How big does a barcode need to be?

A retail barcode (a UPC-A in the US and Canada, or an EAN-13) has a standard size, and it should print at 80% to 200% of that size. The standard UPC-A is about 1.47" wide and a little over 1" tall including its numbers, so at 80% it's roughly 1.2" wide. Go smaller, or cut its height down to fit a narrow label, and some register scanners won't read it.

A barcode or QR code that's already in your file prints as part of your artwork. Prices are for print-ready artwork. If you'd like us to add a code for you, we can help, so reach out for a quote.

The rules that decide whether it scans

• Keep the full height. Trimming the bars shorter to save space is the most common way a barcode is spoiled. Shrink the whole barcode in proportion instead, within the 80% to 200% range.
• Leave quiet zones. A scanner needs clear space at the left and right of the bars, with no text, border, or artwork touching them. Keep that space, and keep the code inside the safe area too: at least 0.09" inside the cut line on stickers and sheet labels, and 1/8" on roll labels. See safe area and bleed on labels.
• Use dark bars on a light background. Black on white is safest. Red bars don't scan at all on many scanners, and light bars on a dark background fail on most.
• Keep it off a tight curve. On a small bottle or jar, a barcode laid across the curve can wrap out of the scanner's view. If it won't fit on the flatter band facing the scanner, turn it 90° so the bars run around the container, like the rungs of a ladder.
• Keep it off shiny film without white behind it. On holographic, glitter, or chrome, put the code on a white panel. A matte finish reduces glare under store lighting.

Getting the code right

Use the barcode file your barcode provider or barcode software produces. A vector file (PDF, EPS, or SVG) keeps the bars exact. Don't rebuild a barcode from a screenshot, and don't stretch it in one direction.

Check it on your proof

Before you approve, scan the barcode on your proof with a phone barcode app. That tells you the code reads and that the number is the one you expect. For codes that change on every label, see variable data printing. For QR codes, see QR code stickers that actually scan.