How to Use Barcode Fonts in Excel

Barcodes are everywhere—from the products in your local supermarket to warehouse shelves and even office asset tags. If you work with Excel, chances are you’ve wondered: “Can I generate barcodes directly in Excel?” The answer is yes—using a barcode font.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use a font barcode in Excel, step by step. We’ll also compare barcode fonts vs. barcode generators, share troubleshooting tips, and give you an easier alternative if you don’t want to mess around with fonts.

Shipping containers at a busy port, symbolizing logistics and inventory management.

What Is a Barcode Font?

Are you going to create barcodes in Excel without paying for extra software? Maybe you need them for product labels, inventory sheets, retail packaging, or office assets.

A barcode font is just like any other font (think Times New Roman or Arial), but instead of letters, it converts numbers and text into scannable barcodes in Excel.

Some of the most popular Excel barcode fonts include:

Code 39 barcode font

Simple, widely used, free

Code 128 barcode font

Compact, supports more characters

UPC/EAN fonts

used for retail and consumer products

Pro tip: if you just need a basic inventory system, Code 39 in Excel usually does the job.

How to Install and Use a Barcode Font in Excel

Here’s the step-by-step tutorial to get barcodes working in Excel.

Download a Barcode Font

• Search for “Free Code 39 Barcode Font Excel” or “Code 128 Barcode Font Excel”.
• Download the font file (usually .ttf).

Install the Barcode Font

• On Windows: Right-click →Install
• On Mac: Double-click the font file →Install Font

Enter Data in Excel

• Open Excel and type your values (e.g., product codes)
• For Code 39 fonts, you'll need to add an asterisk (*) at the beginning and end of the value
Example: *12345*

Apply the Barcode Font

• Select the cell → change the font to your installed barcode font.
• Boom—you'll see a barcode instead of plain text

Test With a Scanner

• Use a barcode scanner to make sure it reads correctly
• If it doesn't work, check formatting and start/stop characters

Troubleshooting Barcode Font Problems in Excel

Even though barcode fonts are handy, you might run into some hiccups.

• Font not scanning → Add start/stop characters (*12345*)

• Barcode too small → Increase font size (try 20–30pt)

• Excel version problems → Most barcode fonts work on Excel 2016, 2019, and 365.

Barcode Fonts vs. Barcode Generators

Using a barcode font in Excel works great if you just need something quick and simple. But once you need more barcode types or higher-quality printing, it can feel a bit limiting. That’s when many people begin wondering if an online barcode generator might be a better choice.

So, which is better: using a barcode font in Excel or an online barcode generator?

Barcode Fonts

✅ Free, easy to install
✅ Great for small projects
❌ Limited formatting options
❌ Can be tricky with certain barcode types

Online Barcode Generators

✅ Create multiple barcode types (like Code 39, Code 128, UPC, EAN, QR codes)
✅ Export as PNG, JPG, or SVG for printing
✅ No need to install fonts or fiddle with Excel
❌ Requires internet access

Quick Tip: If you don’t want to wrestle with fonts, check out our free barcode generator Tool. It lets you generate Code 39, Code 128, UPC, and more in seconds—just type your number, download the image, and drop it straight into your Excel sheet. Easy-peasy.

FAQs About Using Barcode Fonts in Excel

Q1: Can I generate barcodes in Excel without installing fonts?

Yes—you can use an online barcode generator and paste the barcode images into Excel.

Q2: What is the best free barcode font for Excel?

For most people, Code 39 barcode font works best because it’s simple and widely supported.

Q3: How do I create Code 128 barcodes in Excel?

Download and install a Code 128 font, type your values, and format the cell with that font.

Q4: Can I print barcode labels from Excel?

Absolutely. Just use Excel’s printing function, or mail merge with Word for professional labels. If you need variable data printing, we recommend using a dedicated barcode label printer with compatible software.

This way, you can easily connect Excel data and print barcodes in bulk.

Recommended reading: How to Print Labels from Excel with a Thermal Label Printer

Using a barcode font in Excel is a simple and low-cost way to create barcodes for inventory, product tags, or small projects. For a faster and more flexible option, try our barcode generator tool, which works with all major barcode types.

Looking for an easy way to make barcodes in Excel or online?

Our free tool lets you create Code 128, EAN, or QR codes instantly—no software, no hassle.

Generate Your Free Barcode →