Codabar Barcode Generator
Make a Codabar barcode for a library card, book label, or form. Type the number, with or without the A to D start and stop letters, and download a PNG or SVG to print.
1. Barcode type and content
Numbers and - $ : / . +, with optional start and stop letters (A to D) at both ends.
2. Size and text
Width of the thinnest bar. Raise it for a larger, sharper PNG.
3. Colors
Loading the barcode maker…
Print a test copy and scan it before you print a full batch.
What is a Codabar barcode?
Codabar is an older barcode for numbers. It holds the digits 0 to 9 and six symbols, and it begins and ends with one of the letters A, B, C, or D. It is also known as NW-7 and Code 2 of 7.
It was designed to read accurately even when printed on dot matrix printers, for forms such as courier airbills and blood bank forms. Libraries, blood banks, and photo labs still use it.
Why use our Codabar barcode generator
- ·Start and stop letters handled. Type your own, or leave them off and A is used at both ends.
- ·Quick label replacement. Make a new label for a worn library card or book in under a minute.
- ·Clear errors. If a letter is in the wrong place or a symbol is not allowed, the tool says which one.
- ·Private. Member and patient numbers never leave your browser.
How to make a Codabar barcode
- 1
Copy the number exactly
Take the number from the old label or your system, including any start and stop letters (A to D) if your system uses them.
- 2
Type it into the tool
Enter the digits, with a letter from A to D at both ends or at neither end. Without letters, A is used at both ends.
- 3
Match the old label's size
Adjust the bar width and height so the new label fits where the old one was, keeping a margin of at least 10 bar widths.
- 4
Print and scan it
Download a PNG or SVG, print it on label stock, and scan it into your system to confirm it finds the right record.
How to replace a library barcode label
- Find the full number. It is usually printed under the bars, or you can look it up in your library system from the member or item record.
- Check whether your system expects start and stop letters. Scan an existing label into a text box: if letters such as A and B appear at the ends, type the same letters into the tool.
- Make the barcode, then match the old label's size so it fits the same spot on the card or book.
- Print it on durable label stock and scan it once at the desk to be sure it opens the right record before you stick it on.
If your scanner reads other barcodes but not Codabar, Codabar may be turned off in the scanner's settings. Turning it on, and setting whether the start and stop letters are sent, is usually done by scanning setup codes from the scanner's manual.
Codabar start and stop letters (A, B, C, D)
Every Codabar barcode begins and ends with one of four special characters. They do not have to match: A40156B starts with A and ends with B. Some printers and scanners show them as T, N, *, and E instead of A, B, C, and D. They are the same characters under different names, and this tool uses A to D.
Whether the letters reach your computer depends on the scanner's settings. For example, Zebra scanners have a CLSI editing option, made for library systems, that strips the start and stop letters and sends only the digits.
Who uses Codabar barcodes
- ·Libraries. Many library systems use Codabar on member cards and book labels.
- ·Blood banks and photo labs. Codabar has a long history on blood bank forms and in photo labs. Blood banks have since moved to the ISBT 128 standard.
- ·Anyone with existing Codabar labels. When a system already reads Codabar, new labels in the same format work without changing anything.
Starting a new labeling system from scratch? Code 128 holds letters as well as numbers and makes shorter barcodes, so it is usually the better choice.
Codabar barcode FAQ
- What do the letters A, B, C, and D mean in Codabar?
- They are start and stop characters that mark the ends of the barcode. The data itself is only the digits and symbols in between. Some systems use the choice of letters to tell label types apart, so copy them from the old label if they are printed there.
- Do I have to add start and stop letters?
- No. If you type only digits, the tool uses A at both ends, which most scanners accept. If your system expects particular letters, type them yourself, one at the start and one at the end.
- Why are the start and stop letters missing from the printed text?
- The tool prints only the data under the bars. The letters are still in the bars, and a scanner set to send them will include them.
- Is Codabar the same as NW-7?
- Yes. NW-7 is the name used in Japan, and Code 2 of 7 is another older name. They all describe the same barcode.
- Does Codabar have a check digit?
- Not one that the barcode adds. Each Codabar character has its own fixed pattern, which catches most misreads. Some systems add their own check digit to the number (for example with the Luhn formula), so copy every digit exactly as it appears.
- Can Codabar hold letters?
- Only A to D, and only as the first and last character. The rest must be digits or the symbols - $ : / . +. For letters inside the code, use Code 39 or Code 128.
- Is my number uploaded?
- No. The barcode is drawn in your browser, and member and item numbers stay on your device.