Whether you want to add a barcode to a product, create a tracking barcode for a cargo package, or print inventory labels for warehouse products – barcode creation and printing must be done right. A barcode printed in the wrong format or low quality won't scan at the checkout, will get lost in shipment, and will cause problems in the warehouse.
In this guide, we explain which barcode type to use when and how to print them in professional quality.
Barcode Types: Which One Should I Use?
1D Barcodes (Line Barcodes)
| Type | Characters | Use Case | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 13 rakam | Perakende ürün barkodu (Türkiye/Avrupa standart) | Marketteki her ürün |
| EAN-8 | 8 rakam | Küçük ürünler için kısa barkod | Sakız, pil gibi küçük ambalajlar |
| UPC-A | 12 rakam | ABD/Kanada perakende standardı | Amazon FBA ürünleri |
| Code 128 | Harf + Rakam | Lojistik, kargo, envanter | Kargo takip no, seri numarası |
| Code 39 | Harf + Rakam | Endüstri, askeri, otomotiv | Parça numaraları |
| ITF-14 | 14 rakam | Koli/palet barkodu, toptan satış | Depo giriş-çıkış |
| Code 93 | Harf + Rakam | Posta ve lojistik | Kargo firması barkodu |
2D Barcodes (Square/Matrix Barcodes)
| Type | Capacity | Use Case | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR Code | ~4296 characters | URL, vCard, Wi-Fi, menu | Restaurant menu, website link |
| DataMatrix | ~2335 characters | Healthcare, electronics, part tracking | Medication box, electronic part |
| PDF417 | ~1850 characters | ID, driver's license, ticket | Airplane ticket, cargo document |
| Aztec | ~3832 characters | Transportation, ticketing | Train ticket, event ticket |
If you're selling products in retail: EAN-13 (Get your number from TOBB in Turkey)
Cargo/logistics: Code 128
Redirect to website: QR Code
Amazon FBA: UPC-A or FNSKU
Warehouse/inventory: Code 128 or DataMatrix
Industrial parts: DataMatrix or Code 39
How to Get a Product Barcode in Turkey? (EAN-13)
You need to obtain an official EAN-13 barcode for products to be sold in retail:
Apply to GS1 Turkey through TOBB (Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey)
Get your company code – Turkey prefix starting with 868/869
Assign a unique number to each of your products
Create EAN-13 barcode in LabelInn and add it to your label
Do not generate random barcode numbers from the internet. Barcodes without official GS1 registration will be rejected in retail and cause serious problems. For your internal use (warehouse, inventory), you can use any number you want.
Barcode Creation Methods
Method 1: Online Barcode Generator
Simple and fast but has limitations:
- ✅ Sufficient for creating a single barcode
- ❌ Cannot create bulk barcodes
- ❌ No label design – only provides barcode image
- ❌ Print quality not guaranteed (image-based)
- ❌ No data binding
Method 2: Excel + Barcode Font
You can create barcodes by installing a barcode font in Excel, but:
- ⚠️ Only Code 39 and Code 128 work (EAN-13 is difficult)
- ⚠️ Font installation required
- ❌ Low barcode quality – scannability not guaranteed
- ❌ Font compatibility issues on macOS
Method 3: Professional Barcodes with LabelInn (Recommended)
Open LabelInn → "New Label" → Select size
Click "Add Barcode" button
Select barcode type:
- For products → EAN-13
- For cargo → Code 128
- For web links → QR Code
Enter the number or bind data from Excel
Print – native barcode is generated on the printer with ZPL ✅
Barcode Print Quality: Why Is It Important?
Creating barcodes is as critical as printing them correctly:
| Problem | Cause | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode not scanning | Low DPI, image-based printing | No beep at checkout, cargo lost |
| Barcode lines merged | Printer calibration broken | Wrong scan, wrong product |
| Barcode too small | Wrong size calculation | Handheld scanner can't read |
| Insufficient contrast | Low print density | Laser scanner can't detect |
LabelInn does not send barcodes as images. It tells the printer "convert this number to a barcode" with ZPL commands. The printer draws the barcode on its own processor. Result: always sharp, scannable, professional quality.
QR Code Usage Ideas
You don't have to use QR codes only for website links:
| Content | What It Does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| URL | Redirect to web page | Product page, campaign link |
| vCard | Share contact information | QR on business card |
| Wi-Fi | Auto-connect to Wi-Fi | Restaurant, hotel, office |
| Text | Short message/instruction | Product usage instruction |
| Pre-filled email | "Create support request" button | |
| Start WhatsApp chat | Customer support |
Toplu Barkod Oluşturma (Excel'den)
500 ürününüz var ve hepsine barkod etiketi basmanız gerekiyor? Manuel tek tek mi? Kesinlikle hayır.
Excel dosyanızda "Barkod" sütununa numara girin
LabelInn'de barkod elementini bu sütuna bağlayın
"Tümünü Yazdır" – 500 farklı barkod etiketi tek seferde ✅
Barkod Boyutu Rehberi
| Barkod Tipi | Minimum Genişlik | Minimum Yükseklik | Önerilen |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAN-13 | 31.35 mm | 22.85 mm | 37.29 × 25.93 mm (%100) |
| EAN-8 | 21.64 mm | 17.05 mm | 26.73 × 21.64 mm |
| Code 128 | Veri uzunluğuna göre değişir | 5 mm | Genişlik: ≥30mm, Yükseklik: ≥10mm |
| QR Code | 10 × 10 mm | 10 × 10 mm | ≥15 × 15 mm |
| DataMatrix | 5 × 5 mm | 5 × 5 mm | ≥10 × 10 mm |
Create and Print Professional Barcodes
Barcode creation and label design in one app. 14 days free.
LabelInn'i Ücretsiz Deneyin →Sıkça Sorulan Sorular
Barkod numarasını kendim belirleyebilir miyim?
İç kullanım (depo, envanter) için evet. Perakende satış için GS1 Türkiye'den resmi numara almanız gerekir.
QR kod ve barkod aynı etikette olabilir mi?
Evet. Bir etikette hem EAN-13 barkod hem QR kod bulunabilir. Örneğin: barkod kasa için, QR kod ürün bilgi sayfası için.
Barkod etiketi için hangi yazıcı gerekir?
Termal etiket yazıcısı önerilir (Zebra, TSC, Xprinter vb.). Normal mürekkepli/lazer yazıcıdan da basabilirsiniz ama termal yazıcı çok daha hızlı ve ekonomiktir.
Oluşturduğum barkodu resim olarak kaydedebilir miyim?
Evet. LabelInn'den barkodu PNG veya SVG formatında dışa aktarabilirsiniz. Ama yazdırma için resim yerine ZPL ile yazıcıya göndermek çok daha kalitelidir.