- Barcode Batch
- GS1-128 labels
GS1-128 barcode generator
Write each part in brackets, such as (01) for the product number, (17) for the expiry date, and (10) for the batch, and get a GS1-128 barcode for every line of your list.
How GS1-128 data is written
Each part starts with an application identifier, a number in brackets that says what follows. The brackets are printed under the bars for people to read, but they are not stored in the bars. After a part that can vary in length, the tool adds the separator GS1 asks for, so a scanner knows where that part ends.
(01)09501101530003(17)261231(10)AB12 is product 09501101530003, expiring on 31 December 2026, from batch AB12.
The parts it knows
- (00) shipping container code (SSCC), 18 digits. Give 17 and the check digit is added.
- (01) product number (GTIN), 14 digits. For an EAN-13, put a 0 in front.
- (10) batch or lot, and (21) serial number, up to 20 letters and digits.
- (11) production, (13) packing, (15) best before, and (17) expiry dates, written YYMMDD.
- (30) and (37) counts, weights such as (3103) for kilograms with three decimals, and (400) order number.
- (410) to (414) locations, (420) ship-to postal code, and (90) to (99) for your own use.
Checked before it is drawn
Every part is checked: digits where digits belong, the right length, the check digit of a product or container number, and a real date. A whole code holds up to 48 characters. A row that breaks a rule is explained in plain words and left out until it is fixed.
Give it room
GS1-128 codes are long. This page starts on the A4 sheet of 14 labels, each 99 mm wide. On a smaller label a code with several parts can get too narrow to scan, and the tool warns you when it does.
Questions
Is GS1-128 the same as Code 128?
It uses the same bars. The difference is a special character at the start, which tells a scanner the data follows GS1 rules, and the separators between parts.
Do I need a GS1 membership?
For product numbers and container codes that a customer will use, yes, because the company prefix inside them comes from GS1. Batch numbers and dates are your own.
Will my scanner read it?
Most scanners and phone apps read Code 128, and with it GS1-128. Whether the parts are shown separately depends on the scanner’s software.
Sources
Checked on .