Make Your Own Barcodes
– The Lazy Man’s Guide
I admit it.
I felt like a rockstar the first time I made a bar code.
Taking your first step to get your product carried in lots of stores is an awesome feeling!
It’s actually super easy too. The hard part is knowing what format you need and what numbers to input into the barcode generator. So to save you this time, since I sludged through this once myself, I distilled what I learned into a bit of a Cliff Note’s version of how to make a bar code.
So, how do I make a barcode?
(Remember, this is just to make the barcode itself. Keep reading to learn how to get your own unique UPC or ISBN number. You can’t just make ‘em up. :)
1.) Free Online Generators
Sounds great…in theory. But they have one BIG problem. They output JPEG, PNG, or TIFF files. If you are doing this for real, you’ll need an EPS to import into your packaging artwork so you can resize it without degrading the quality. I’ve only found one, free barcode generator that outputs EPS: Terry Burton’s Barcode Writer. If you go this route, be careful, because reprinting packages to fix erroneous barcodes is like running into your in-laws unexpectedly—not fun. You’ll definitely want to test out your barcode to make sure it scans correctly (details below).
2.) Outsource It
The best option if you need only one or two barcodes. You can find companies online that will create these for as little as $10/each: Createbarcodes.com is the cheapest I’ve found. Testing these with bar code reader software is still a good idea. If you have many different sizes, colors, or products, you may find it cheaper to just buy barcode generator software.
3.) Barcode Software
I must have tried some 15 different free barcode generator programs and not a single one worked well. I would have thought at least one good free program would exist. Alas, no. And most paid programs sell for $150-$399! One program that seems to be widely used and isn’t all that expensive is Barcode X (MAC & PC). The full version is ridiculously expensive, at $430. But the UPC-A only version is $56. If you need an ISBN generator instead, they also have a version that you can choose any two barcode formats for $160. If you know of good software that is cheaper still, please comment below and I’ll add it in!
How can I test my new barcode?
The smartest way to test your new barcode is to pick up a cheap, USB barcode scanner. To your computer, using a barcode scanner is the same as just typing really quickly. Most USB scanners don’t even require drivers. Just plug it in, scan your bar code, and see if it reads the digits you intended to code into your barcode.
Do I need to get a barcode?
No, there’s no law requiring it. But most large retailers will only accept your product if it has a proper barcode.
What type of barcode do I need?
Books – Worldwide
Bookland EAN format with ISBN #
Nearly all countries worldwide use ISBN numbers for books. In fact, 159 countries are ISBN members. Notice that the Bookland EAN barcode is the same format as the EAN-13 barcode below, with the only exception being that all bookland barcodes begin with either 978 or 979 to indicate that the product is a book.
Retail – USA/North America
UPC-A format with UPC #
Nearly all products sold in North America use a UPC-A barcode.
Retail – Europe
EAN-13 format with EAN #
Nearly all products sold in Europe use an EAN-13 barcode.
So, WTF is up with all the other types?
Mostly they’re used for inventory control, coupons, or tracking shipped packages.
How do I get an ISBN number? How much does an ISBN number cost?
ISBN numbers are issued by the U.S. Library of Congress and are purchased from R.R. Bowker. R.R. Bowker is the ‘database of record’ for the ISBN Agency. Unfortunately, they have a monopoly on the gig.
If you need only one ISBN, you can buy it for $125 from Identifier Services (which is part of R.R. Bowker). This gets you your own unique ISBN assigned to your own publishing company and also free listing within the Books in Print directory.
If you need more than one ISBN, you can buy your ISBNs the traditional way, in blocks from R.R. Bowker. According to ISBN.org: “ISBNs are sold in blocks of 10, 100, and 1,000. When purchasing ISBNs, we recommend that you estimate the amount of publications you will be publishing within the next five years, and select the block that best suits your needs. It is always best to select the block that will last you for a few years because you will be able to maintain one publisher prefix, and minimize the unit cost per ISBN. When purchasing a larger block of ISBNs, the price per ISBN decreases.”
10 ISBN’s – $245 + $30 application fee
They call it an application fee, but I’ve never heard of anybody getting rejected for an ISBN. So don’t worry about the approval process.
Once you have your ISBN number, don’t forget to register your book title with Books in Print at www.bowkerlink.com. This will associate your chosen book title with your selected ISBN number. It’s free.
Once you have your ISBN, you’re now a publisher in the eyes of the book industry!
How do I get a UPC number? How much does a UPC number cost?
Okay. So this one is a little more complicated. I’m not going to lie.
UPC numbers are issued by GS1-US in the United States (formerly Uniform Code Council) and elsewhere by GS1 (formerly EAN International).
If you need a single UPC, you can buy it from one of a number of resellers online for under $100, but there is a BIG caveat if you go this route:
You will NOT be able to sell your product at Wal-Mart and Krogers if buy your UPC number from a reseller. This is because Wal-Mart & Krogers require a copy of your GS1-US Certificate with your company name and company prefix on it. So to get your product carried by these stores, you have to purchase your own unique company prefix directly from GS1-US or GS1, unfortunately. It’s interesting to note that officials from Wal-Mart and Kroger are the ones who founded the UCC/GS1 and are on the governing board. (Thanks to EZupc.com for that insight.)
Check out George Laurer’s website (the inventor of the UPC) for a list of resellers he has recommended and not received any complaints about. Click on ‘List of companies selling U.P.C. numbers.’
Current prices to purchase a GS1 company prefix and 100 unique UPC numbers (the smallest lot available) are $750 for the initial membership fee + $150 each year for the annual renewal fee.
If you do not plan to sell nationally via Wal-Mart or Krogers, then buying your UPC from a reseller is a perfectly legitimate way to go so long as read George Laurer’s list of recommendations first.
How do I get an EAN?
The process is the same as it is for a UPC. You can buy EAN numbers via resellers or directly via GS1.org. However, you may want to note that although EAN’s cannot be used worldwide, UPCs CAN be used worldwide. So you may just want to get a UPC on your product, instead of an EAN.
Good luck!
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Thanks for the post.
You can also purchase ISBN’s and have access to them instantly on http://www.MyIdentifiers.com
You can also upload meta data and generate and download your bar codes!
-Mike Ruel
Product Manager
Bowker