Professional ITF-14 Barcode Generator
ITF-14 is the code you find on the brown outer box, not on the retail unit inside it. It is the GS1 standard for cartons and pallets, and it carries the 14-digit GTIN that ties a shipping case back to the product it holds.
Why it looks different
ITF-14 is built for rough corrugated cardboard, which soaks up ink and blurs fine detail. The symbology underneath is Interleaved 2 of 5 — digits encoded in pairs, one in the bars and one in the spaces, which is why the digit count must always be even. The heavy black frame around it — the bearer bar — stops the printing plate from distorting the bars and helps the scanner lock on even when the print quality is poor. It is a format designed for the loading dock, not the boutique.
How the 14 digits relate to your EAN
An ITF-14 is your product's 13-digit GTIN with an indicator digit in front. The indicator marks the packaging level: 1 for a case of the product, 2 for a larger case or pallet layer, and so on up to 8; 9 is reserved for variable-measure goods. Change the indicator, recalculate the check digit, and the same product gets a distinct code at each level of packaging — which is how a warehouse system can tell one bottle from a case of twelve.
Technical specification
| Character set | Digits only, always an even count |
| Length | Fixed: 14 digits (indicator + 12 data + check digit) |
| Check digit | Mandatory, modulo 10 (same algorithm as EAN/UPC) |
| X-dimension | 0.495–1.016 mm for general distribution (larger than retail codes on purpose) |
| Bearer bar | Required when printing direct on corrugate; minimum 4.8 mm thick |
| Quiet zone | 10× X-dimension on both sides |
Printing notes
Printed direct on corrugate (flexo), use the full bearer frame and the larger end of the X-dimension range — conveyor scanners read from a distance. Printed on a label that is then stuck to the box, a top-and-bottom bearer bar is enough. Either way, keep the code at least 32 mm from vertical box edges so case sealers and conveyor rails do not damage it.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ITF-14 be scanned at a retail checkout?
No — POS systems expect EAN/UPC. ITF-14 is for logistics units only. If a case can also be sold as a unit (a crate of water), it needs its own EAN-13 in addition to the ITF-14.
Why does my input get rejected for odd length?
Interleaved 2 of 5 encodes digits in pairs, so the total count must be even. A proper ITF-14 is always exactly 14 digits; if you have 13, the missing one is the leading indicator digit.
Do I need GS1 registration for ITF-14?
The GTIN inside it comes from your GS1-registered number range, same as your EAN-13 — you do not register the ITF-14 separately. More on GS1 numbering.
The complete carton-marking walkthrough is in the ITF-14 guide, and building a warehouse barcode system covers where case codes fit in the bigger picture.