Free ITF-14 Barcode Generator

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Generate ITF-14 barcodes online for free. ITF-14 is the GS1 standard for identifying cartons and outer trade-unit packaging in the supply chain — the printed code you see on the side of a cardboard box containing many retail units. It encodes a 14-digit GTIN-14 (indicator digit + GTIN-13 base + check digit) in the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology and is usually surrounded by a heavy black frame known as the bearer bar. Paste 13 digits and the check digit is appended automatically. Export PNG or SVG directly from your browser.

1. Select barcode type

2. Enter content and adjust style

13–14 digits — e.g. 10012345678902

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Where you see ITF-14 in the supply chain

ITF-14 dominates cartons and cases entering the warehouse logistics chain: the side of a corrugated case of soft drinks, the top of a master carton of cosmetics, or the box of individually wrapped confectionery bound for a supermarket distribution centre. It is scanned at receiving, during pallet build-up, and at outbound dispatch — but almost never at the retail till, where the individual unit inside carries its own EAN-13.

Printing ITF-14 on corrugated cardboard

GS1 specifies three print-quality tiers for ITF-14 depending on where the code will be scanned. Direct thermal on clean labels can use a 0.5 mm X-dimension. Flexographic printing directly on corrugated board needs a larger X-dimension (1.016 mm is common) and the full bearer bar. Always verify print quality by scanning a sample under the lighting conditions of your destination warehouse — dusty or damp environments are unforgiving.

FAQ

What is an ITF-14 barcode?

ITF-14 is the GS1-specified barcode for labelling cartons, cases, and other outer trade units that are not themselves sold at retail till. It encodes a 14-digit GTIN-14: a single indicator digit (1–8, denoting the packaging level), the 13-digit GTIN of the contained unit, and a modulo-10 check digit. The symbology is Interleaved 2 of 5, which encodes pairs of digits in interleaved bars and spaces.

How is ITF-14 different from EAN-13?

EAN-13 identifies an individual consumer unit (a bottle, a box of cereal) and is scanned at the retail till. ITF-14 identifies the outer packaging of many such units (a carton of 24 bottles, a shipping case of 12 boxes) and is scanned in warehouses and distribution centres. The two are paired: the ITF-14 on the carton embeds the EAN-13 of the product inside, prefixed by an indicator digit showing how many are packed.

Why do ITF-14 barcodes have a black frame around them?

The frame is the "bearer bar" — a solid rectangle surrounding the barcode that serves two purposes: it prevents partial scans from misreading truncated barcodes (a known hazard with Interleaved 2 of 5), and it strengthens the printed bars against ink-spread on corrugated carton surfaces. GS1 specifications require the bearer bar for ITF-14 printed directly on cardboard, though it can be omitted for barcodes on clean label stock.

Why does ITF-14 always need exactly 14 digits?

Interleaved 2 of 5 can only encode an even number of digits because each bar pattern represents two digits simultaneously — one in the bars and one in the spaces. GS1 fixed the length at 14 to accommodate a 13-digit GTIN plus a one-digit indicator, and the final check digit keeps the total even. Any other length is not valid ITF-14, though generic Interleaved 2 of 5 is still sometimes used internally at other even lengths.

Does ITF-14 require GS1 registration?

The GTIN-14 embedded inside the ITF-14 must be built from a GS1-allocated GTIN-13 (or UPC-A) — so yes, if the contained product is a retail item, you need the same GS1 membership required for EAN-13. The indicator digit and check digit are then calculated automatically from that base GTIN. For purely internal logistics, you can generate arbitrary 14-digit codes, but they will not be valid for EDI exchange with retailers.

What is a GTIN-14?

GTIN-14 is the 14-digit Global Trade Item Number — the numeric value encoded by ITF-14. It consists of a single-digit packaging-level indicator (1 = inner case, 2 = carton, 3 = pallet, and so on, up to 8), followed by the 13-digit GTIN of the contained item (with its leading zero if derived from UPC-A), and closed by a modulo-10 check digit computed over the first 13 digits.

Glossary

ITF-14

The GS1-defined barcode for outer trade-unit packaging. Uses the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology to encode a 14-digit GTIN-14 and is typically printed with a bearer bar for scan reliability. Specified in GS1 General Specifications and ISO/IEC 16390.

GTIN-14

The 14-digit Global Trade Item Number encoded by ITF-14: a packaging-level indicator (1–8) + the 13-digit GTIN of the inner product + a check digit. GTIN-14 identifies the carton, not the individual items inside.

Interleaved 2 of 5

A continuous 1D symbology that encodes digit pairs by interleaving two digits into a single bar-space group — the first digit in the bars, the second in the spaces. Compact and fast to print, but requires an even digit count and a bearer bar to prevent partial-read errors.

Bearer bar

The heavy black rectangle framing an ITF-14 barcode. It prevents scanners from reading a partial code if the label is torn, and structurally supports the ink on the fibrous surface of corrugated cardboard, reducing scan failures in warehouse environments.

Indicator digit

The first digit of a GTIN-14 (1–8) that indicates the packaging level of the trade unit. Convention varies by company, but 1 typically means an inner pack, 2 a standard case, 3 a larger carton, and higher values successively larger aggregations. Zero is reserved for consumer-level units (where GTIN-13 is used instead).

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