Which barcode do I need?
Barcodes can be confusing at first. Hence, we have put together this table to help you determine which type of barcode you need.
| Product | Which barcode do I need? |
| Alcohol | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Art books (includes illustrated books with a title page and/or text or captions) | ISBN Barcode |
| Asset tracking | Code 39 or code 128 barcodes |
| Artwork | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Atlases | ISBN Barcode |
| Audiobooks | ISBN Barcode |
| Board games, jigsaws | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Book – published (includes Braille, hardback, paperback, e-book) | ISBN barcode |
| Book – non-published (includes colouring book, crossword, sudoku) | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Brochures and pamphlets | ISBN Barcode |
| Calendars | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Compact discs (CDs) | EAN or UPC barcodes.
ISBNs if the CD is prose or educational |
| Clothing & Footwear | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Comic books | ISBN Barcode |
| Cosmetics | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Coupons | EAN or UPC barcodes – check with the retailer you wish the coupon to be used in |
| DVDs | EAN or UPC barcodes
ISBNs if they are educational |
| Electronics | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Electronic newsletters/e-zines | ISSN barcodes |
| Flashcards | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Food | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Garden products | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Graphic novels | ISBN Barcode |
| Greeting cards | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Historical documents | ISBN barcodes |
| Homewares | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Journals and diaries | Non-published use EAN or UPC barcodes
Historical or published diaries use ISBN barcodes |
| Library systems | Code 39 or code 128 barcodes |
| Magazines | ISSN barcodes |
| Maps | ISBN barcodes |
| Medicines | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Music (tracks or albums, not sheet music) | EAN or UPC barcode |
| Pamphlets | ISBN barcodes |
| Pictures and photographs | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Postcards | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Posters and art prints | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Serials (magazines, periodicals, etc.) | ISSN Barcode |
| Serials (magazines, periodicals, etc.) if being sold as a one-off book | ISBN barcode |
| Sheet music | ISMN barcode |
| Software | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Stationery items | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Supplements & Vitamins | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Tools | EAN or UPC barcodes |
| Toys, including stuffed animals | EAN or UPC barcodes |