Inventory workflow
How to Create SKU Barcodes for Inventory
A SKU is your own internal stock identifier, so you can turn it into a barcode without pretending it is a UPC or EAN. The important choices are the SKU structure, the barcode symbology and whether your inventory software reads the same value you print.
Updated September 14, 2026
For most new internal SKU workflows, keep each SKU unique and stable, encode it in Code 128, print the human-readable SKU under the symbol, and test the label with the scanner and inventory application you actually use. If your SKUs already live in Excel, BarcodeBatch can generate Code 128 images in bulk while preserving the source values.
Step 1: Keep the SKU as the inventory identifier
A SKU belongs to your internal system. It can contain the letters and numbers that make sense for your operation, provided the chosen barcode symbology supports them. Do not copy a SKU into a UPC/EAN field merely to make it look like a retail barcode.
Keep the SKU stable after labels are in use. If the database value changes but old labels remain on shelves or products, scans can point to the wrong or missing record.
Step 2: Use Code 128 unless your system requires something else
Code 128 is a strong general-purpose choice for internal SKU labels because it supports flexible alphanumeric values and is more compact than many older linear formats. If an existing scanner, customer or software package explicitly requires Code 39 or another symbology, follow that requirement instead.
Step 3: Generate SKU barcodes from Excel when you have many items
If your inventory list already contains one SKU per row, bulk generation is safer than copying values manually into a generator hundreds of times. Keep the SKU column as text when leading zeroes, spaces or exact character sequences matter.
BarcodeBatch Excel Bulk supports Code 128 and returns a new XLSX with embedded barcode images plus a ZIP of PNG files. The source values are not silently trimmed, padded or rewritten.
Step 4: Print and scan-test the finished label
- Show the SKU in readable text below or beside the barcode.
- Keep enough blank space around the barcode and avoid placing text over the bars.
- Test the longest SKU because it usually creates the widest label.
- Scan into the real inventory app, not only a generic scanner test page.
- Verify that the scanned characters match the SKU exactly, including leading zeroes and case where your software treats case as significant.
A SKU barcode is not a UPC or GTIN
Printing an internal SKU in Code 128 creates a scannable internal identifier. It does not register a product globally, allocate a GTIN or create a retailer-valid UPC/EAN identity. Use assigned GS1 identifiers separately when marketplaces or retail partners require them.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a barcode from my own SKU?
Yes for an internal workflow. Choose a symbology that supports your SKU characters and that your scanners and software can read.
What barcode type is best for SKUs?
Code 128 is usually a strong starting point for a new internal SKU system because it supports flexible alphanumeric values efficiently.
Does a SKU barcode become a UPC?
No. A SKU remains an internal identifier even when encoded as a barcode. A UPC/GTIN is a standardized product identifier with separate allocation rules.
Can I create SKU barcodes from Excel?
Yes. BarcodeBatch Excel Bulk can generate Code 128 barcodes from spreadsheet rows and return both an XLSX with embedded images and a PNG ZIP.
Sources & standards
Technical claims in this guide are checked against primary or official documentation where available.