Your barcode has arrived. Here’s what to do with it, from artwork through to the first time a retailer scans it.

If you haven’t bought one yet, start with how to get a barcode for your product.

First: which file do I use?

Your barcode arrives in 3 formats. All 3 have the same number and image; the difference is what each one is good for.

  • PDF and SVG are vector files, so you can resize them without them getting blurry. Send these to your designer or printer.
  • PNG is a standard image file. Use it for online listings, spreadsheets, and anywhere else you need a picture.

If in doubt, send the PDF. Every printer can open it, and it’s the safest choice for packaging artwork.

You’ll also have both EAN-13 and UPC-A versions. They’re the same number in two formats. Most UK sellers use the EAN-13 image on their packaging; use UPC-A if you’re selling mainly in the USA or Canada. Either one scans anywhere.

Step 1: Add the barcode to your artwork

Place the barcode image in your packaging or label design.barcode on packaging discover wildlife

Keep it at the size supplied (about 38mm × 25mm) where you can. If space is tight, you can shrink it to 80% (about 30mm × 20mm), but always resize the width and height together. A stretched or squashed barcode won’t scan. Full size and print specifications.

Leave clear white space around the barcode. Missing white space is the most common reason a barcode fails to scan. It’s also the easiest thing to lose when you’re fitting artwork into a tight space.

Colour: Black bars on a white background is the safe choice. You can use other colours, but scanners read contrast, not colour. Red, orange and yellow bars look white to a scanner, so it sees nothing at all. Check our barcode colour guide (PDF) before trying anything unusual.

Keep the bars themselves clean and clear. Design around the barcode, not over it.

Step 2: Choose where it goes

Put the barcode somewhere flat, visible, and easy to scan at the till. The back or base of the pack is usual.

On a curved surface like a bottle, jar or tube, turn the barcode so the bars run like the rungs of a ladder, not like a picket fence around the curve. A barcode that wraps around a curve distorts at the edges and often won’t scan. More on positioning your barcode.

Already printed your packaging? We can print your barcode on sticky labels for you to apply by hand, and deliver them anywhere in the UK. This is common for first production runs and small batches.

Step 3: Check the artwork before you print

Check before the print run, not after. Mistakes can creep in at any stage of design and printing, and a barcode problem found after printing means reprinting.

Check that:

  • the numbers under the barcode match the number we emailed you
  • the image is still sharp and hasn’t been stretched or squashed
  • the white space around the barcode is still there
  • the size is within the specification

Then do a sample print and scan it. A barcode app on your phone is fine for a quick check.

For peace of mind before a large print run, try our barcode artwork test. Send us your artwork, and we’ll test the barcode against the official specifications. If your retailer asks for one, we can also arrange a full verification report.

Step 4: Send your product to your retailer

This is when the barcode gets connected to your product.

The first time a retailer scans it, nothing comes up. Your barcode is a blank number and doesn’t carry any product information. The retailer enters your product name and price into their system. From then on, your details come up automatically every time it’s scanned in their shops.

Each retailer does this once, in their own system. You don’t need to do anything else.

Step 5: Register your barcode (optional)

Registration adds your barcode number and product details to the International Barcodes Database, which feeds several other online databases.

Registration is optional. Your barcode works whether you register it or not. Registering means:

  • your product comes up when someone searches the number online or scans it with a phone app
  • you have extra proof the number is yours if it’s ever copied

Registration is included free with our barcode packages. Register your barcode number.

Common questions

Can I resize the barcode?
Yes, within limits, as long as you resize the width and height together. See the specifications.

Can I change the colours?
Yes, with care. Avoid red, orange and yellow bars, and avoid dark or busy backgrounds. Colour guide (PDF).

My barcode won’t scan. What’s wrong?
It’s usually one of four things:

  • it’s been stretched
  • it’s too small
  • the white space around it has been lost
  • the colours don’t have enough contrast

Check those first, then get in touch.

Do I need to tell you what my product is?
No. Your barcode is yours to use as you like. The only place product details are recorded is registration, and that’s optional.

Can I use the same barcode on two products?
No. Each product variant needs its own barcode. If you’ve run out, buy more here.

Selling on Amazon?
See our Amazon barcode requirements.

Shipping cases to a retailer?
You’ll probably need an ITF-14 carton barcode as well, created from your retail number. See carton barcodes.

Lost your barcode files?
You can download them any time from the customer portal.

Still stuck?
Email us. We’re a small team, and we answer our own emails Monday to Friday.