How to Get The Excel Barcode Font and Insert Barcodes in Excel

You must download the free barcodes font and this is where to find it and how to install it to use Excel barcodes. Barcodes are essential for businesses, especially when it comes to inventory management, tracking products, and streamlining checkout processes. Microsoft Excel, being a versatile tool, allows users to generate and insert barcodes into their spreadsheets, making it easier to manage data and automate tasks. In this article, we'll explore how to insert barcodes in Excel and dive into how Universal Product Codes (UPCs) work.

What Is a Barcode Font and How Does It Work in Excel?

A barcode font is a typeface where each character displays as a barcode element rather than a readable letter or number. When you type a number into an Excel cell and change the font to a barcode font, Excel renders the content as a barcode instead of plain text.

The result is a fully functional barcode that a standard barcode scanner can read. You are not inserting an image. You are not using a plugin. You are changing a font, which is the fastest and most accessible way to create barcodes directly inside a spreadsheet.

The limitation is that this method works best for Code 39 barcodes, which are the most common format for internal business use including inventory tracking, asset management, and warehouse operations. For retail UPC barcodes or QR codes, you will need one of the other methods covered later in this article.

The Best Free Barcode Fonts for Excel

Before you can create a barcode in Excel, you need to install a barcode font on your computer. Here are the most reliable free options.

Code 39 Fonts

Code 39 is the most widely supported barcode format and the easiest to implement with a font in Excel. It encodes letters, numbers, and a small set of special characters, making it suitable for most internal business applications.

Libre Barcode 39 is a free, open source Code 39 font available from Google Fonts. It is clean, reliable, and works well across different printer types and scanner models.

Libre Barcode 39 https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Libre+Barcode+39

Free 3 of 9 is another widely used Code 39 font that has been a standard recommendation for Excel barcode creation for many years. It is available from multiple sources including dafont.com and fontspace.com.

Free 3 of 9 https://www.dafont.com/free-3-of-9.font

Code 39 Extended supports a wider character set than standard Code 39, including lowercase letters and additional special characters. Use this version if your data contains characters beyond basic uppercase alphanumeric content.

Code 128 Fonts

Code 128 is a more compact and higher-density barcode format that supports the full ASCII character set. It is preferred when space is limited or when you need to encode longer strings in a smaller physical barcode.

Code 128 fonts are more complex to implement in Excel than Code 39 because they require a check digit calculation that is not built into the font itself. If you choose Code 128, look for fonts that include a helper font for the start, stop, and checksum characters, or use a VBA script to handle the encoding automatically.

Code 128 https://www.dafont.com/code-128.font

How to Install a Barcode Font on Windows

Installing a barcode font on Windows is a straightforward process that takes less than two minutes.

Step 1: Download your chosen barcode font. The file will typically download as a zip archive containing one or more font files with a .ttf or .otf extension.

Step 2: Extract the zip file if necessary. Right-click the zip file and select Extract All.

Step 3: Right-click the font file and select Install or Install for All Users. Installing for all users is recommended if you share the computer or want the font available in all applications.

Step 4: Restart Excel if it is already open. Font changes do not always appear in applications that were running before the installation.

Step 5: Verify the installation by opening Excel, clicking any cell, and looking for your barcode font in the font dropdown list on the Home tab.

How to Install a Barcode Font on Mac

Step 1: Download and extract the font file.

Step 2: Double-click the font file to open Font Book.

Step 3: Click Install Font in the preview window.

Step 4: Restart Excel to ensure the font appears in the font list.

How to Create a Barcode in Excel Using a Barcode Font

Once your font is installed, creating a barcode in Excel takes about 30 seconds.

The Basic Method

Step 1: Open Excel and click on an empty cell where you want the barcode to appear.

Step 2: Type the data you want to encode. For example, type 123456789.

Step 3: With the cell selected, go to the Home tab and find the Font dropdown.

Step 4: Scroll through the font list until you find your barcode font, such as Libre Barcode 39 or Free 3 of 9, and select it.

Step 5: The text in your cell will change to display as a barcode pattern. Adjust the font size to make the barcode tall enough to be scannable. A height of at least 36 to 48 points works well for most scanners.

The Formula Method for Code 39 Barcodes

If you are using a Code 39 font, your barcode will not scan correctly unless you add an asterisk at the beginning and end of the encoded value. The asterisk is the start and stop character that tells the scanner where the barcode begins and ends.

Rather than manually typing asterisks, use this formula in a separate column:

=""&A2&""

Replace A2 with the cell reference containing your original data. This formula wraps the value in asterisks automatically. Apply your barcode font to the column containing this formula rather than to the original data column. Your barcodes will now be fully scannable.

If your original data is in column A starting at row 2, set up your spreadsheet like this:

Column A: Your raw data (123456789) Column B: Your formula (=""&A2&"") with the barcode font applied

As you add new data to column A, copy the formula down column B and each entry automatically becomes a scannable barcode.

Adjusting Barcode Size

Barcode scanners need a minimum physical height and a minimum quiet zone on either side of the barcode to read correctly. In Excel, the main adjustments to make are:

Font size: Increase the font size until the barcode bars are tall enough to scan reliably. Most scanners work well with barcodes at 48 to 72 point font size, though the exact requirement depends on your scanner model.

Column width: Widen the column containing the barcode so the entire barcode is visible without being cut off. A barcode that is partially hidden by a column boundary will not scan.

Row height: Increase the row height to match the font size. If the row is too short, the barcode will be clipped at the top or bottom.

Testing: Always test your barcodes with your actual scanner before deploying them in a production environment. A barcode that looks correct on screen may not scan if the proportions are wrong for your specific scanner.

Method 2: Excel Barcode Add-Ins

Barcode fonts are ideal for Code 39 barcodes and simple use cases. When you need UPC barcodes, QR codes, or more advanced barcode types, an Excel add-in is the better choice.

How Barcode Add-Ins Work

Barcode add-ins install as an extension within Excel and add a new set of tools to your ribbon. Instead of changing a font, you use the add-in's interface to select a barcode type, point it to your data source, and generate a barcode image that is embedded in the spreadsheet.

The advantage over fonts is that add-ins handle all the encoding complexity automatically including check digit calculations, start and stop characters, and format-specific requirements that vary between barcode standards. The disadvantage is that most full-featured add-ins are paid products, and free versions typically have watermarks or feature limitations.

Recommended Excel Barcode Add-Ins

TBarCode Office is one of the most widely used barcode add-ins for Excel and Word. It supports over 100 barcode types including UPC-A, UPC-E, Code 128, QR Code, Data Matrix, and many more. It integrates cleanly into Excel and allows you to generate barcodes from cell data with a few clicks.

Barcode4Office is another reputable add-in with broad barcode type support and a straightforward interface. It offers a free trial version for evaluation before purchase.

StrokeScribe is a barcode add-in that supports both font-based and image-based barcode generation. It is particularly well suited for users who need Code 128 barcodes and want a more automated approach than manually managing the encoding formula.

How to Use a Barcode Add-In

Step 1: Download and install your chosen add-in following the vendor's installation instructions.

Step 2: Restart Excel. The add-in will appear as a new tab or set of options in your ribbon.

Step 3: Enter your barcode data in a column of your spreadsheet.

Step 4: Select the cell or range where you want barcodes to appear.

Step 5: Open the add-in, choose your barcode type, point it to your data source, and click generate.

Step 6: Customize size, resolution, and any format-specific settings as needed.

Method 3: Creating Barcodes with VBA

For users comfortable with Excel's built-in programming environment, VBA offers the most flexible and automatable approach to barcode generation. VBA is the right choice when you need barcodes to generate automatically as data is entered, when you are working with very large datasets, or when you need precise control over the encoding process.

Setting Up VBA for Barcode Generation

Step 1: Press ALT + F11 to open the Visual Basic for Applications editor.

Step 2: Go to Insert and select Module to create a new code module.

Step 3: Paste your barcode generation code into the module. For Code 39 barcodes using a barcode font, a simple VBA function can automatically wrap values in asterisks and apply the correct font without requiring manual formatting.

Step 4: Close the VBA editor and return to your spreadsheet.

Step 5: Call your VBA function from a cell formula or run it as a macro to generate barcodes across your dataset.

A basic VBA approach for Code 39 with a barcode font works well for most automation needs. For Code 128 or UPC, the VBA code needs to include the check digit calculation and encoding logic, which is more complex but widely available from barcode development resources online.

Understanding UPC Barcodes: What They Are and How They Work

If your goal is retail-ready UPC barcodes rather than internal inventory barcodes, there are some important differences to understand before you start.

What Is a UPC Barcode?

A Universal Product Code is a 12-digit barcode used globally in retail to identify products at the point of sale. When a cashier scans a product, the scanner reads the UPC and matches it to the product and price information in the store's database.

The 12 digits of a UPC are structured as follows:

The first digit is the number system character that identifies the category of product or the type of UPC.

The next five digits are the manufacturer code, which identifies the company that makes the product. This code is assigned by GS1, the global standards organization that manages UPC numbers.

The following five digits are the product code, which the manufacturer assigns to uniquely identify each specific item in their product line.

The final digit is the check digit, which is calculated mathematically from the preceding eleven digits and is used by scanners to verify that the barcode was read correctly.

How the UPC Check Digit Is Calculated

The check digit calculation follows a specific algorithm that every UPC scanner performs automatically when reading a barcode to verify its accuracy.

Take the first eleven digits of the UPC. Add the digits in positions 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, which are the odd positions. Multiply that sum by three. Add the digits in positions 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, which are the even positions. Add both results together. The check digit is the number you need to add to reach the next multiple of ten.

For example, with the digits 03600029145:

Odd position digits: 0 + 6 + 0 + 2 + 1 + 5 = 14 Even position digits: 3 + 0 + 0 + 9 + 4 = 16, multiplied by 3 = 48 Total: 14 + 48 = 62 Check digit: 70 minus 62 = 8

The complete UPC is 036000291458.

Can You Create UPC Barcodes in Excel?

Yes, but not with a simple barcode font. UPC barcodes require specific encoding that font-based methods cannot handle correctly. For UPC barcodes you need either a dedicated barcode add-in that supports UPC format, or a VBA script that includes the check digit calculation and UPC-compliant encoding.

If you are creating barcodes for retail products that will be sold to stores or scanned at point of sale systems, you also need to obtain a legitimate GS1 company prefix and product codes rather than generating numbers yourself. Retail UPCs must be registered and unique globally, which is a requirement that goes beyond what any Excel tool can provide.

Choosing the Right Barcode Method for Your Needs

Use a barcode font if you need Code 39 barcodes for internal use such as inventory labels, asset tags, or filing systems, you want the simplest possible setup, and you do not need retail-standard barcode formats.

Use a barcode add-in if you need UPC, Code 128, QR Code, or any barcode format beyond Code 39, you want automatic check digit handling and format compliance, or you need professional-quality barcode images rather than font-rendered barcodes.

Use VBA if you need barcodes to generate automatically as data is entered, you are processing large volumes of data that would be tedious to handle manually, or you need a custom workflow that integrates barcode generation with other Excel automation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free barcode font for Excel?

Libre Barcode 39 from Google Fonts and Free 3 of 9 from fontspace.com are the two most widely recommended free barcode fonts for Excel. Both are Code 39 format, work reliably with standard barcode scanners, and are straightforward to install and apply. For Code 128 barcodes, look for a font package that includes the full character set with start, stop, and checksum support.

Why is my Excel barcode not scanning?

The most common reasons a font-based barcode does not scan are missing start and stop asterisks for Code 39 barcodes, which are fixed by using the formula =""&A2&"" instead of the raw data, font size too small for your scanner to read, barcode cut off by a column that is too narrow, or the wrong font applied to the cell. Test your scanner at different font sizes and always verify that the full barcode including quiet zones on either side is visible.

What formula do I need for a barcode font in Excel?

For Code 39 barcode fonts, use =""&A2&"" in a separate column where A2 is the cell containing your original data. Apply the barcode font to the column with this formula rather than to the original data. The asterisks serve as the start and stop characters that Code 39 scanners require to read the barcode correctly.

Can Excel create UPC barcodes?

Excel can generate UPC barcodes using a barcode add-in like TBarCode Office that supports the UPC format. A simple barcode font cannot create compliant UPC barcodes because UPC requires specific encoding and an automatically calculated check digit that font rendering cannot provide. Note that for retail use, UPC numbers must also be registered with GS1.

How do I print barcodes from Excel?

Format your barcode column with a font size that produces a scannable barcode, typically 48 points or larger for Code 39. Set your print area to include the barcode column, adjust column width so the full barcode is visible, and print at the highest quality setting your printer supports. Test print a sample page and scan the output before printing in bulk to confirm your scanner can read the printed barcodes reliably.

Is there a barcode add-in for Excel that is free?

Most full-featured barcode add-ins for Excel are paid products. Free options typically include watermarks on generated barcodes or limit the number of barcodes you can create. For fully free barcode generation in Excel, the barcode font method using Libre Barcode 39 or Free 3 of 9 is the most practical option. These fonts are completely free and produce scannable Code 39 barcodes without any watermarks or restrictions.

What is the difference between Code 39 and Code 128 barcodes?

Code 39 encodes uppercase letters, digits, and a small set of special characters. It is simpler to implement, widely supported, and works well for most internal business applications. Code 128 supports the full ASCII character set, is more compact for the same amount of data, and is required for some shipping and logistics applications. Code 39 is easier to create in Excel with a font. Code 128 requires more complex encoding that is best handled by an add-in or VBA script.