How it works
- Enter the 13 digits before the check digit, or the full 14 digit GTIN. Spaces and hyphens are ignored.
- Read the check digit panel: added, valid, or wrong with the correct digit and a button to fix it.
- Keep the quiet zone at 10 modules or more, then download or print the ITF-14 barcode.
ITF-14 and the GTIN-14
A GTIN-14 for a case starts with an indicator digit from 1 to 8, followed by the GTIN of the item inside without its check digit, and ends with a new check digit. GS1 reserves the indicator 9 for variable measure items. GS1 UK notes that an ITF-14 printed alongside an EAN-13 can also carry that GTIN-13 with a leading zero.
Working out an ITF-14 check digit
ITF-14 uses the GS1 method. Counting from the right, multiply the digit next to the check digit by 3, the next by 1, and so on, then subtract the total from the next multiple of ten. For 1540014128876 the products add up to 97, so the check digit is 3 and the full number is 15400141288763.
Bearer bars
GS1 UK asks for bearer bars, a frame or bars along the top and bottom, on ITF-14 unless the printing method makes them impossible, and on labels top and bottom bars about 1 mm thick are enough. The JsBarcode library used here does not draw bearer bars, so add them in your label or artwork software.
Where ITF-14 is used
GS1 describes ITF-14 for outer case packaging, such as corrugated fibreboard cartons, and restricts it to trade items that do not pass through a retail point of sale. Items sold to shoppers carry an EAN-13 or UPC-A instead.
Sizing ITF-14 for print
- GS1 Ireland gives a quiet zone of 10 times the narrow bar width on each side and a minimum bar height of 32 mm.
- The nominal narrow bar width in that guidance is 1.016 mm, so scale the SVG in your artwork rather than relying on screen pixels.
- Print a test label on the actual carton material and scan it before printing a full run.
More barcode formats
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ITF-14 and EAN-13?
EAN-13 is for products scanned at a retail checkout. ITF-14 carries a 14 digit GTIN on outer cartons and cases that are not sold at the checkout.
Should I enter 13 or 14 digits?
Either. With 13 digits the tool adds the GS1 check digit, and with 14 it checks the last digit and offers the corrected number if it is wrong.
Does this tool add bearer bars?
No. JsBarcode, the library that draws the bars, does not support bearer bars, so add them in your label software if your customer or GS1 guidance asks for them.
Where do I get a GTIN-14?
From your own GS1 company prefix, licensed by your GS1 member organisation. The tool only draws the number you enter.
Can I put an ITF-14 on a product sold in shops?
Not as the checkout barcode. GS1 restricts ITF-14 to trade items that do not pass through a retail point of sale.