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Free ITF-14 Barcode Generator

Interleaved 2 of 5 carton barcode with thick bearer bars for corrugated shipping boxes.

11. Selected SymbologyGS1 General Specifications / ISO/IEC 16390

ITF-14

ITF-14 — 14-digit numeric code for shipping cartons, master cases, and corrugated boxes.

22. Enter Barcode ValueVALID ✅

ℹ️ 14 Numeric digits (0-9)

⚙️ Barcode Sizing & Visual Style▼

Bar Width (2x)

Bar Height (px)

Quiet Zone Margin

Text Font Size

Bar Color

Background Color

Display Human-Readable Text

Text Position

Instant Barcode Preview

Vector Live Preview

Download Format:

TECHNICAL SPECCHECKSUM PASS

TYPE: ITF-14

LENGTH: 14

DATA: 10012345678902

What is ITF-14 Barcode?

Interleaved 2 of 5 carton barcode with thick bearer bars for corrugated shipping boxes. Defined under standard GS1 General Specifications / ISO/IEC 16390, ITF-14 is engineered for fast, reliable optical scanning across industrial and commercial environments.

Specification	Details
Standard Symbology	ITF-14 (GS1 General Specifications / ISO/IEC 16390)
Character Set	14 Numeric digits (0-9)
Checksum Algorithm	Modulo 10 check digit (3x odd positions + 1x even positions)
Quiet Zone Margin	10 times the narrow bar width on left and right
Processing Mode	100% Client-Side In-Browser (Zero Server Logs)

✅ Key Advantages

•Thick outer Bearer Bars prevent misreads caused by laser scanner over-scanning
•Can be printed directly onto low-grade corrugated cardboard with high readability

📦 Common Use Cases

•Master cartons and outer packaging containers
•Warehouse pallet scanning and logistics distribution
•Wholesale shipping boxes containing multiple consumer retail units

📐Engineering Specification

Deep-Dive: How ITF-14 Encodes Data

ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5, 14 Digits) is the global standard carton packaging symbology governed by GS1 General Specifications and ISO/IEC 16390. Unlike UPC or EAN barcodes which identify individual retail consumer items, ITF-14 is specifically engineered for secondary packaging: corrugated shipping cases, master cartons, outer boxes, and warehouse pallets containing multiple consumer units. Its thick outer "bearer bars" allow high-speed scanning even on uneven, low-grade recycled cardboard.

⚙️ Interleaved Numeric Encoding & Protective Bearer Bars

ITF-14 encodes digits in interleaved pairs, dramatically reducing physical width:

›Interleaved Architecture: Digits are encoded in pairs. The first digit is represented by 5 bars (2 of which are wide), while the second digit is simultaneously encoded in the 5 spaces immediately following (2 of which are wide). This interleaving cuts symbol width by half.
›14 Numeric Digits: Structure includes Packaging Indicator (1 digit indicating case packaging level), GS1 Company Prefix, Item Reference, and a final GS1 Modulo 10 check digit.
›Protective Bearer Bars: Heavy black border bars surround the symbol (or run along the top and bottom). Bearer bars balance printing plate pressure during flexographic box printing and prevent "short scans" where an off-angle laser scanner reads only a fraction of the barcode.

🔬 Physical Barcode Anatomy & Zone Breakdown

Top & Bottom Bearer Bars

Thick black frame (typically 2x the X-dimension or 4.8 mm minimum) enclosing the symbol.

Quiet Zones

Generous blank margins (minimum 10x X-dimension or 10.16 mm) inside or preceding the bearer frame.

Start Pattern

Two narrow bars and two narrow spaces establishing the interleave sequence.

14 Encoded Digits

Seven interleaved bar/space pairs representing the GTIN-14 carton code.

Stop Pattern

One wide bar, one narrow space, and one narrow bar signaling symbol termination.

🖨️ Production & Printing Best Practices

✔Print with bearer bars completely enclosing the symbol when printing directly onto corrugated kraft cardboard boxes.
✔Position ITF-14 labels at least 32 mm (1.25 inches) from the bottom edge of the master carton and at least 19 mm from any vertical corner to avoid corner folds.
✔Maintain an X-dimension of at least 0.495 mm to 1.016 mm for long-distance warehouse conveyor readability.

📷

Optical Scanner Compatibility: Ideal for long-range warehouse laser scanners, conveyor automated sorters, cross-dock distribution scanners, and forklift-mounted rugged terminals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the black frames around an ITF-14 barcode?

The thick black border is called a "Bearer Bar". It equalizes the pressure of printing plates and prevents optical scanners from generating partial misreads if the laser beam crosses the top or bottom edge of the barcode.