What is the standard barcode format for garment labels?

Code 128 is the most common format for garment and apparel labels because it can encode any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols — ideal for SKU codes that include product type, color, and size. For products sold through major retail chains or POS systems, EAN-13 (global) or UPC-A (US/Canada) are required, and you will need a GS1 company prefix.

Can I print a full size/color matrix at once?

Yes. Prepare your spreadsheet with one row per SKU — for example JACKET-BLK-S, JACKET-BLK-M, JACKET-BLK-L, JACKET-RED-S, and so on. Upload the file to Bulk Barcode Generator, select the SKU column, and all barcodes are generated at once with no row limit.

What size should a garment hang tag barcode be?

A standard hang tag is 2"×3.5" or 1.5"×3". The barcode itself needs about 1" of height and 1.5"–2" of width for Code 128, plus quiet zones on each side. Use the single-label PDF export in Bulk Barcode Generator and enter your exact tag dimensions in millimetres.

Do I need special software to print garment labels?

No. Bulk Barcode Generator exports print-ready PDFs and PNGs that open in any standard PDF viewer or image editor. For Avery label sheets, use the N-up grid PDF. For custom hang tag sizes, use the single-label PDF at exact mm dimensions.

Can I add a brand name, price, and size to the label?

Yes. The tool supports multi-column uploads. You can set one column as the barcode value and add up to two additional text lines — such as the product name and price — displayed below the barcode on the label.

🏷️ Garment & Hang Tags

Free Garment Label Generator

Apparel brands, OEM factories, and independent designers need a barcode on every garment hang tag — it is the foundation for retailer receiving, POS scanning, and inventory management. Whether you are producing 50 pieces or 50,000, this tool lets you upload your full product CSV or Excel file and generate print-ready barcode labels for an entire product line at once, with no signup and no row limit.

Generate Garment Labels Free →

No signup required No row limit No watermark Data stays in your browser

Why Use Our Garment Label Generator?

📦

Full Product Line at Once

Upload your entire color × size SKU matrix and generate every barcode in a single pass — no copy-pasting individual codes and no per-label software licence.

🏷️

Right Format for Garment Tags

Code 128 for internal SKU tracking, EAN-13 for retail POS, and QR Code for info-rich tags linking to care instructions or brand story URLs.

🖨️

Hang Tag Ready

Export a single-label PDF at exact mm dimensions — sized for a 2"×3.5" standard hang tag or a 1.5"×3" folded label — ready to send to your printer or print locally.

Generate Garment Labels in 3 Steps

Build Your SKU Matrix

Create a spreadsheet with one row per variant. Use a structured format such as SHIRT001-RED-M — combining product code, color, and size — so every SKU is unique and scannable.

Upload and Map Columns

Upload the CSV or Excel file, select which column holds the barcode value, and optionally map additional columns for human-readable text printed below the barcode.

Download Hang-Tag PDF

Set your exact tag dimensions in millimetres, export a print-ready PDF, and send the file to your print shop or print directly on Avery label sheets.

Who Uses a Garment Label Generator?

Apparel Brands

Apparel Brands & Designers

Independent labels and established brands generating hang tags for an entire seasonal collection — all SKUs in a single upload.

OEM / Contract

OEM & Contract Manufacturers

Factories producing garments for multiple clients, generating batch barcode labels per client order with no software overhead.

Wholesale

Fashion Wholesalers

Wholesalers who need to apply their own hang tags before shipping to retail buyers, quickly replacing supplier labels with their own barcodes.

Markets & Pop-ups

Pop-up & Market Sellers

Makers and market stallholders printing simple hang tags on Avery sticker sheets with a home inkjet — no label printer required.

What Goes on a Garment Label?

A well-designed hang tag carries enough information for retailers, warehouse teams, and customers to identify the product at a glance. The barcode typically encodes only the SKU; the remaining fields appear as human-readable text printed alongside or below the barcode.

Style / SKU Required Your internal product identifier — typically includes brand prefix, style number, color code, and size. This is the value encoded in the barcode.
Size S / M / L / XL or numeric sizing (36, 38, 40…). Displayed as human-readable text beneath the barcode for quick visual identification.
Color Color name or colorway code (e.g. "Navy" or "BLK"). Helps warehouse staff and retailers locate the correct variant without scanning.
Price Optional for direct-to-consumer hang tags. Typically omitted for wholesale shipments where the buyer sets the retail price themselves.
Brand name Recommended for brand recognition, especially in multi-brand retail environments or when tags will be photographed for e-commerce listings.
Country of origin Required by customs regulations in many markets (e.g. "Made in Portugal"). Usually printed on a separate woven label but sometimes included on the hang tag.
Care instructions Washing, drying, and ironing symbols. Typically on a separate sewn-in care label, but a QR Code on the hang tag can link to full digital care instructions.

Barcode Format for Garment Labels

Format	Best for	SKU type	Retail POS
Code 128	Internal & wholesale	Any alphanumeric	With setup
EAN-13	Retail chains & POS	13-digit, needs GS1	✓ Worldwide
UPC-A	US retail	12-digit, needs GS1	✓ US/Canada
QR Code	Info-rich tags	URL, care, story	✓ Smartphone

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard barcode format for garment labels?: Code 128 is the most common format for garment and apparel labels because it can encode any combination of letters, numbers, and symbols — ideal for SKU codes that include product type, color, and size. For products sold through major retail chains or POS systems, EAN-13 (global) or UPC-A (US/Canada) are required, and you will need a GS1 company prefix.
Can I print a full size/color matrix at once?: Yes. Prepare your spreadsheet with one row per SKU — for example JACKET-BLK-S, JACKET-BLK-M, JACKET-BLK-L, JACKET-RED-S, and so on. Upload the file to Bulk Barcode Generator, select the SKU column, and all barcodes are generated at once with no row limit.
What size should a garment hang tag barcode be?: A standard hang tag is 2"×3.5" or 1.5"×3". The barcode itself needs about 1" of height and 1.5"–2" of width for Code 128, plus quiet zones on each side. Use the single-label PDF export in Bulk Barcode Generator and enter your exact tag dimensions in millimetres.
Do I need special software to print garment labels?: No. Bulk Barcode Generator exports print-ready PDFs and PNGs that open in any standard PDF viewer or image editor. For Avery label sheets, use the N-up grid PDF. For custom hang tag sizes, use the single-label PDF at exact mm dimensions.
Can I add a brand name, price, and size to the label?: Yes. The tool supports multi-column uploads. You can set one column as the barcode value and add up to two additional text lines — such as the product name and price — displayed below the barcode on the label.