GS1 & Logistics · server-powered
GS1-128 generator.
GS1-128 carries structured supply-chain data (GTINs, batch numbers, expiry dates) as Application Identifiers like (01) and (17). Unlike most generators, this one lints every AI against the GS1 syntax rules: an invalid date or malformed AI comes back as a clear error, not a barcode your trading partner rejects.
The logistics workhorse: GS1 AIs, linter-validated.
Standards-based quiet zones are always on. For production packaging, verify a printed sample with a barcode verifier.
Preview
- Renders on our servers, the one Plume tool that does.
- We keep the code type and content length, never what you encode.
- Free SVG vector + up to 600 DPI PNG, commercial use allowed.
- Full details in the privacy policy.
Valid GS1-128 input
Type GS1 element strings with each Application Identifier in parentheses, for example (01)09521234543213(10)ABC123. Every AI is checked against the GS1 tables: (01) GTIN must be 14 digits ending in a valid mod-10 check digit, (00) SSCC must be 18 digits with its own check digit, (17) dates must be six digits in YYMMDD order that pass a calendar check, and (10) batch codes take up to 20 characters from GS1's CSET 82 set (letters, digits, and limited punctuation, but no spaces). The renderer inserts the FNC1 flag and the separators after variable-length AIs for you, so the parentheses are all the structure you need to write.
Keep the payload compact. The GS1 General Specifications cap a GS1-128 symbol at 48 data characters and 165.1 mm of printed length including quiet zones, and every extra character makes the bars physically longer.
Working sample: (01)09521234543213(10)ABC123 a valid GTIN plus batch number in standard AI syntax.
Where GS1-128 is used
- Pallet and case labels (with SSCC/GTIN AIs)
- Expiry-dated food and pharma logistics
- EDI-compliant retail supply chains
Common errors and how to fix them
- AI 01: Bad checksum
- The 14th digit of a GTIN is computed from the first 13. Paste the GTIN exactly as issued rather than retyping it; for test data, 09521234543213 checks out.
- AIs must start with '('
- This field expects bracketed AI syntax. Write (01)09521234543213, not the bare digits 0109521234543213, and the FNC1 encoding is handled for you.
- AI 00: Bad checksum
- The SSCC's 18th digit is a mod-10 check digit over the first 17. Copy the SSCC from your label system instead of keying it by hand.
- AI 10: Invalid CSET 82 character
- Batch and lot codes cannot contain spaces or characters outside GS1's CSET 82. Remove the space or replace it with a period or hyphen.
Size and printing
For warehouse and pallet scanning, go big. The GS1 General Specifications put the X-dimension for GS1-128 on logistic labels between 0.495 mm and 1.016 mm with bars at least 31.75 mm tall, so set Module width to 0.5 mm or more and choose the tallest Bar height on offer. The Shipping carton option in the "Where will it be used?" picker applies 0.5 mm modules and extra tall bars in one click; verify a printed sample against your label spec before production, and export SVG or a 600 DPI PNG to keep bar edges crisp through thermal label printing.
GS1-128 questions
What is the difference between Code 128 and GS1-128?
GS1-128 is Code 128 with an FNC1 character in the first position and a payload structured as GS1 Application Identifiers. A plain Code 128 can carry any text, while GS1-128 tells the scanner that what follows is standardized GS1 data such as a GTIN or SSCC.
How many characters fit in a GS1-128 barcode?
The GS1 General Specifications allow up to 48 data characters per symbol, and the printed symbol including quiet zones may not exceed 165.1 mm. If you need more than that, split the data across two symbols or move to GS1 Data Matrix.
Do I type FNC1 or the parentheses into the barcode?
You type the parentheses and nothing else. The renderer encodes FNC1 where the standard requires it, and the parentheses appear only in the human readable line under the bars, never in the bars themselves.
Can I use these barcodes on commercial shipments?
Yes. Every PNG and SVG you download is yours to use commercially, with 20 free downloads per UTC day and no account needed. The GTINs and SSCCs themselves come from your GS1 company prefix; Plume renders them but does not issue them.