How to use it
- Enter your digits. ITF needs an even number of them; add a leading zero if your system allows it.
- Use wider bars for printing on cardboard (0.5 mm or more).
- Download and test-scan with the scanner that will read it.
How the interleaving works
ITF encodes digits in pairs: the first digit of each pair is carried by five bars and the second by the five spaces between them, two of each five being wide. That's what makes it compact for numbers, and why the total number of digits must be even.
No built-in check digit
Plain ITF has no mandatory check digit. A damaged or partly scanned barcode can occasionally be read as a shorter, valid-looking number. To guard against that, many systems fix the expected length in the scanner settings, print bearer bars (thick lines above and below), or use a format with a check digit such as ITF-14.
Many scanners refuse ITF codes shorter than 6 digits by default for the same reason.
ITF or ITF-14?
ITF-14 is ITF used for a specific purpose: a 14-digit GTIN with a check digit, printed with a bearer border on shipping cartons. If you're labelling cartons for retailers or distributors, you almost certainly need ITF-14 rather than free-length ITF.
Frequently asked questions
Why does ITF need an even number of digits?
Digits are encoded in pairs (one in the bars, one in the spaces), so there's no way to encode a single leftover digit.
Is ITF the same as Interleaved 2 of 5?
Yes. ITF is short for Interleaved Two of Five.
Related formats
Need another format? The full Barcode Generator supports 15 barcode and 2D code types.