ITF-14 Barcode Generator
Make an ITF-14 barcode for a shipping carton or case of products. Type the 14 digit carton number, or 13 digits and the check digit is added, then download a PNG or SVG for your box artwork or labels.
1. Barcode type and content
Check digit 3 added. Full number: 15400141288763
Type 13 digits and the check digit is added, or all 14 digits to have it checked.
GS1 requires bars above and below an ITF-14. Use the full frame when the barcode is printed straight onto cardboard.
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 an ITF-14 barcode?
ITF-14 is the barcode printed on the outside of shipping cartons and cases. It holds a 14 digit number, called a GTIN-14, that identifies the case and how many of a product are inside.
ITF stands for Interleaved Two of Five. GS1 describes it as ideal for printing straight onto corrugated cardboard boxes.
Why use our ITF-14 barcode generator
- ·Check digit worked out. Build your carton number from 13 digits and the 14th is added for you.
- ·Sized for boxes. Raise the bar width and height well past label sizes for cartons scanned from a distance.
- ·SVG for printers. Send a vector file to your carton printer instead of a blurry image.
- ·Free and private. No account needed, and nothing is uploaded.
How to make an ITF-14 barcode
- 1
Work out the carton number
Use the 14 digit number from your supplier or GS1 account, or build one from the product's barcode as shown below.
- 2
Type it into the tool
Enter 13 digits and the check digit is added, or all 14 digits to have it checked.
- 3
Pick bearer bars and size
Choose Top and bottom bars for a label or Full frame for a box printed with a printing plate. Then raise the bar width and height so the barcode is large enough for the carton.
- 4
Download and print
Use the SVG for printed carton artwork or the PNG for a shipping label, and scan a test print on the real material.
How to make an ITF-14 number from your product barcode
If your product already has an EAN-13 or UPC-A, the carton number is usually built from it:
- Pick an indicator digit from 1 to 8 for this pack size. Use a different one for each case size of the same product.
- Take the product number without its check digit. For a UPC-A, add a 0 in front so it has 12 digits.
- Put the indicator digit in front, giving 13 digits, and type them into the tool. It adds the new check digit.
| Product barcode | Steps | ITF-14 for a case |
|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 5901234123457 | Drop the 7, put 1 in front: 1 590123412345 | 15901234123454 |
| UPC-A 036000291452 | Drop the 2, put 1 0 in front: 1 0 03600029145 | 10036000291459 |
The check digit changes because the indicator digit shifts every digit one place, so never copy the product's old check digit. If you are not the brand owner, ask the brand for its carton numbers rather than making your own.
Printing ITF-14 on cardboard
- ·Go big. For cartons scanned by automated equipment, GS1 sets the thinnest bar between 0.495 mm and 1.02 mm and recommends the larger end of that range.
- ·Always use bearer bars. Pick Full frame in the tool when the box is printed with a printing plate, or Top and bottom for a printed label. The frame is drawn about 4.7 bar widths thick, which is 4.8 mm when the thinnest bar is 1.02 mm. If you print smaller, ask your printer to keep the frame at 4.8 mm.
- ·Keep away from the edges. GS1 Ireland says to place it no closer than 19 mm to a vertical edge of the box, with the bars standing upright.
When to use an ITF-14 barcode
- ·A retailer or distributor asks for a barcode on each case you ship to its warehouse.
- ·Your own warehouse receives and counts stock by scanning whole cartons instead of opening them.
- ·You are printing the barcode straight onto corrugated boxes. If the label also needs dates or batch numbers, those go in a GS1-128 barcode, which this tool does not make.
ITF-14 barcode FAQ
- What is the difference between ITF-14 and EAN-13?
- EAN-13 identifies a single product scanned at the store checkout. ITF-14 identifies a carton or case of that product in warehouses and on delivery docks. A case of 12 bottles has one ITF-14 on the outside and an EAN-13 on each bottle inside.
- What is the indicator digit in an ITF-14?
- The first digit. A brand uses 1 to 8 to tell different pack sizes apart, for example 1 for a case of 6 and 2 for a case of 24. The digit 9 is used for cases with a variable weight, such as meat sold by the kilo.
- Can I scan an ITF-14 at a store checkout?
- It is not meant for that. ITF-14 is designed for warehouses and distribution. If a case is also sold to shoppers as one item, it needs its own EAN-13 or UPC-A for the checkout.
- What are bearer bars?
- Thick bars printed right against the top and bottom of an ITF-14, or a full frame around it. They help a printing plate press evenly, and they stop a scanner beam that drifts off the top or bottom from reading part of the barcode as a shorter number. GS1 makes the top and bottom bars mandatory, and the full 4.8 mm frame is required when the barcode is printed with a printing plate, as on most cardboard. The tool draws either one.
- Why will my scanner not read the ITF-14?
- Some scanners come with Interleaved 2 of 5 turned off (Zebra scanners do, for example), or only accept certain lengths to prevent partial reads. Turn on Interleaved 2 of 5 in the scanner settings and allow a length of 14. Also check the barcode is large enough and printed with sharp edges.
- Why must ITF-14 have an even number of digits?
- Interleaved 2 of 5 encodes digits in pairs: the bars hold one digit and the spaces between them hold the next. A pair always needs two digits, so the total has to be even. 14 is.
- Is my number uploaded?
- No. The barcode is made in your browser, and nothing you type is sent anywhere.