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In logistics, things move fast—and mistakes cost money. Labeling one pallet? Or shipping out dozens? Either way, SSCC-18 barcodes keep every unit traceable from start to finish. If you need a simple way to generate SSCC-18 barcodes online for free? This guide’s got you covered.
Ever wondered how pallets and shipping crates stay traceable across thousands of miles? That’s where SSCC-18 comes in. Short for Serial Shipping Container Code, this 18-digit number tags each logistics unit—be it a pallet, box, or container—with a unique identity.
You won’t find SSCC-18s on store shelves like UPC or EAN codes. Why? Because they’re not built for products. They're made for movement.
Look closely at any GS1-compliant shipping label, and you’ll likely spot one. From the warehouse floor to the retailer’s dock, scanners—fixed or handheld—read these barcodes at every checkpoint. What happens next? The system logs the handoff, confirms the delivery, or kicks off an automated task. Just like that, one scan keeps the entire supply chain in sync.
The SSCC-18 barcode is encoded using the GS1-128 (Code 128) symbology and starts with an Application Identifier (AI) of “00” to tell scanners, “Hey, this is a logistics code.”
A typical SSCC-18 barcode looks like this: (00)123456789012345678. Let's take a closer look at what each part of the SSCC-18 number means:
| SSCC-18 Field | Length | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Application Identifier (00) | — | Fixed identifier indicating SSCC format. Not counted in the 18 digits but included in the barcode encoding. |
| Extension Digit | 1 digit | User-defined digit (typically 0–9) to expand serial reference capacity. |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 7–10 digits | Assigned by GS1; identifies the company or organization. |
| Serial Reference | 6–9 digits | Assigned by the company; combined with the prefix must total 16 digits. |
| Check Digit | 1 digit | Calculated using the Modulo 10 algorithm. |
You may have come across the term “EAN-18” while searching online. Here’s the deal: EAN-18 isn’t a real standard. Some folks mix it up with SSCC-18 because both use numeric formats. But only SSCC-18 is used for shipping containers and encoded with AI “00” in GS1-128 format. So if you're generating a logistics barcode, SSCC-18 is what you're after—no debate.
Let’s say you're shipping 50 pallets across the country. Each one needs a unique ID. That’s where SSCC-18 comes in—it helps make sure every box ends up at the right place, on time, and fully traceable along the way.
You don’t have to be a logistics giant to use these codes. If you’re a small business fulfilling bulk orders or a 3PL partner needing to label outbound shipments, having the ability to quickly generate barcode SSCC-18 can save serious time—and headaches.
Our barcode generator is fast, free, and professional—and it doesn’t require an account. If you just need a single barcode or a few for testing or printing, our generator has your back.
Whether you're on a PC in the office or working off a tablet in the warehouse, our SSCC-18 barcode generator fits right into your workflow.
Our online barcode generator makes your job easier. Just input, click, download. Here's how it works:
Enter all 18 digits of your SSCC-18 number, and don’t forget to add the (00) Application Identifier (AI) at the beginning.
Instantly preview your SSCC-18 barcode in the browser.
Click the settings icon to adjust barcode size, color, the format of the human-readable SSCC-18 number, and—most importantly—the image format you want to download.
You can save it as a high-quality PNG or SVG—perfect for printing on shipping labels or attaching to your WMS system.
Not sure if it's scannable? Give it a quick test with your phone or handheld scanner before printing—just to be safe.
Label your shipments with GS1-compliant SSCC-18 barcodes—fast, accurate, and free.
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