1D Barcodes Explained: Types, Uses, and How to Choose

They’re on every tin, bottle, and box in your kitchen cupboard. They’re on the carton that arrived from your last online order and the wristband you wore at your last hospital appointment. 1D barcodes are so embedded in daily commerce that most of us stopped noticing them years ago – but understanding them properly matters if you’re making decisions about labelling.

This guide covers the main linear barcode types in use across UK industries, what each one does well, where it falls short, and how to make sure yours are printed to a standard that actually scans.

What Is a 1D Barcode?

A 1D barcode – also called a linear barcode – encodes data horizontally through a series of parallel bars and spaces of varying widths. A scanner reads the pattern from left to right, converts it into a string of characters, and passes the result to your system.

The key constraint is data capacity. Most linear barcodes max out at around 20-85 characters depending on the format, and the more data you encode, the wider the barcode gets. That width limit is why more complex applications have moved toward 2D formats – but for the majority of retail, logistics, and asset tracking applications, a linear format is exactly what you need.

One important advantage: any standard laser or CCD scanner can read these codes. You don’t need specialist imaging hardware.

The Main Types of 1D Barcode

EAN-13: The UK Retail Standard

EAN-13 is the 1D barcode format on virtually every product sold through UK and European retail. It encodes 13 digits: a two or three digit country code, a GS1 company prefix, a product reference, and a check digit. The check digit is calculated from the other 12 and acts as a built-in validation against scanning errors.

If you’re selling through any major UK retailer – supermarkets, online marketplaces, high street chains – you need GS1 UK membership to obtain a company prefix. Without it, you can’t guarantee your product codes are globally unique, and retailers have grounds to reject them.

EAN-8 is the compact variant for small products where a full 13-digit code simply won’t fit.

Code 128: The Logistics Workhorse

Code 128 is the most widely used 1D barcode in logistics, warehousing, and serialisation. It supports the full 128-character ASCII set, encodes data at high density (meaning physically shorter barcodes for the same data), and includes a mandatory check character.

GS1-128 is a structured version of Code 128 that uses Application Identifiers – standardised prefixes that define what each data field means. A single GS1-128 barcode can carry a product’s GTIN, batch number, expiry date, and net weight in sequence. It’s the required format in food manufacturing supply chains, pharmaceutical distribution, and anywhere a retailer’s goods-in system needs structured product data.

ITF-14: For Cartons and Cases

ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5 – 14 digits) is the format for outer cartons, shipper cases, and pallets. It encodes the 14-digit GTIN used to identify traded units rather than individual consumer products. Designed to be printed directly onto corrugated board, its wide bars and generous quiet zones tolerate the rougher surfaces and lower print resolution of flexographic printing on packaging.

If you ship to a retailer’s distribution centre, expect your outer cases to need ITF-14. Check your retailer’s supplier guidelines for minimum bar height and quiet zone requirements before finalising your specification.

Code 39: Manufacturing and Asset Tracking

Code 39 (also called Code 3 of 9) was one of the first barcode formats to support both letters and numbers. It encodes 26 capital letters, digits 0-9, and a handful of special characters, with a self-checking mechanism built into each character.

Still widely used for asset labels, manufacturing tracking, defence, and equipment identification. Its main limitation is physical size – it takes more space than Code 128 for the same data, which can be a problem on smaller labels.

When a Linear Barcode Is Enough – and When It Isn’t

Linear barcodes are the right choice when your scanner infrastructure is laser or CCD-based, when you only need to encode a short product identifier or reference number, or when your industry standard demands them – EAN-13 for retail, ITF-14 for outer cases. They decode fast and work on virtually any scanner without specialist hardware.

2D formats like Data Matrix or QR become the better option when you need to encode significant volumes of data in a small footprint, or when smartphone scanning by consumers is part of your process. If in doubt, talk to us – we’ll help you work it out.

Getting Your Barcode Labels Right

Print Quality, Quiet Zones, and Size

The most common failure points are quiet zones (the blank margins to the left and right of the bars – crowd them and the scanner can’t locate the code), bar/space contrast (black on white is always the safest choice), and minimum size. EAN-13 has a defined minimum width of 26.73mm at 80% magnification. ITF-14 is more tolerant of size variation but many retailers specify their own minimum dimensions in supplier guidelines.

Our Screen UV inkjet press runs at 600dpi and 50 metres per minute, well-suited to high-volume barcode label production on polypropylene and paper. For short runs and test batches, our Jetrion press with built-in laser die cutting lets you validate size and substrate before committing to volume.

Frequently Asked Questions About Linear Barcodes

Do I need to register with GS1 UK before printing EAN-13 barcodes? Yes, if you’re selling through UK or European retailers. GS1 UK membership gives you a company prefix, which is the foundation of any GS1 barcode. Free online barcode generators don’t provide this – they create barcodes with random or recycled numbers that aren’t tied to your business.

Can I use Code 128 instead of EAN-13 for retail products? No. Retail point-of-sale systems are configured to read EAN-13 (and UPC-A). Code 128 won’t scan at a supermarket checkout. Use EAN-13 for consumer products, Code 128 for internal tracking and logistics.

My supplier says I need a GS1-128 barcode – what’s different from Code 128? GS1-128 uses the same encoding as Code 128 but with a defined structure. The FNC1 character in the start sequence signals to the scanner that Application Identifiers follow. It’s how the same barcode can carry your batch number, best-before date, and product GTIN without ambiguity.

What’s the minimum order for printed barcode labels? We work with a wide range of quantities – short test batches on the Jetrion through to high-volume production runs on the Screen press. Call 01332 864895 for a quote tailored to your volume.

How do I know my barcodes will scan reliably? Test them. Use a barcode verifier (not just a scanner) to check print quality against ISO 15416. A verifier grades your barcode and flags specific issues – contrast, edge definition, quiet zone compliance – that a simple scanner pass/fail won’t catch.

Can barcode labels be printed in colours other than black on white? Technically yes, but with risk. Scanners read contrast between bars and spaces – some colour combinations that look fine visually have poor contrast in the red light spectrum most laser scanners use. Black on white is always the safest specification.

Get Your 1D Barcode Labels Printed Right

Large enough to handle high-volume runs. Attentive enough to get the specification right first time. Positive ID Labels has been printing barcode labels for UK businesses for over 20 years.

Not sure which 1D barcode type applies to your application? Our team can advise. Call 01332 864895 or submit an enquiry and we’ll come back to you with guidance, pricing, and free samples where applicable.

Related guides: A Plain English Guide to Barcode Symbologies | 2D Barcodes Explained | GS1 and EAN-13: A UK Guide | View our Barcode Labels

All guides are provided in good faith for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Read our Regulatory Information Disclaimer