ITF-14
The GTIN-14 carton-level barcode: ITF with thick bearer bars, printed directly on corrugated shipping cases.
ITF-14 Specification
| Character set | Digits 0-9 only |
| Data length | Exactly 14 digits (GTIN-14 incl. Mod 10 check digit) |
| Check digit | Mandatory Mod 10 check digit (part of the GTIN-14) |
| Density | 14 digits in 135 modules at nominal size |
| Module width (X-dimension) | 0.50 mm minimum for direct corrugate printing; up to 1.02 mm tolerated |
| Print ratio | Wide:narrow 2.5:1 standard |
| Magnification | GS1 recommends X ≥ 0.50 mm with a total symbol height ≥ 32 mm |
| Quiet zone | 10X on each side |
| Standard | GS1 General Specifications; symbology basis ISO/IEC 16390 |
| Origin | GS1 case-marking application of ITF (Allais/Intermec symbology), 1972 |
| Sample data | 15400141288763 |
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What Is ITF-14?
ITF-14 is ITF encoding a 14-digit GTIN under GS1's case-marking rules. The name strictly refers to the data (GTIN-14: indicator digit + GTIN-13 content + Mod 10 check digit); the symbol is ITF with GS1-mandated geometry. Its signature feature is the bearer bar — a thick dark frame around the bars. Bearer bars prevent a scanning beam from registering a partial read across the top or bottom of the symbol, a real risk when boxes sweep past fixed warehouse scanners.
GS1 positions ITF-14 for one job: the pre-printed master case. It prints acceptably with flexographic plates on kraft corrugate where finer symbologies smear, tolerates 0.5 mm X-dimensions, and needs no variable data. When cartons also need lot numbers, expiry dates, or SSCCs, operations switch to GS1-128 thermal labels instead — the two coexist across virtually every distribution center.
Common Applications
- Master cases and outer cartons in retail supply chains
- Direct corrugate printing in flexographic press runs
- Warehouse and cross-dock scanning at case level
Related Barcode Types
The 14-digit Global Trade Item Number for cases and inner packs, carried by GS1-128 or ITF-14 symbols.
Code 128 carrying GS1 Application Identifier element strings — the standard barcode of global logistics.
A dense digits-only linear barcode that interleaves bar and space character pairs — logistics workhorse for numeric data.
ITF-14 FAQ
What are bearer bars and why does ITF-14 have them?
Thick horizontal (and on larger symbols full-frame) bars surrounding the code. They block a scanner beam that clips the top or bottom of the symbol from producing a shorter, wrong-but-plausible read — historically a common failure on fast conveyor lines. GS1 requires horizontal bearer bars at minimum and full-frame bearers above certain X-dimensions.
Why is ITF-14 wider than the same GTIN in GS1-128?
ITF uses 5 modules per digit (interleaved pairs of bars and spaces, plus wide-element ratios), while GS1-128's code set C uses 5.5 modules per digit — similar per digit, but ITF adds start/stop patterns, bearer bars, and wider quiet-zone margins, and GS1-128 can drop down to a 0.25 mm X. The trade is print tolerance: ITF-14 shrugs off corrugate printing that would ruin a fine-pitch Code 128.