Data Matrix barcode generator
Electronics, medical devices, and small parts marking where the physical label area is too small for a 1D barcode.
Character set
Full ASCII plus binary data, encoded in a square or rectangular grid
Typical use
Electronics, medical devices, and small parts marking where the physical label area is too small for a 1D barcode.
How it compares
Data Matrix can hold far more data than Code 128 in a fraction of the space, at the cost of needing a 2D imaging scanner rather than a laser scanner.
No signup · Files stay on your device · PNG download is free
For a ticket or document workflow that requires a central finder pattern, try the Aztec Code generator.
Type a value above to generate a barcode.
Need 100 or 10,000 of these? Try the bulk CSV/Excel generator free.
Try the bulk generator →How to generate a Data Matrix barcode
- Choose Data Matrix from the format list
- Type letters, numbers, or symbols — Data Matrix handles full ASCII, not just digits
- There's no manual size control: the grid grows automatically to fit however much you enter
- Save the PNG for your labeling or direct-marking software
Common Data Matrix use cases
- Direct part marking on small electronic components, where there's no room for a 1D barcode
- Medical device labeling, where regulatory serialization needs a compact, high-capacity symbol
- PCB and circuit board traceability codes printed or etched directly onto the part
- Any label needing more data than a 1D barcode can hold in the same physical space
Need more than one? · free preview live
Generate Data Matrix barcodes in bulk
Upload a CSV or Excel file to produce thousands of named Data Matrix barcodes and print-ready labels in one pass. Preview free now — exporting the full batch is a one-time paid unlock. Just have a short list instead of a spreadsheet? Paste a list of values and get every barcode back free, no file needed.
Upload
Add a CSV or Excel file with your product data.
Map
Match columns to barcode value, filename, caption, and price.
Export
Download PNG, SVG, a ZIP archive, or print-ready PDF labels.
Pricing
Free today. Pay once to export bulk batches.
No subscriptions, ever. The free generator, bulk preview, and paid export are all live now.
Free lets you preview the first 20 rows of a spreadsheet. One Batch or Pro exports the complete file.
- Unlimited individual generation
- All available barcode formats
- Free PNG, SVG, and PDF downloads
- Bulk preview: up to 20 spreadsheet rows
- No signup, no watermark
Best for one-time use
- Export one CSV/Excel job, up to 20,000 rows
- PNG and SVG ZIP
- Printable label PDF
- Custom filenames
Doing this once? Choose One Batch.
Best if you'll export more than once
- Unlimited bulk exports, up to 20,000 rows each
- SVG and high-res PNG
- ZIP and print-ready PDF
- Custom filename templates
- Saved local presets
- Works on any of your devices
Expect another batch later? Pro pays for itself after 10 exports.
One-time payment, never a subscription. Your license works on any of your devices — enter your license key to unlock. Any applicable tax is calculated at checkout.
FAQ
Data Matrix barcode questions
Significantly more in the same footprint — Data Matrix is a 2D grid, not a row of bars, so it scales in two dimensions instead of one. That's why it's the standard for marking parts too small for a 1D barcode.
Both are 2D symbologies, but Data Matrix is typically used for small industrial and medical-device marking where footprint matters most, while QR codes are more common for consumer-facing links and are optimized for phone-camera scanning at a distance. BarcodeDesk doesn't generate QR codes — it's a barcode generator specifically.
A 2D imaging scanner or a smartphone camera app — a traditional laser barcode scanner (built for 1D symbols) can't read it.
Yes — full ASCII plus binary data, unlike EAN-13 or UPC-A which are numeric-only.
Use a 2D imaging barcode scanner, or a smartphone camera with a barcode-scanning app — most modern phone cameras can decode Data Matrix natively or through a free scanning app. A traditional 1D laser scanner can't read it.
A small square or rectangular grid of black and white cells (modules), quite different from the parallel bars of a 1D barcode. Its size scales automatically with how much data is encoded.
This tool generates Data Matrix barcodes — it doesn't decode or scan existing ones. To read a Data Matrix code you already have, use a smartphone barcode-scanning app or a dedicated 2D scanner.
Create your first Data Matrix barcode in seconds.
Free forever for individual barcodes. Free to preview in bulk, too.