Generate a Code 39 barcode — the rugged, widely-supported symbology used in automotive, defense, and inventory where simple, reliable scanning matters more than density. Type uppercase letters, digits, and a few symbols, and the barcode renders instantly in your browser. Download as SVG or PNG.
How the code 39 barcode generator works
Code 39 encodes uppercase letters A–Z, digits 0–9, the space, and the symbols - . $ / + and %. It does not support lowercase letters, so this generator works with the uppercase set. If you need lowercase or symbols, use Code 128 instead.
About Code 39 Barcodes
Code 39 (also called Code 3 of 9) was one of the first alphanumeric barcodes and is still everywhere in industrial and government settings. It encodes 43 characters plus a start/stop, is self-checking, and is read by virtually every barcode scanner — at the cost of being less compact than Code 128.
Frequently asked questions
- What characters does Code 39 support?
- Code 39 encodes uppercase letters A–Z, digits 0–9, the space, and the symbols - . $ / + and %. It does not support lowercase letters, so this generator works with the uppercase set. If you need lowercase or symbols, use Code 128 instead.
- Does Code 39 require a check digit?
- No. Code 39 is self-checking and does not require a check digit for most uses, which is part of why it has been popular for decades in industrial and government applications. The generator produces a valid symbol from your data directly.
- Is Code 39 still used today?
- Yes — Code 39 remains common in automotive (it underpins the old AIAG labels), defense logistics, healthcare, and ID badges, largely because nearly every scanner reads it. Code 128 is denser, but Code 39's ubiquity keeps it in service.