How to Create Barcode Labels for Warehouse Bins and Shelves

A practical example

For example, A-03-02 can mean aisle A, rack 03, bin 02 in a private warehouse system. This example is a naming convention, not a GS1 identifier. A location barcode should select that bin record; a product barcode should select the product record.

Test a receiving task that scans the product and then the destination bin. Confirm the application records both the correct item and location. Also test the highest shelf from its actual working distance before printing every location label.

Step 1: Define a location ID that will not change when stock moves

A location code should identify the physical slot: zone, aisle, rack, level, shelf or bin. The exact hierarchy is yours, but it should be unique and consistent. Examples include A-04-C-12 or PICK-07-03.

Keep product identity separate. The item in a location may change tomorrow; the location barcode should still resolve to the same physical place.

Step 2: Choose the barcode your scanners support

For an internal warehouse location code, Code 128 is usually a practical 1D starting point because it handles alphanumeric identifiers efficiently. Code 39 can be correct in an established legacy workflow. QR can work with 2D scanners or phones, but using a richer symbol is unnecessary if the job is simply to return one location ID.

If you are implementing a GS1 logistics specification, follow the required GS1 carrier and Application Identifier rules instead of substituting generic Code 128.

Step 3: Design for the scan distance, not just the sticker size

• Print the location code in large readable text so staff can recover when scanning fails.
• Keep clear space around the barcode and avoid borders or graphics crowding the symbol.
• Use durable material appropriate for dust, abrasion, cold or cleaning chemicals in the location.
• Place the label where the scanner has a clear line of sight and staff do not need to bend or twist unnecessarily.
• Test the label at the real scan angle and distance before producing the full warehouse set.

Step 4: Generate many warehouse location labels from a spreadsheet

Warehouse locations are usually already listed in a WMS export or spreadsheet. Put one location ID per row, preserve the exact text and generate the barcodes in bulk. BarcoBatch Excel Bulk can generate Code 128 images from an XLSX without sending the workbook to a server.

Step 5: Test the complete put-away and picking workflow

A barcode that scans in isolation can still fail operationally if the WMS expects a different location token or workers scan the wrong label first. Test receiving, put-away, replenishment and picking with real devices before treating the location-label design as final.

Distinguish a location tag from a retail shelf-price label

A location tag identifies a place, such as aisleA, bay 03 and bin 02. A price label identifies the product offered at that position and shows a current commercial price. Keep these purposes separate even when the labels sit next to each other. Moving stock need not change a stable location key; changing the product displayed on a shelf can require a new price label. A scan that selects the bin record is not proof that the displayed product and price are correct.

Build a price-label source with an explicit product key

For an illustrative shelf label, keep the approved product reference, product name, package description and displayed price together in your own source. The barcode contains the agreed identifier, not automatically the visible price. A price such as 125.00 is a display example, not a price encoded by an ordinary product GTIN. Confirm the receiving checkout or stock system uses that identifier. Do not create a new product code every time the displayed price changes.

Check Turkish display conventions without altering the barcode

If preparing labels for a Türkiye store, decide how the visible currency and decimal separator should appear, then confirm the actual print. That is a display decision, separate from the identifier string. Long descriptions and accented characters need a real sample, and any required price-label information must be checked through the business’s applicable process. This guide explains the barcode/layout workflow, not a complete legal price-label compliance template. Preserve supplier product codes exactly while editing human-facing text.

Plan replacement and shelf checks as an operational task

When replacing a label, compare the shelf position, physical product, visible description and received code. Remove superseded prices and prevent two labels from competing for the same slot. For adjustable shelf strips, test fit after insertion because a lip can cover digits or the lower bars. Use the existing label or bulk-label workflow for supported designs; it does not synchronize prices with a till database. A versioned source and a brief shelf walk are more useful than assuming image export completed the price change.