Free, no signup. Updated November 2026
Free Code 39 barcode generator
Enter a value and print a Code 39 label for the systems that still ask for it.
Code 39, also called Code 3 of 9, is the older alphanumeric barcode that many asset systems, government forms and legacy scanners still require. Enter one value or paste a list and download a PDF, PNG or SVG. Values are rendered in your browser and never uploaded.
Older warehouse scanners; uppercase letters, numbers, and a few symbols.
One value per line, up to 120 barcodes per PDF.
Live preview
1 valuePNG and SVG save the first value. The PDF has every label.
Code 39 at a glance
Code 39 dates from 1974 and is still written into many customer and industry labeling specs.
| Characters | 43: A to Z, 0 to 9, space, and - . $ / + % |
|---|---|
| Length | Variable, but each character is wide, so long values need long labels. |
| Check digit | None required. The symbol is self-checking; some specs add an optional one. |
| Start and stop | An asterisk at each end, added automatically. Don't type it. |
| Quiet zone | Blank space of 10 times the narrowest bar on each side. Every download includes it. |
| Used for | Asset and inventory tags, ID badges, automotive and defense supply labels, older warehouse scanners. |
Code 39 or Code 128?
Pick Code 39 when something requires it. Otherwise Code 128 is the better barcode.
Use Code 39 when a spec says so
Customer routing guides, government contracts and some asset-tracking software name Code 39 specifically. Match the spec.
Use Code 39 for very old scanners
Some scanners and fonts-based label setups from the 1990s and 2000s only read Code 39.
Use Code 128 for everything else
Code 128 encodes lowercase and more symbols, includes a check character, and prints noticeably narrower for the same value.
Width is the real cost
A 12 character Code 39 barcode can be too wide to scan well on a 2.25 inch label. If it has to be Code 39, use the 3 × 1 or 4 × 6 size.
Need the modern one? Make a Code 128 barcode.
How to make a Code 39 barcode
Three steps, about a minute, no account.
Step 1
Enter your value
Use letters, numbers, spaces and - . $ / + %. Leave out the asterisks; they are added for you.
Step 2
Pick a label size
Code 39 is wide. Choose 3 × 1 or 4 × 6 for anything longer than about ten characters.
Step 3
Download or print
Download the PDF, PNG or SVG, or print from the page at 100% scale.
Code 39 FAQs
- Is Code 39 the same as Code 3 of 9?
- Yes. Each character is made of nine bars and spaces, three of which are wide, which is where 3 of 9 comes from. Code 39, Code 3 of 9 and USD-3 are the same barcode.
- What characters does Code 39 support?
- 43 characters: the uppercase letters A to Z, the digits 0 to 9, space, and the symbols - . $ / + %. For lowercase letters or other symbols, use Code 128.
- Do I need to add asterisks to a Code 39 barcode?
- Not here. The asterisk is Code 39's start and stop character. Barcode fonts make you type it, but this tool adds it to the bars automatically, so enter only your value.
- Does Code 39 have a check digit?
- Not by default. Code 39 is self-checking, so a single printing flaw usually makes the label unreadable rather than misread. Some industry specs call for an optional modulo 43 check character; this tool makes standard Code 39 without it.
- Why is my Code 39 barcode so wide?
- Code 39 uses more space per character than newer barcodes. Shorten the value, use a wider label, or switch to Code 128 if nothing requires Code 39.
Other barcode types
The same tool makes every type below. Not sure which one you need? The barcode maker has a chooser.
- UPC Barcode GeneratorUPC-A barcodes from 11 or 12 digits, with the check digit calculated or verified. PDF, PNG and SVG.
- Code 128 Barcode GeneratorCode 128 barcodes from any SKU, order number or text, one at a time or as a batch PDF.
- ITF-14 Barcode GeneratorITF-14 case barcodes from a GTIN-14, with bearer bars and the check digit handled.
- EAN-13 Barcode GeneratorEAN-13 barcodes from 12 or 13 digits, with the check digit calculated or verified.
- FNSKU Label GeneratorAmazon FNSKU item labels with the barcode, title and condition, on thermal labels or Avery 5160 sheets.
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