The short answer
You can print scannable barcodes on home-printed labels. Use a real UPC from GS1 if you'll sell through stores or Amazon, or your own code for inventory. Print it in solid black on a white label, at least 1.17 x 0.82 in. for a UPC, with clear space on both sides, and print at 100%. QR codes are free to make in Canva and need about 0.75 in. square or more.
A barcode on a home-printed label scans as well as a printed one, as long as it's the right size, sharp and high-contrast. This guide covers which barcode you need, how to add it to your design, and the label sizes that fit one.
Which barcode do you need?
- UPC (the 12-digit retail barcode): needed to sell through most stores and on Amazon. Retailers check that the number is registered to your business, so it has to come from GS1 US, the organization that issues UPCs. GS1 US sells single barcodes (GTINs) for businesses with a few products, with no renewal fee at the time of writing, and a company prefix for larger ranges. Barcodes resold cheaply online often aren't registered to you and can be rejected.
- Your own code (Code 128 or similar): for tracking stock, batches or bins inside your own business. Any free barcode generator will make one, and you can number them however you like.
- QR code: not for checkout. Use it to send customers to your website, a reorder page, ingredient details or care instructions.
Size, contrast and quiet zone
Most scanning problems come from these three things, not the printer.
- UPC size: the standard (100%) size is about 1.47 in. wide x 1.02 in. tall. It can shrink to 80% (about 1.17 x 0.82 in.) and still meet the standard, but 100% scans most reliably. Don't squash it or cut off the height.
- Quiet zone: leave blank space on both sides of the bars, about the width of the first nine bars. Don't let text, borders or the label edge crowd it.
- Contrast: solid black bars on white. Avoid colored bars, gradients, kraft, pastel and clear labels; scanners need a plain light background.
- QR codes: at least 0.75 in. square for close-up phone scanning, larger if people will scan from a distance. Keep a white border around it.
How to add a barcode in Canva
- Open your Dashleigh template in Canva (see how to design your labels in Canva).
- Click Apps in the left panel and search for barcode. Choose a barcode generator app.
- Pick the type (UPC-A for retail, Code 128 for your own codes), type your number and add it to the design.
- Drag it into the label and size it using ... > Position so the width stays at least 1.17 in. for a UPC. Resize from a corner so it doesn't stretch.
For a QR code, open Apps, search QR code, paste your web address and click Generate. Test it with your phone camera on screen before you print.
Using Word? Insert the barcode as an image (most barcode generators download a PNG or SVG), set it to In Front of Text, and size it with the Shape Format size boxes. See text boxes and images in Word.
Printing tips
- Download from Canva as a PDF with the Print preset and print at 100%. Fit to Page shrinks the barcode below its minimum size.
- Use your printer's best quality setting so the bar edges are crisp.
- Scan a test print with a phone app or your scanner before you print a full sheet.
- On waterproof vinyl, let inkjet ink dry for 10-15 minutes so the bars don't smudge.
Label sizes that fit a barcode
Use white labels for barcodes. These are in stock now:
- Essential oil labels, 3 x 1 in. (waterproof white vinyl): a barcode-only label for the back of a product. The 1 in. height fits a UPC, digits included, at about 80-90% size.
- Mini liquor bottle labels, 3 x 1.5 in. (100% recycled white): fits a full-size UPC with a line of text, such as the product name or batch number.
- 2 oz bottle labels, 4 x 1.5 in. (white vinyl or recycled white): a full-size UPC plus the product name and net contents, or a back label with ingredients and a barcode side by side.
Putting the barcode on a separate back label keeps your front design clean. See Canva label questions for copying one label across the sheet.
Common questions
- Can I make up my own UPC number? Not for retail. A UPC has to be registered to your company through GS1, or stores and marketplaces may reject it. Your own numbers are fine for internal stock codes.
- Does every size of my product need its own UPC? Yes. Each variation (size, scent, flavor) that's sold separately gets its own number.
- My barcode won't scan. Check the size (not under 80%), the quiet zone, that it printed at 100%, and that the label is white. Smudged ink on vinyl is the other common cause; let it dry longer.
Still stuck? Email customerservice@dashleigh.com with your template number and a photo of the printed barcode, and we will help.
