How to generate barcodes in bulk from Excel or CSV
Typing barcodes one at a time does not scale past a handful. This tool turns a whole list into barcodes in one pass: paste it, upload it, or generate a numbered batch.
- Put your values in one column of a spreadsheet, one per row: SKUs, product numbers, asset tags or batch IDs.
- Save that as CSV. In Excel use File > Save As > CSV; in Google Sheets use File > Download > Comma-separated values.
- Click Upload CSV, or paste the values into the box, one per line. To make a numbered series instead, use Auto-Generate Batch Data: set a prefix, a count and sequential or random.
- Pick a format and adjust bar width, height and colours on the Style tab.
- Export a ZIP of PNG images, or generate a print-ready PDF of label sheets.
Which barcode format should you use?
| Format | Accepts | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| CODE128 | Letters, digits and symbols (ASCII) | Inventory, shipping, internal IDs |
| CODE39 | Capital letters, digits, - . space $ / + % | Asset tags, older systems |
| EAN-13 | 12 digits (check digit added) or 13 with a valid check digit | Retail products |
| UPC | 11 digits (check digit added) or 12 with a valid check digit | Retail products, North America |
| ITF-14 | 13 digits (check digit added) or 14 with a valid check digit | Cartons and cases |
| MSI | Digits | Shelf and warehouse labels |
If a barcode does not appear, the value probably does not fit the format. The most common cause is an EAN-13 or UPC value with the wrong number of digits or a wrong check digit. Fix the row, or switch to CODE128, which accepts almost any text.
Printing barcodes on label sheets
The PDF export lays barcodes out on a page for printing. Choose the paper (A4, A3, US Letter or US Legal), portrait or landscape, how many labels go across and down, the gap between labels and the page margin, and tick crop marks if you want them. Use Preview PDF to check the first page before you export the full batch.
- Print at 100% or "actual size". Scaling to fit changes the bar widths and can make barcodes harder to scan.
- Leave the blank margin around the bars alone. Scanners need that quiet zone to find where a barcode starts and ends.
- Scan one printed sample with your real scanner before printing hundreds.
Free, private, and honest about the limits
There is no account, fee or watermark, and your list is processed in your browser rather than uploaded. The trade-off is that large batches run on your own device: the PDF export warns above 500 barcodes, and if it slows down you can split the list. For more on choosing a format, see barcode formats explained. Related tools: QR code generator for links and text, and bulk certificate generator for name-based documents.