Free Code39 Barcode Generator

Generate industrial and automotive Code39 barcodes supporting uppercase letters, numbers, and special symbols with instant PNG/SVG export.

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CODE39 Barcode Generator

CODE39 (also written Code 3 of 9) is one of the oldest and most widely supported barcode formats — and unlike EAN-13 or UPC-A, it is not limited to numbers. It can encode uppercase letters, digits, and a handful of symbols, which makes it a go-to choice for internal inventory systems, asset tags, ID badges, and industries like automotive and defense where alphanumeric codes are the norm.

This free CODE39 barcode generator for asset tags and inventory labels lets you type in any combination of letters, numbers, and supported symbols and instantly produces a print-ready CODE39 barcode — with an optional checksum digit for extra accuracy. It's a quick way to generate an alphanumeric barcode online for warehouse tracking, work orders, or internal SKUs without needing barcode font software installed on your machine.

CODE39 at a Glance

Attribute Detail
Character set A–Z, 0–9, and symbols: - . $ / + % SPACE
Length Variable (no fixed digit count)
Check digit Optional, not required by the standard
Used by Internal inventory, asset tracking, ID badges, automotive/defense industries, libraries
Governing body No central registry — self-assigned, used internally
Common uses Asset tags, work orders, internal SKUs, name badges, non-retail tracking

How to Generate a CODE39 Barcode

  1. Type any combination of letters, numbers, or supported symbols.
  2. Optionally enable the checksum for extra scan accuracy on damaged or low-quality prints.
  3. Adjust bar width/height if your scanner setup needs a specific density.
  4. Download as PNG, SVG, or PDF.

Explore Other Barcode Formats

Discover our suite of standard online barcode generation tools.

CODE128 Barcode Generator

Generate high-density alphanumeric barcodes for logistics and inventory tracking.

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EAN-13 Barcode Generator

Generate standard 13-digit retail product barcodes with automatic checksums.

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UPC-A Barcode Generator

Generate standard 12-digit retail barcodes for North American products.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Code39 barcode generation.

CODE39 does not require registration with GS1 and can encode letters as well as numbers, which makes it far more flexible for internal use — think asset tags, work-in-progress tracking, or badge IDs — where you're not selling through retail and don't need a globally unique product identifier.

No. Retail point-of-sale systems are built around EAN/UPC numeric standards. CODE39 is meant for internal or industrial use, not consumer retail scanning.

No, the standard character set is uppercase only, plus digits and a limited symbol set. If you need lowercase or an expanded character range, CODE128 is usually the better format.

There is no strict length cap in the standard, but practically, longer strings produce wider barcodes that take up more label space and can be harder to scan reliably. Keeping codes under 20–25 characters is a common practical guideline.

It's optional but worth enabling in environments where labels take physical wear — warehouses, tool cribs, outdoor asset tags — since it helps catch scan errors caused by faded or damaged barcodes.

Most modern barcode-scanning apps support CODE39 out of the box, since it's a widely implemented legacy standard. If you're using dedicated retail scanning hardware, however, confirm it has CODE39 support enabled, as some retail-only scanners are configured for numeric formats by default.

Not if you're using an image-based generator like this one — you just download the finished barcode as a PNG or SVG and place it in your label design. Installing a CODE39 font is only necessary if you want to type barcode text directly inside a word processor or label-printing software and have it render as bars automatically.