Barcode and QR Code Guides

Plain, practical how-tos for printing barcodes, making QR codes and choosing the right format. Each one links to the tool you need.

• How to Print Barcode Labels That Actually Scan
  A barcode that looks fine on screen can still fail at the till or in the warehouse. Most scanning problems come from printing, not from the barcode itself. Here's how to avoid them.
• How to Make a Wi-Fi QR Code for Your Home or Café
  Nobody enjoys reading out a 20-character Wi-Fi password. A Wi-Fi QR code lets guests join your network by pointing their phone camera at it. Here's how to make one and use it sensibly.
• EAN-13 vs UPC-A: Which Barcode Do You Need?
  EAN-13 and UPC-A are the two barcodes you'll see on products in shops. They look nearly identical, which is no accident. Here's how they differ and how to choose.
• How to Put a QR Code on a Business Card
  A QR code on a business card can save someone from typing your details into their phone. Done well, it's useful. Done badly, it's a tiny square that nobody can scan. Here's how to do it well.
• Why Your QR Code Won't Scan (and How to Fix It)
  You've printed your QR code and it just won't scan. Don't worry. It's almost always one of a handful of causes, and each has a simple fix.
• Barcodes for Products You Sell: What You Need to Know
  If you're about to sell a product through shops or big online marketplaces, you'll be asked for a barcode. The tricky part isn't drawing the barcode. It's getting the right number. Here's how it works.
• Code 128 vs Code 39: Which One Should You Use?
  If you need a barcode that holds letters as well as numbers, you'll meet two names again and again: Code 128 and Code 39. Both work. Here's how to pick.
• How Barcode Check Digits Work (With a Worked Example)
  The last digit of an EAN or UPC barcode isn't random. It's a check digit, and it's there to catch mistakes. Here's how it's calculated, with a real example you can follow.
• QR Code Size and Error Correction Explained
  Two settings decide whether a QR code scans easily: how big you print it and how much error correction it has. Both are simple once you know the rules of thumb.
• Barcode vs QR Code: Which Should You Use?
  Barcodes and QR codes both turn information into a pattern a machine can read. They're not rivals though. Each is good at a different job. Here's how to pick.