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Free PDF417 barcode generator

PDF417 stacks short rows of bars to hold a paragraph of text in a wide, low symbol. Type the text, choose the module size and row height, and download SVG or PNG.

  • Free to use
  • No sign-up
  • No watermark
  • Personal and commercial use
  • Runs in your browser

PDF417 2D

Free · runs in your browser
Barcode type
Retail products
Cartons and logistics
Internal labels
2D

Any text, up to about 1,000 characters here. Rows are stacked, so the symbol stays short and wide.

Ready.

The preview also updates as you type.

Preview · printed sizeScale in mm

Drawing…

Black on white only: colored bars and backgrounds are a common cause of scan failures. Everything is drawn in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Printed size

The width of the narrowest bar. Rows are at least 3 modules tall and the quiet zone at least 2 modules, as ISO/IEC 15438 sets out. PDF417 sizes explained

Download for your printer

SVG downloads at the printed size above, for design and label software. Free for personal and commercial use, with no watermark. Test a printed sample with the scanner that will read it.

  • Free to use
  • No sign-up
  • No watermark
  • Personal and commercial use
  • Runs in your browser

PDF417 at a glance

StructureRows of codewords between a start and a stop pattern, with row indicators at both ends
Codewords17 modules wide, 4 bars and 4 spaces each
Size3 to 90 rows and 1 to 30 data columns
CapacityUp to 1,850 text characters, 1,108 bytes or 2,710 digits (at error correction level 0, which only detects errors)
Error correction9 levels, 0 to 8; levels 1 and up also correct errors
Row heightAt least 3X, with at least the recommended error correction level
Quiet zonesAt least 2X on all four sides
SpecificationISO/IEC 15438:2015

The figures are from the full text of ISO/IEC 15438:2006, the previous edition, published for free by Public.Resource.Org; the 2015 edition is the current one. One well-known user is the AAMVA driver’s license and ID card standard, which makes PDF417 the minimum mandatory machine-readable technology on compliant cards. This generator makes plain PDF417 symbols for your own data; it does not create license or ID data.

A printed example

The text ORDER 31415 / SHIP 2026-11-02 / 4 CARTONS: 11 rows of 3 data columns, 120 modules wide. With 3X rows and 2X quiet zones at X 0.330 mm it measures about 40.9 × 12.2 mm.

What each setting does for PDF417

  • Data. Any text, up to 1,000 bytes here; characters outside ASCII are sent as UTF-8 with an ECI marker. The encoder chooses the number of columns and the error correction level for the amount of data.
  • Module size (X). The width of the narrowest bar, 0.330 mm to start. No GS1 size applies; follow the rules of whatever system will read it.
  • Row height. 3 modules by default, the minimum ISO/IEC 15438 sets; taller rows can make scanning easier but need more height.
  • Quiet zone. 2 modules on every side by default, the ISO minimum; the generator warns below that.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming any camera app reads it. Support varies; test with the scanners or apps the job actually uses.
  • Very small modules with lots of data. The symbol gets wide and short; give it the space or split the data.
  • Using PDF417 where another code is required. Retail and GS1 logistics labels call for EAN/UPC, GS1-128, GS1 DataMatrix or QR with GS1 Digital Link; see which barcode type do I need.

Worked example

  1. Type ORDER 31415 / SHIP 2026-11-02 / 4 CARTONS. The readout shows 11 rows and a symbol 120 modules wide.
  2. At 0.330 mm with 3-module rows and 2-module quiet zones it is 124 × 0.330 = 40.9 mm wide and 37 × 0.330 = 12.2 mm tall.
  3. Set the row height to 4 modules if your scanner struggles; the symbol grows to 15.8 mm tall.

Sources

  1. ISO: ISO/IEC 15438:2015, PDF417 bar code symbology specification (accessed )
  2. ISO/IEC, published by Public.Resource.Org: ISO/IEC 15438:2006, PDF417 bar code symbology specification (full text, earlier edition) (accessed )
  3. AAMVA: 2020 AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Standard, Annex D (PDF417) (accessed )

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