Free ITF Barcode Generator — Create, Preview & Download Instantly

ITF encodes numeric digits 0–9 only. It does not support letters, punctuation, or any non-numeric characters. If you need to encode alphanumeric data, use Code 128 or Code 39 instead. ITF always encodes an even number of digits — if your input has an odd digit count, a leading zero is prepended automatically to make it even.

ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5) is the general symbology that can encode any even-length numeric string of variable length. ITF-14 is a specific application of ITF that encodes exactly 14 digits — a GS1 GTIN-14 — and is printed on outer shipping cases and cartons for retail supply chain compliance. ITF-14 always includes an optional check digit as the 14th digit, calculated using the GS1 standard Mod 10 algorithm. Use ITF for general numeric encoding and ITF-14 specifically when generating GS1-compliant outer case barcodes.

Standard ITF does not require a check digit by specification, though one may be added as the last digit of your data using any chosen algorithm. ITF-14, the GS1-standardized outer case variant, includes a mandatory Mod 10 check digit as its 14th digit — this check digit is part of the GTIN-14 and must be calculated correctly before encoding. This generator encodes whatever numeric string you provide; for ITF-14, ensure your 14-digit GTIN-14 includes the correct GS1 check digit.

ITF uses an interleaved encoding scheme where two digits are always encoded together — one in the bars and one in the spaces of the same symbol character. This pairing means the total digit count must always be even. If you supply an odd number of digits, the encoder prepends a leading zero (e.g., 12345 becomes 012345) so that digits pair correctly. Be aware of this when your receiving system decodes the barcode — it will read the zero-padded value.

Use ITF when your data is purely numeric, your label is printed on corrugated cardboard or other rough surfaces, or when GS1 compliance for outer carton labeling (ITF-14) is required. ITF produces narrower barcodes than Code 39 for the same numeric data and is more tolerant of imperfect printing surfaces than Code 128. Choose Code 128 over ITF when your data contains letters or special characters, or when you need variable-length encoding without an even-digit constraint.

Bearer bars are horizontal lines printed above and below an ITF barcode that frame the entire symbol. They protect against partial reads — where a scanner detects only a portion of the barcode due to edge print defects, substrate flex, or misalignment on corrugated surfaces — by ensuring the scanner sees the full symbol boundary. GS1 recommends bearer bars on all ITF-14 barcodes printed on corrugated cases, and many retail vendor compliance specifications require them. Check your retailer's vendor guide to determine whether bearer bars are mandatory for your shipments.

For carton and pallet labels, download as SVG whenever possible — SVG is resolution-independent and scales to any label size without pixelation. If PNG is required, use at least 300 DPI for standard labels and 600 DPI for small labels below 25mm. For ITF-14 on corrugated cases, GS1 specifies a minimum X-dimension of 0.635mm at a 100% magnification factor — ensure your print resolution supports this bar width at the intended print size.

Yes. All ITF encoding is performed entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. Your input data — including GTIN-14 values, part numbers, or batch identifiers — is never transmitted to any server and never stored anywhere. Close the browser tab and all data is gone. This tool is safe to use with internal supply chain identifiers and proprietary product codes.