ITF-12 Barcode Generator API
12-digit Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode
Sample ITF-12 barcode
Generated live by the BarGen API from 15400141288
ITF-12 is a 12-digit variant of the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology, sitting between UPC-A 12-digit numbering and ITF-14 14-digit carton format. It is used by some manufacturers to print a carton-level identifier that mirrors the digit count of the UPC-A code found on the individual retail units inside, simplifying cross-referencing between case and item during receiving. As with all Interleaved 2 of 5 variants, only an even number of digits can be encoded.
BarGen accepts an 11-digit string with format set to itf12 and calculates the 12th check digit automatically using the standard modulo-10 method shared with ITF-14 and UPC-A. Output is returned as SVG for carton label artwork or PNG for logistics documentation, with bar width and height defaults tuned for corrugated carton printing.
ITF-12 is a variant of the Interleaved Two of Five barcode family that encodes 11 or 12 digits. Since the Interleaved 2 of 5 symbology requires an even number of digits, an 11-digit input is automatically padded with a leading zero to produce a 12-digit barcode.
The symbology encodes digits in pairs—one digit in the bars, the other in the spaces between them—creating a compact and efficient linear barcode. It is used in various logistics, inventory, and industrial applications.
Common use cases
Carton coding matched to UPC-A units
Manufacturers packing UPC-A retail units into cartons sometimes use ITF-12 so the case barcode digit length lines up with the unit barcode for easier manual cross-checking.
Regional distribution center receiving
Some regional distribution centers apply ITF-12 on inbound cartons for scanning during receiving where a full 14-digit ITF-14 code is not required by their system.
Private label case packaging
Private label brands with simpler supply chains sometimes standardize on ITF-12 for case labels rather than adopting the full GS1 ITF-14 carton specification.
Generate ITF-12 via the REST API
curl "https://api.bargen.pro/v1/barcode/itf12?data=15400141288&format=svg" \
-H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"Returns the barcode as SVG. See the API documentation for all options.
Frequently asked questions
Is ITF-12 a GS1 standard?
No. GS1 official carton-level symbology is ITF-14. ITF-12 is a non-standard variant used by specific manufacturers or distribution systems that settled on a 12-digit carton code before or instead of adopting ITF-14.
How does ITF-12 relate to ITF-14?
Both use the same Interleaved 2 of 5 encoding method and modulo-10 checksum, but ITF-14 always contains 14 digits including a mandatory packaging indicator, while ITF-12 contains 12 digits without that indicator digit.
Will a standard GS1 scanner read ITF-12?
Most scanners configured for Interleaved 2 of 5 will decode ITF-12 without issue, since it uses the same bar pattern rules, but downstream systems expecting a specific digit count or GS1-formatted GTIN may need custom handling for the shorter length.
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