: Warehouse, distribution, ITF-14 cartons
^FO100,100^BY3^B2N,100,Y,N,Y^FD12345678^FS
Self-checking barcode commonly used in libraries and blood banks.
Characters
0-9, $-:/.+, ABCD
Length
Variable
Best for: Libraries, blood banks, airbills
^FO100,100^BY2^BKN,N,100,Y,N,A,A^FDA12345B^FS
2D Barcodes
Square 2D barcode with high capacity. Supports URLs, text, and various data types.
Capacity
Up to 4,296 alphanumeric
Error Correction
L, M, Q, H (7-30%)
Best for: Mobile scanning, URLs, marketing, contact info
; Format: ^BQo,m,s (orientation, model, magnification)
^FO100,100^BQN,2,5^FDMA,https://example.com^FS
; Model 2, magnification 5
; MA = Manual mode for data
Compact 2D barcode ideal for small items. High data density.
Capacity
Up to 2,335 alphanumeric
Error Correction
ECC 200 (built-in)
Best for: Electronics, healthcare, small components
^FO100,100^BXN,5,200^FDHello Data Matrix^FS
Stacked linear barcode with very high capacity. Used for IDs and documents.
Capacity
Up to 1,850 alphanumeric
Error Correction
0-8 levels
Best for: ID cards, driver's licenses, shipping
^FO100,100^B7N,5,2,3,10,N^FDSample PDF417 Data^FS
Fixed-size 2D barcode used by UPS for package sorting.
Capacity
93 alphanumeric
Size
Fixed 1" x 1"
Best for: UPS shipping labels, high-speed sorting
^FO100,100^BD2,1,Y^FD[)>...^FS
Choosing the Right Barcode
| Use Case |
Recommended |
Reason |
|---|
| Retail products (USA/Canada) |
UPC-A |
Industry standard, POS compatible |
| Retail products (International) |
EAN-13 |
Global standard |
| Shipping & logistics |
Code 128 |
High density, full ASCII support |
| Warehouse inventory |
Code 128, ITF-14 |
Durable, easy scanning |
| Mobile/consumer scanning |
QR Code |
Smartphone compatible, URLs |
| Small components/parts |
Data Matrix |
Very compact, high capacity |
| Documents/IDs |
PDF417 |
Very high capacity |
| Healthcare/lab samples |
Code 39, Data Matrix |
Industry standards |
Tip: When in doubt, use Code 128 for 1D or QR Code for 2D. They offer the best balance of capacity, compatibility, and ease of use.