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Free , ECC 200 , Print-ready

Data Matrix code generator, print-ready in seconds

Turn text, part numbers or serials into Data Matrix codes. Download PNG, SVG or a true-size PDF, or make hundreds from a spreadsheet.

Part numbers, serials, links or any text. Spaces, leading zeros and line breaks are kept exactly. The preview shows an example until you type.

Example

14 × 14 squares (modules)

Each small square is one module. The white frame is the blank border (quiet zone): 2 squares wide. Keep it clear when you place the code.

14 × 14 modules · 100% full7 mm × 7 mm · 9 mm wide with the blank border

GS1 data (GTIN, expiry, lot)? Use the GS1 generator

An image for documents, web pages and most label software.

Make a batch

Size, print size, colors and captionAutomatic size · 0.5 mm squares
Shape and size
Shape

Automatic picked 14 × 14, the smallest size that fits.

Print size
Set the size by
millimeters

Code 7 mm × 7 mm, or 9 mm × 9 mm with the blank border.

No rounding. Laser and inkjet printers print the exact size.

Text under the code

Printed under the code, outside its blank border. It is not part of the encoded data.

Advanced: blank border, colors, encoding
Blank border (quiet zone)

Scanners need clear space around the code. The standard minimum is 1 square; we use 2 by default. Never less than 1.

Colors

Contrast 21 : 1. Dark squares on a light background scan best.

Character encoding

Plain letters, digits and symbols are stored exactly as typed. Accented letters such as é use Latin-1, the standard default. Anything else (€, emoji, Chinese) uses UTF-8 with a marker (ECI) that tells the scanner.

What the generator does

  • Create instantly

    The code updates as you type. No account, no watermark.

  • Batch generation

    Paste a list or import CSV or Excel and make hundreds at once.

  • Save and reuse

    Keep codes, label layouts and printer settings in this browser.

  • Print-ready files

    True-size PDF, sharp SVG and PNG at the resolution you need.

How it works

How to make a Data Matrix code in 3 steps

Everything happens in your browser. What you type is never uploaded.

  1. Step 1: Type or paste your text

    A part number, serial, link or any text. Spaces, leading zeros and line breaks are kept exactly as you type them.

  2. Step 2: Pick the shape and print size

    Square suits most uses; a rectangle fits narrow labels. Leave the size on Automatic, or set the width you need.

  3. Step 3: Download and print

    PNG for screens and documents, SVG for design and engraving software, PDF to print at exact size. Print at 100% / Actual size.

PNG, SVG or PDF

Which file should I download?

All three are drawn from the same code, so they always match the preview.

  • PNG

    Documents, spreadsheets, web pages and most label apps.

    Choose the resolution (dpi). Each square is a whole number of pixels, so the code stays crisp.

  • SVG

    Illustrator, InDesign, Inkscape, LightBurn and laser engravers.

    Vector: sharp at any size. It opens at true size in millimeters.

  • PDF

    Printing at an exact physical size.

    The page is exactly the code and its blank border. Print at 100% / Actual size, never “Fit to page”.

Capacity

What a Data Matrix code can hold

The largest code, 144 × 144 squares, holds up to 3,116 digits, 2,335 capital letters and digits, or 1,556 bytes of any data. Most codes hold far less. A short ID makes a small code that is quick to scan.

There are 24 square sizes and 6 standard rectangles, plus 18 newer extended rectangles (DMRE). Leave the size on Automatic and the generator picks the smallest one that fits. See the Data Matrix size and capacity chart.

Typical values and the size Automatic picks
ValueCode size
A part number PART-000123 14 × 14
A serial with a date SN-2026-000042 16 × 16
A 13-digit number 0123456789012 14 × 14
A short web link https://example.com/p/000123 22 × 22
Maximum per size (one kind of character)
SizeDigitsCapitalsBytes
10 × 10 6 3 1
16 × 16 24 16 10
24 × 24 72 52 34
32 × 32 124 91 60
52 × 52 408 304 202
144 × 144 3,116 2,335 1,556

Which type do I need?

Plain Data Matrix or GS1 DataMatrix?

Plain Data Matrix

Your own text or ID. This generator.

  • Part numbers, serials, asset tags, bin locations, links.
  • The code holds exactly what you type; your system decides what it means.
  • Used in factories, warehouses, labs and electronics.

GS1 DataMatrix

Product data in GS1 fields.

  • Product number (GTIN), expiry date, lot and serial, each in a numbered field.
  • Starts with a special FNC1 character that tells scanners it is GS1 data.
  • Used on medicines, medical devices and retail products.
Open the GS1 DataMatrix generator

Typing “(01)…” into the plain generator does not make a GS1 code: the brackets are encoded as text and there is no FNC1. Read GS1 DataMatrix explained.

Printing

Print it right: size and blank space

  • Keep blank space around the code. Scanners need a clear border, the quiet zone, at least 1 square wide. We add 2 by default. Keep text, logos and label edges outside it.
  • Never stretch it. Every square must stay square. Resize the code only from its corner, or set the size in the options before you download.
  • Print at 100% / Actual size. “Fit to page” shrinks the code. The PDF is already the exact size.
  • Label printer? Choose its resolution (203, 300 or 600 dpi) in the options. Each square is then rounded to whole printer dots, and the tool shows the real printed size.

More in quiet zone and print size. Printing many? Print Data Matrix labels on sheets or rolls.

Blank border (quiet zone)
Solid L-shaped edges help scanners find the code
The white frame is the blank border scanners need: here 2 squares wide, the default. The solid left and bottom edges and the dotted top and right edges tell a scanner where the code is and how big each square is.

Single code, batch or API?

Many codes? Batch, labels or the API

This page makes one code at a time. For more, pick the route that fits your job.

Need to read a code instead? Read a Data Matrix code online from a photo, a screenshot or your camera. Nothing is uploaded.

Data Matrix code generator FAQ

How do I create a Data Matrix code?

Type your text in the box at the top of this page and press Download. That is all: no account and no sign-up.

  1. Type or paste your text, part number or serial.
  2. Pick square or rectangle and the print size, or leave Automatic.
  3. Download a PNG, an SVG or a true-size PDF.
Is there a free tool that can generate Data Matrix codes?

Yes, this one: a free Data Matrix barcode generator. It needs no sign-up and adds no watermark. You can use the codes commercially, and they never expire because they are plain images. Making codes in bulk from a spreadsheet is free in your browser too: make Data Matrix codes in bulk from Excel or CSV.

Can you scan a Data Matrix code with a phone?

Yes, with a scanner app that supports Data Matrix. Some built-in camera apps only read QR codes, so if yours does nothing, use a barcode scanner app that lists Data Matrix. Old laser scanners that read only 1D barcodes cannot read it; you need a 2D (imager) scanner. To test a code from a picture, read a Data Matrix code online, or see how to scan a Data Matrix code. To check a phone or scanner, make a test code here or print our scanner test sheet.

What is the difference between a Data Matrix and a QR code?

A Data Matrix has an L-shaped border on two sides and fits a short ID into a smaller square, so it is used on parts, medicines and devices. A QR code has three large corner squares and is the usual code for links aimed at consumers. More in Data Matrix vs QR code.

What is a GS1 Data Matrix barcode?

A Data Matrix that starts with a special FNC1 character and holds GS1 fields such as the product number (GTIN), expiry date, lot and serial. Make one with the GS1 DataMatrix generator: it checks the field syntax. We do not issue GTINs and are not GS1.

Is there an online reader that can scan Data Matrix codes?

Yes. The Data Matrix reader decodes a code from an image or your camera, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

How much data can a Data Matrix code hold?

Up to 3,116 digits, 2,335 capital letters and digits, or 1,556 bytes in the largest 144 × 144 code. Short IDs are best: the code is smaller and easier to read. See the Data Matrix size and capacity chart.

What does ECC 200 mean?

ECC 200 is the current version of Data Matrix. It uses Reed-Solomon error correction, so a code still reads when part of it is damaged. Every code this tool makes is ECC 200. The older versions (ECC 000 to 140) are obsolete. Data Matrix codes are also called DMC (short for Data Matrix Code), especially in automotive and German-speaking industry. More in what ECC 200 means.

Which size should I print my Data Matrix code?

It depends on your printer and scanner. There is no single minimum size. If a customer or scanner spec names a module size (the size of each small square), use that. Otherwise 0.5 mm squares suit most label printers and phone scanners, and the tool shows the printed size as you type. Keep at least 1 square of blank space around the code (we use 2). See quiet zone and print size.

Guides and other tools