Barcode Labels Docs

Basic Mode

Generate single barcodes or bulk labels from CSV in seconds.

Basic mode is the fastest way to go from a value to a printable label. Everything runs locally in your browser — no barcode data is ever sent to a server.

Basic mode with the four main areas numbered: tabs, input, settings, actions

① Tabs switch between one barcode and a CSV batch · ② Input is the value your scanner will read · ③ Settings pick the barcode type, label size, and layout · ④ Actions preview, print, or download.

Single barcode

Enter your value

Select the Single Barcode tab ① and type the text to encode ② — a SKU, serial number, URL, or any text. Set Qty if you want multiple copies.

Choose barcode type, size, and orientation

In Barcode Settings ③, pick a barcode type, label size, and orientation. Barcode formats have different length limits, so the app recommends a compatible format based on what you typed — you can still pick any format manually.

Preview, then print or download

In Actions ④, click Preview Label PDF to see the full label (or Preview Barcode Image for just the barcode). Then Print with Browser or Download PDF.

Which type should I pick?

For product identifiers, serial numbers, or short text, Code 128 or Data Matrix scan reliably even at small sizes. For linear barcodes like Code 128, landscape orientation usually scans better; 2D barcodes (QR, Data Matrix) work well either way. See Barcode Types for the full rundown.

Bulk generation from CSV

Upload a CSV file to generate one label per row. Your CSV needs a header row — Excel and Google Sheets both include one when you export.

Bulk from CSV: upload area, column picker, and data preview with the barcode column highlighted

Upload your file

Select the Bulk from CSV tab, then drag your CSV onto the upload area ① or click it to browse.

Pick the barcode column

Choose which column becomes the barcode ②. The preview table ③ highlights it — every row in that column becomes one label; other columns are ignored.

Export one PDF for the whole batch

Configure the barcode type, label size, and orientation as usual, then Preview Label PDF and print or download — you get a single multi-page PDF, one label per row.

Example CSV:

ProductID,Name,SKU,Price
A12345,Widget Alpha,WA-12345,$19.99
B67890,Widget Beta,WB-67890,$24.99
C13579,Widget Gamma,WG-13579,$29.99

Very large batches

Hundreds of rows in one file is fine. Past ~1,000 labels, split into multiple CSV files for better browser performance.

Sheet printing

To print many labels per page on pre-cut label sheets (Avery 5160 address labels, 5163 shipping labels, and other common Avery and generic letter-size templates), switch Print Layout to Label Sheet and pick your sheet template:

Barcode Settings with Label Sheet layout and the Avery 5160 sheet template selected

The labels are laid out in a grid with the correct margins and spacing for the selected template, so they line up with the pre-cut sheet on a standard printer. The label cell size comes from the template, so the Label Size and Orientation settings don't apply.

Print at 100%

Sheet layouts only line up when the print dialog doesn't scale the page — set scale to 100% (Actual size) and turn off "Fit to page". See Printing.

URL parameters

Pre-fill the generator by linking to the app with query parameters — useful for bookmarkable links or hooking the app up to another system.

https://barcodelabels.io/?text=SKU-123&type=code128&size=2x1&orientation=landscape&qty=4

ParameterRequiredValues
textYesthe value to encode
typeYescode128, qr, microqr, datamatrix, upca, ean13, ean8
sizeNoany supported label size, e.g. 4x6, 2x1, 50x30 (default: 4x6)
orientationNoportrait, landscape (default: landscape)
qtyNo1-500 (default: 1)

Opening a link like this auto-populates the form and opens a PDF preview — it does not download automatically. Only the seven barcode types listed above are available in Basic mode; for the full symbology set (including UPC-E, Code 39, and ITF-14), use Designer mode or the API.

Generating barcodes from code?

The Developers API returns the image or PDF directly from a GET request — ideal for scripts and automation.

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