PDF417 Barcode Generator
Create PDF417 barcodes, the stacked 2D format used on driver’s licences, boarding passes and shipping documents.
- Up to ~1,800 characters
- Error correction
- PNG & SVG
- Bulk
Loading the barcode engine…
Printed at 0.33 mm per bar: 35.3 × 3.3 mm (1.39 × 0.13 in)
What is PDF417?
PDF417 is a stacked linear 2D barcode: rows of bar patterns stacked on top of each other. It holds up to about 1,800 text characters with built-in error correction and can be read by many linear imagers, which is why it appears on US and Canadian driver’s licences, airline boarding passes, shipping documents and some identity cards. This generator encodes any text and lets you adjust the row height.
How to create a PDF417 barcode
- Choose PDF417.
- Type or paste the text to encode.
- Adjust the row height and bar width.
- Download PNG or SVG.
Which barcode type should I use?
- UPC-A and EAN-13 are for retail products. Official numbers come from GS1; a made-up number may clash with someone else’s product.
- Code 128 is the best general-purpose choice for inventory, asset tags and shipping, and encodes letters, digits and symbols.
- Code 39 is older but still required by some industries and government systems; it supports capital letters and digits only.
- Data Matrix and QR Code are 2D: they hold far more data in a small square and can be read by phone cameras.
Why use this pdf417 barcode generator
- No email, no account, no watermarkMany barcode sites ask for an email before the download. Here the image is created on your device and saved straight away.
- Print-ready sizesChoose the bar width in millimetres and 150–600 DPI, see the printed size before you download, or take a vector SVG.
- Check digits handled for youUPC, EAN, ISBN and ITF-14 check digits are calculated or verified, with a clear message if a number is wrong.
- Bulk and label sheetsPaste a column from Excel and get a ZIP of images or a PDF laid out on Avery 5160, 5163, L7160 and other sheets.
Common uses
- Documents and forms. Encode form data for fast scanning.
- Shipping. Detailed shipment data on labels.
- Events and tickets. Ticket data readable by linear imagers.
- Testing scanners. Generate sample codes for development.
Need a code people scan with their phone? Use the QR code generator or the Wi-Fi QR code generator. Pair labels with a UUID or random number generator for unique IDs.
Example: a ticket code
Enter EVENT:DTP-CONF|SEAT:14C|ID:00042 and download the PDF417 as SVG for your ticket design.
What to expect from the result
This tool creates barcode images; it does not issue product numbers. Retailers and marketplaces require UPC/EAN numbers licensed from GS1. Always test-scan a printed sample, especially at small sizes, on coloured backgrounds or with low-quality printers.
PDF417 Barcode Generator questions
What is PDF417 used for?
Driver’s licences and ID cards, airline boarding passes, shipping and logistics documents, and other places that need lots of data on a label.
How much data fits in a PDF417?
Up to about 1,850 text characters or 2,700 digits, depending on error correction.
Can I create a driver’s licence barcode?
No. Official ID barcodes follow the AAMVA standard with signed issuer data. Creating fake IDs is illegal; use this tool for your own documents and testing.
PDF417 or QR Code?
Choose PDF417 when your scanners or a standard require it. Otherwise QR Code or Data Matrix are smaller and more widely supported.
Which format should I download, PNG or SVG?
Use SVG for printing at any size and for designers, because it is vector. Use PNG at 300 or 600 DPI for Word, Google Docs and label printers.