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Barcode & QR code guides

Practical, no-fluff answers to the questions people actually search: creating a product barcode, size rules, printing labels that scan, fixing codes that don't, and what Sunrise 2027 means for your packaging.

Looking for a definition? See the barcode & QR glossary — 63 terms explained in plain English.

Barcodes

How to Create a Barcode for Your ProductWhen you need a GS1-licensed UPC/EAN, when free Code 128 is enough, and how to generate, size and test print-ready barcode artwork. Do I Need a GS1 Barcode to Sell on Amazon?when you need a GS1-licensed UPC/EAN, why cheap third-party UPC codes get listings blocked, and the GTIN exemption. Barcode Size RequirementsEAN-13/UPC-A nominal size, the 80%-200% magnification range, quiet zones, truncation, and ITF-14 on cartons. Why Is My Barcode Not Scanning?Barcode not scanning? Work through the 9 most common causes — contrast, quiet zones, size, ink spread, truncation, damage and scanner type. Are Free Barcode Generators Safe?privacy, watermarks, expiring codes and fake registration. How to Print Barcode LabelsPrint barcode labels three ways — Avery sheets, thermal rolls or professional printing — with the settings that prevent misaligned, unscannable labels. EAN vs UPC: What's the Difference?13 vs 12 digits in the same GS1 system, how UPC-A is an EAN-13 with a leading zero, and which to print for your market. Barcode Check Digit Explainedthe EAN-13 Mod-10 algorithm with a worked example, and what it can and cannot catch. How Do Barcodes Work?how bar widths encode digits, how laser and camera scanners read them, and why quiet zones and check digits matter.

QR codes

QR Code vs Barcode: What's the Difference?data capacity, scanners and damage tolerance — with plain guidance on which fits retail, logistics and marketing. QR Code Print Best Practicesminimum size, contrast and color rules, quiet zone, error correction, materials, and a pre-press test routine. Do QR Codes Expire?Static QR codes never expire — the data lives in the pattern. Dynamic codes can die with a subscription. How to tell which one you have. How Big Should a QR Code Be?the 10:1 scan-distance rule, the 2 cm print minimum, why more data means bigger codes, and sizes for cards, posters and menus. Data Matrix vs QR Codeminimum sizes, capacity, error correction, phone support, and which industries standardized on each. Restaurant Menu QR Code Guidestatic vs dynamic, hosting at a URL you control, table-tent sizing, lamination glare, and a launch checklist.

GS1 & Sunrise 2027

GS1 Digital Link Explainedthe web-URI barcode standard, what Sunrise 2027 requires by end-2027, dual marking, and what brands should do now.