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🏭 OEM & Garment Manufacturing

Free Garment Hang Tag Generator

You are in the production stage — the designs are finalised, the fabrics and colorways are set, and now you need barcodes for the hang tags across the entire product line. A factory is not a boutique: what you need is a tool that handles the full Style × Color × Size variant matrix, exports files at exact millimetre dimensions to send to a print shop, and runs without per-label fees or row limits. This tool is built for that production workflow — upload your SKU spreadsheet once, generate every hang tag barcode simultaneously, and export print-ready PNG or PDF files.

Generate Hang Tag Barcodes Free →
No row limit Custom mm label size PNG + PDF export Data stays in browser

Building Your Garment SKU Matrix

Every Style × Color × Size combination is a unique SKU, and every unique SKU needs its own distinct barcode. A single jacket style in 3 colorways and 6 sizes already produces 18 separate barcodes — and that is just one style. The table below shows what a standard production matrix looks like:

Style Code Color Size Full SKU Barcode
JACKET-001 Black XS JACKET-001-BLK-XS ||| | ||| |||| | ||
JACKET-001 Black S JACKET-001-BLK-S |||| | || ||| | |||
JACKET-001 Black M JACKET-001-BLK-M || ||| | |||| || |
JACKET-001 Black L JACKET-001-BLK-L | |||| ||| | || |||
JACKET-001 Black XL JACKET-001-BLK-XL ||| || | |||| | ||
JACKET-001 Black 2XL JACKET-001-BLK-2XL || | |||| ||| || |
JACKET-001 Navy XS JACKET-001-NAV-XS |||| || | ||| | |||
JACKET-001 Navy S JACKET-001-NAV-S | ||| |||| | || ||
JACKET-001 Navy M JACKET-001-NAV-M ||| | || |||| | ||
JACKET-001 Navy L JACKET-001-NAV-L || |||| | ||| || |
JACKET-001 Navy XL JACKET-001-NAV-XL | || ||| |||| | ||
JACKET-001 Navy 2XL JACKET-001-NAV-2XL |||| | ||| | || ||
JACKET-001 Olive XS JACKET-001-OLV-XS | |||| || | ||| ||
JACKET-001 Olive S JACKET-001-OLV-S || | ||| |||| || |
JACKET-001 Olive M JACKET-001-OLV-M ||| || |||| | | ||
JACKET-001 Olive L JACKET-001-OLV-L || ||| | | |||| ||
JACKET-001 Olive XL JACKET-001-OLV-XL | | |||| ||| || ||
JACKET-001 Olive 2XL JACKET-001-OLV-2XL |||| ||| | || | ||
18 SKUs from a single style. One jacket in 3 colorways (Black, Navy, Olive) across 6 sizes (XS–2XL) requires 18 unique barcodes. This tool's workflow: export your production spreadsheet → upload it here → select the SKU column → download all 18 barcodes in a single ZIP or consolidated PDF. No row limit applies regardless of how many styles or colorways you manage.

From Barcode File to Finished Hang Tag

Production teams and OEM factories follow a defined workflow from barcode generation to finished hang tag. Here is the complete four-step process:

1

Export Your SKU List

Pull your variant spreadsheet from your ERP, PLM system, or design team's Excel workbook. Each row should represent one Style + Color + Size combination with a unique SKU identifier in one column.

2

Generate Barcode Files

Upload the CSV or Excel file here. Select Code 128 as the symbology, map your SKU column, and click Generate. Download a PNG ZIP (300 DPI) for print shop delivery or a thermal PDF at exact mm dimensions for in-house printing.

3

Send to Print Shop or Print In-House

Print shop route: download the 300 DPI PNG ZIP → send individual PNG files to your print shop → the shop places each barcode into the hang tag design in InDesign or Illustrator alongside your brand logo, fibre composition, and care symbols.

In-house route: download the thermal PDF at your tag dimensions (e.g. 50×89 mm) → print directly on a Zebra or Rollo thermal printer for sampling or small production runs.

4

QC Before Production Run

Pull samples from the first print batch and scan each barcode with a handheld scanner or smartphone. Verify that every scanned value matches the correct SKU in your system before committing to the full production run.

Standard Fields on a Garment Hang Tag

The barcode encodes only the SKU. All other fields are typeset by the print shop or printed as human-readable text alongside the barcode on the hang tag. Here is a reference for what to include and why:

Field Required? Notes
Style / SKU code Yes The value the barcode encodes. Unique per Style + Color + Size variant.
Brand name Yes Your own label or the client's label for OEM orders. Required for brand recognition at point of receipt.
Size Yes EU, US, or universal sizing (XS–3XL). Must match the size encoded in the SKU string.
Color / Colorway Yes Match exactly to your production color card. Prevents picking errors in the warehouse.
Fibre composition Often required e.g. 95% Cotton, 5% Elastane. Legally mandated in EU, UK, and US markets for most garment categories.
Country of origin Required for export "Made in Vietnam", "Made in Portugal", etc. Required by customs regulations in most major import markets.
Season / Collection Optional e.g. SS25, FW26. Helps internal teams and wholesale buyers organise inventory by season.
Suggested retail price Optional Sometimes placed on a separate sticker rather than the main tag, especially for multi-market production runs.
Care instructions Usually separate Washing, drying, and ironing symbols. Typically on a sewn-in care label; sometimes included as a QR Code on the hang tag linking to digital care instructions.

Which Export Format Do You Need?

PNG (300 DPI) Thermal PDF ZPL
Who uses it Print shops In-house thermal printer Zebra printers
Min. barcode size 1" × 0.5" Same Same
Workflow Place in InDesign / Illustrator layout Print directly from PDF viewer Send to Zebra printer over network
Best for Full hang tag design with logo & text Sampling and small production runs High-volume factory floor printing
File size Larger (~KB per label) Compact Very small (text commands)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I structure a size × color SKU matrix for garment barcodes?
Use a spreadsheet with one row per variant. Combine your style code, color code, and size into a unique identifier — for example JACKET-001-BLK-XS. This ensures each size-color combination has a distinct barcode. Upload the sheet to Bulk Barcode Generator, select the SKU column, and all barcodes are generated simultaneously with no row limit.
What barcode format do garment manufacturers use on hang tags?
Code 128 is the industry standard for garment hang tags because it encodes any combination of letters, numbers, and hyphens — matching the alphanumeric SKU formats most brands use. For products that will be sold in GS1-registered retail chains (department stores, major fashion retailers), the hang tag barcode must use EAN-13 or UPC-A with a purchased GS1 company prefix.
What file format should I send to my print shop for hang tag barcodes?
Export PNG files at 300 DPI from Bulk Barcode Generator. Your print shop can place individual PNG barcodes into the hang tag design in InDesign, Illustrator, or any DTP software. If you are printing in-house on a thermal printer for sampling or small runs, use the single-label thermal PDF at exact mm dimensions.
What label size is standard for garment hang tags?
Most garment hang tags are 2"×3.5" (50×89mm) for full hang tags or 1.5"×3" (38×76mm) for smaller tags. The barcode itself needs approximately 38mm×25mm of print area for Code 128 at minimum scanning size, plus quiet zones. In Bulk Barcode Generator, set custom label dimensions in millimetres to match your tag specification exactly.
Can I use the same barcode generator for both sampling and bulk production?
Yes. For sampling, use the thermal PDF export to print directly on a Zebra or Rollo printer. For bulk production, export PNG files at 300 DPI and send to your print shop. Both exports come from the same label generation session — upload your SKU matrix once and download both formats.