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 retailer you wish 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 |
Flash cards | 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Historical documents | ISBN barcodes |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 |