PDF417 Barcode Generator
Make a PDF417 barcode for a shipping label, form, or pass. Type or paste your data, choose how wide the code should be and how much error correction it gets, and download it as a PNG or SVG.
1. Code type and content
Any text, numbers, or several lines. Up to 2,710 digits or 1,850 letters and numbers at the lowest error correction.
More columns make the code wider and shorter.
2. Size
Width of the thinnest bar. Each row is 3 times as tall.
3. Colors
Loading the barcode maker…
Print a test copy and scan it before you print a full batch.
What is a PDF417 barcode?
PDF417 is a stacked barcode. Instead of one row of bars, it has many short rows stacked on top of each other, each with the same start pattern on the left and stop pattern on the right. That lets it hold far more than a regular barcode: up to 1,850 letters and numbers.
The name describes its codewords, the units the data is stored in. Each one is 4 bars and 4 spaces spread over 17 modules. Some of the codewords are error correction, so a creased or torn code can still scan, and you choose how many.
Why use our PDF417 generator
- ·Control the shape. Set the data columns to make the code fit a wide label or a narrow one.
- ·All 9 error correction levels. Or leave it on Auto, which follows the standard's recommendation.
- ·Size shown as you type. The preview lists the columns, rows, and image size.
- ·Sharp files. The SVG scales to any size, and the PNG uses whole pixels for every module.
- ·Free and private. No account, no watermark, and your data stays on your device.
How to make a PDF417 barcode
- 1
Type or paste your data
Enter the text, numbers, or several lines of data the code should hold. Line breaks and tabs are kept.
- 2
Choose the shape
Leave the data columns on Auto, or raise them for a wider, shorter code and lower them for a narrower, taller one.
- 3
Set the error correction
Auto picks the level the PDF417 standard recommends for the amount of data. Raise it if the code will be folded, scratched, or handled a lot.
- 4
Download and test
Keep a margin of at least 2 modules, download a PNG or SVG, and scan a printed copy before you print the rest.
PDF417 columns and rows
The same data can be laid out wide and short or narrow and tall. Each data column adds 17 modules of width, and each row is 3 modules tall. These are the sizes for the tool's sample text, Order 10482 | Dock 4 | 12.5 kg | 2026-11-30, before the margin:
| Data columns | Rows | Width × height (modules) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | 86 × 108 |
| 2 | 18 | 103 × 54 |
| 3 (Auto) | 12 | 120 × 36 |
| 4 | 9 | 137 × 27 |
| 6 | 6 | 171 × 18 |
| 10 | 4 | 239 × 12 |
A PDF417 can have 1 to 30 data columns and 3 to 90 rows. Pick the shape that fits your label, but keep the code narrow enough for your scanner to see from edge to edge.
PDF417 error correction levels
Error correction codewords let a scanner rebuild data from a damaged code. Each level doubles how many are added:
| Level | Error correction codewords |
|---|---|
| 0 | 2 |
| 1 | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 16 |
| 4 | 32 |
| 5 | 64 |
| 6 | 128 |
| 7 | 256 |
| 8 | 512 |
Auto picks a level from the amount of data, as the PDF417 standard recommends: level 2 for short text, rising to level 5 for long text. For the sample text, level 0 makes a 3 column by 10 row code and level 8 makes 13 columns by 42 rows, so only go high when the code really needs it.
Who uses PDF417 barcodes
- ·Shipping and warehouse teams. Put the order, address, and package details on a carton or pallet label so one scan fills in every field.
- ·Airlines and travel companies. Printed boarding passes carry the passenger and flight details in a PDF417, following the IATA boarding pass standard.
- ·Offices and form designers. Print the contents of an invoice, form, or record as a code, so the receiving side can scan it instead of typing it in.
- ·Developers and testers. Make sample PDF417 codes to test a scanner, an app, or a document reader.
PDF417 barcode FAQ
- What does PDF417 stand for?
- PDF stands for Portable Data File, not the PDF document format. The 417 comes from its pattern: each codeword is made of 4 bars and 4 spaces spread over 17 modules.
- How much data can a PDF417 barcode hold?
- At the lowest error correction, up to 2,710 digits or 1,850 letters and numbers, or about 1,100 other characters. Higher error correction leaves less room for data.
- Which error correction level should I use?
- Leave it on Auto unless you have a reason to change it. Auto follows the standard's recommendation, from level 2 for short text up to level 5 for long text. Raise it for codes that get folded, scratched, or printed on rough paper. Each level doubles the error correction and makes the code bigger.
- How do I make a PDF417 wider or taller?
- Change the data columns. More columns make the code wider and shorter, fewer make it narrower and taller. You can choose 1 to 30 columns, and the code always has between 3 and 90 rows.
- Can a PDF417 hold several lines of text?
- Yes. Line breaks and tabs are stored in the code, and a scanner returns them as they were typed.
- What scanner can read a PDF417 barcode?
- A 2D imaging scanner or a barcode scanner app on a phone. Most single-line laser scanners, like many older checkout scanners, can only read regular barcodes.
- Why won't my PDF417 scan?
- Check that there are at least 2 modules of blank margin on every side, that the colors have strong contrast, and that the thinnest bar is wide enough for your printer. A very wide code may also be too wide for the scanner to see at once, so try fewer columns.
- Can it make Compact PDF417 or MicroPDF417?
- No. The tool makes standard PDF417 only. Compact PDF417 and MicroPDF417 are smaller variants that some systems ask for.
- Is my data uploaded?
- No. The code is made in your browser, and nothing you type leaves your device.