ITF Interleaved 2 of 5 Barcode Generator
Interleaved 2 of 5 packs pairs of digits into one symbol, which keeps it short and suited to cartons and shipping labels. It takes digits only and needs an even count, so enter your number exactly as the system expects it and the generator draws it.
How an ITF symbol is built
ITF, short for Interleaved 2 of 5, is a numeric barcode. Each pair of digits is encoded together: the first digit of the pair is drawn with the bars and the second with the spaces, woven into one pattern. Every pair therefore becomes five bars and five spaces, and because the symbol stays narrow, a long number can fit on a small carton.
The generator accepts between 2 and 30 digits and nothing else. The count must be even, and the editor says so rather than changing your number. The reason matters: the drawing library would otherwise pad an odd count with a leading zero, which changes the number that scanners return. A value such as 12345 is refused, so you decide where the missing digit belongs.
This generator does not add a check digit to ITF. If the system that reads the cartons expects one, include it in the value before you type it, because the symbol carries exactly what you enter and nothing more.
Each pair of digits forms a self-contained group, so a missing digit in the middle of a number shifts every pair after it. For that reason, check the count and the digits against the source, and do not fix the value by deleting a digit from the middle without looking at the record first.
How to make an ITF barcode in three steps
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01
Choose ITF and enter the digits
Pick ITF (Interleaved 2 of 5) in Type, then type your digits in Value. The hint reads an even number of digits, and the example is 12345670. Letters, spaces and hyphens are refused with a message.
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02
Set the look
Set Bar color and Background, then Size and Bar height. Taller bars give a handheld reader more to work with at an angle, while Size controls how wide the narrow elements are. Show the number is on by default and prints the digits under the bars.
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03
Preview, test and download
Scan the preview with the reader the warehouse uses. Download SVG to send to a label printer or a print shop, or PNG, JPG or WEBP for a document or a shipping specification.
Where ITF barcodes are used
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Shipping cartons and cases
Cases leaving a warehouse often carry an ITF number that identifies the shipment or its content. The symbol holds only digits, which suits a numeric carton code.
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Warehouse receiving
A receiving team scans the carton at the dock to log what arrived. Plan the number format so every code has an even count before the system goes live.
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Storage and location numbers
A numeric bin or pallet location such as 120304 fits an ITF neatly. Keep the length fixed for each type of location so every label looks the same at a glance.
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Printing on corrugated board
Corrugated board takes ink differently from paper. Test the ITF on the actual board and pick a bar size that prints cleanly before you run the full order.
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Pick lists and stock counts
Pick lists can print the ITF of each case, so a picker scans the carton instead of typing the number. Print the digits as well, so a manual entry is still possible.
Tips for ITF labels that scan cleanly
- Count the digits before you print
- An odd count is refused, so a 13-digit number needs one more digit or a different format. Decide the length for each product type and keep it fixed.
- Do not pad with a zero yourself
- Adding a zero to reach an even count changes the number the scanner returns. If your number is odd, check the source first, because the missing digit may belong elsewhere.
- Keep the quiet zones clear
- ITF needs blank space on each side of the bars, so do not let flaps, seams or artwork run into the symbol.
- Match the bar width to the reader
- Bar width is set by Size. A handheld reader working at a distance needs wider bars, while a fixed scanner at a dock can read finer ones. Test with the reader that will be used.
ITF questions
Why does ITF need an even number of digits?
ITF encodes digits in pairs. Every pair becomes one group of bars and spaces, so an odd count would leave a digit without a partner.
What happens if I enter an odd number?
The editor refuses the value and reports that ITF needs an even number of digits. It does not add a zero, because that would change the number.
Can ITF include letters?
No. ITF is numeric only. Letters, hyphens, spaces and other characters are not accepted. For text, use Code 128 or Code 39.
How many digits can an ITF barcode hold?
This generator accepts between 2 and 30 digits, always in an even count. Longer identifiers need a different symbol or a shorter number.
Is ITF the same as ITF-14?
No. ITF-14 is a fixed-length form for cases that uses the same interleaved pattern. ITF takes any even length from 2 to 30 digits, so the two are separate symbologies in this generator.
Does the generator add a check digit?
No. If the system needs one, include it in the value you type. The generator draws exactly what you enter, so the number scanned is the number entered.
Can I print ITF in a narrow strip on a label?
Yes, when Size is small enough for the strip and the bars stay tall enough for the reader. Print a proof at the final width and scan it with the reader used on the dock.
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