Last updated 12 February 2026SKUWorks Team
Code 128 (high-density internal barcode)
Use for: internal IDs, pick/pack labels, shelf labels, asset tracking.
Barcode Types
Printing
Retail
Code 128
EAN-13
UPC-A
ITF-14
GS1-128
QR code
quiet zone
print size
What does this barcode do?
Code 128 encodes the full ASCII character set (letters, numbers, special characters) with no fixed length. Use it for SKU codes, internal IDs, shelf labels, pick-and-pack labels, and asset tags. It has no Application Identifiers or GS1 structure — it encodes plain text.
For structured supply-chain data (batch, expiry, serial in a defined format), use GS1-128 instead. For free-form alphanumeric identifiers, Code 128 is ideal.
Safe print sizes
- •Short data (8–12 chars): 40 × 12 mm (recommended)
- •Medium data (12–20 chars): 60 × 15 mm
- •Longer data: go 80–100 mm wide if you need it to scan fast.
Quiet zone (blank margin)
Leave at least 2–3 mm on both sides.
Tip
Code 128 gets wider as the data gets longer — don't force it into tiny spaces.
Generate Code 128 barcodes online
GTINs Explained — when to use EAN-13, UPC-A, ITF-14 and more.