Do you need to create barcodes inside your Google Sheets?

Google Sheets is an invaluable tool for businesses, not only because of its ability to manage and analyze data but also due to its usefulness in inventory management and other areas.

Barcodes are widely used for tracking inventory and stock, and the good news is that you can now create them directly in your Google Sheets.

A barcode is a visual representation of data that can hold information such as product names, manufacturers, prices, and inventory status. This information can be read using a barcode scanner, which can then be retrieved and stored in a database or spreadsheet.

Barcodes make it quick and easy to track and identify items accurately.

This article will show you the process for generating barcodes in Google Sheets.

Generate Barcode with Libre Barcode Font

Google Sheets uses special fonts to create barcodes that are not usually included in the default font list. Therefore, you need to download these fonts before creating a barcode.

There are three groups of barcode fonts offered by Google Sheets, each of which is preferred by specific industries.

1. Libre Barcode 39 for Code 39 barcodes – one of the barcode formats. It is commonly used in various industries, such as electronics, healthcare, and government for labels.
2. Libre Barcode 128 for Code 128 barcodes – used extensively in the packaging and shipping industry.
3. Libre Barcode EAN 13 Text – booksellers mostly use this barcode format to keep track of books. It is made up of 13-digit codes created by the International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) to help book retailers, libraries, universities, and wholesalers track books easily and accurately.

Downloading these fonts is easy. Just follow these steps.

1. Click on the font menu in your toolbar and select More fonts.

2. In the search bar, type Libre barcode and select all the libre barcode fonts.
3. Then click on OK.

After downloading the font, follow these steps to create a barcode.

1. Reference the cell containing the value you want to use as a barcode.

2. Go to the font options in the toolbar and select Libre Barcode 39.

This will create the barcode. You can increase the font size and drag down the formula to create barcodes for the other items in the ID column.

If you want the ID to appear below the barcodes, use Libre Barcode 39 Text.

Now, the IDs will appear below the barcodes.

The same steps are involved for creating barcodes using the Libre Barcode 128 and Libre Barcode EAN 13 Text fonts.

A barcode example using Libre Barcode 128 font following the same steps.

For the Libre Barcode EAN 13 Text font, there are different variations as shown in the image below.

Generate Barcode with Bulk Barcode Generator

Add-ons in Google Sheets can expand the software’s functionalities, providing users with an array of features and tools for data analysis, visualization, and collaboration.

The Bulk Barcode Generator add-on is a useful tool that eases the process of generating barcodes within the spreadsheet.

By using this add-on, users can easily generate barcodes for a wide range of purposes, including tracking inventory, and product labels.

To download an add-on, go to the Extensions menu, click on Add-ons, and select Get add-ons to get into the Google Workspace Marketplace.

Search for Bulk Barcode Generator. Click to download and install. You’ll have to grant permissions before you can use the add-on in your spreadsheet.

After installing the Bulk Barcode Generator add-on, you can access it from the Extensions menu. To use it, select the Start option in the contextual menu.

After clicking on the Start option, the Bulk Barcode Generator dialogue box will open. Click on Barcode Value to select the range containing the values for the barcode and the Save Barcode option to select the column where the barcodes should be saved.

Click on Barcodes Options to modify the Bar Width, Bar Height, Font Size, and Text Margin.

You can also choose to Show Text, change the Font spacing, Text Align, Font Options, Font Size, and Text Margin.

After modifying all these options, click on the Generate Barcodes button in the Home tab.

You can save the barcodes to your Google Drive or as a PNG file. If you want to generate more than 10 barcodes at a time, you will need to subscribe to the pro version.

Conclusions

Generating barcodes in Google Sheets is a straightforward process that can be accomplished using various methods. The Google Sheets add-on, Bulk Barcode Generator, makes the process quick and easy.

However, if you prefer not to use add-ons, you can install the libre fonts to create barcodes. With the ability to customize barcode color, fonts, and sizes, generating barcodes in Google Sheets provides a versatile solution for a variety of business and personal applications.

Do you find this helpful? Let us know in the comments section!