Free PDF417 barcode generator

The stacked barcode on boarding passes and ID cards, for long text.

Barcode type

Text

Up to 800 characters. A wide stacked barcode that holds a lot of text.

Width (mm)

Code

Background

Transparent background (PNG, SVG, PDF)

PDF417 is the stacked barcode on boarding passes, ID cards and shipping documents. It holds hundreds of characters of text in rows of bars, and ordinary laser scanners and phone scanner apps read it. Type or paste your text and download a scan-tested PDF417. PNG and JPG are free.

When to use PDF417

Tickets and boarding passes: a booking reference, name and seat in one barcode.
Shipping and customs documents: sender, recipient and contents for scanning at a depot.
Inventory and asset records: a full description that a scanner can read without a database.
Event and visitor badges: name, company and access level.

Tips for PDF417

Plain text works best. Letters, digits and punctuation pack tightly; long runs of digits pack tighter still.
Print it wide enough. Keep the narrowest bar at least 0.25 mm. A long text makes a taller code, not a wider one.
Keep the margins. Leave blank space on both sides of the barcode.
Scale evenly. Resize the whole image without changing its proportions.

For a smaller square code that holds the same text, use Data Matrix or Aztec.

Questions people ask

What is PDF417 used for?

Driving licences and ID cards in North America, airline boarding passes, shipping and customs documents, and anywhere that needs a lot of text in a barcode a laser scanner can read.

How much can a PDF417 barcode hold?

Up to 800 characters here. The more text, the taller the barcode gets; it stays the same width.

Can I make a driving licence barcode with this?

No. ID card barcodes follow a strict data format set by the issuing authority, and making one for an ID you don’t issue is illegal. Use PDF417 for your own tickets, documents and labels.

Why does my PDF417 look stretched?

PDF417 rows are three times taller than the narrowest bar is wide, which is part of the standard. Scale the whole image evenly; don’t squash or stretch it one way.