Barcode Labels for Clothing: How to Make and Print Them
A simple guide to creating barcode labels for clothing and garments — what information to include, what barcode type to use, and how to print them without expensive software.
Every piece of clothing sold in a retail store has a barcode on it. That barcode links the item to your inventory system so it can be scanned at checkout, counted during stocktakes, and tracked through your supply chain.
If you're running a small clothing brand, a boutique, or selling on any marketplace that requires barcodes — this guide walks you through exactly what you need and how to print garment barcode labels yourself without expensive software.
What Goes on a Clothing Barcode Label?#
A standard garment barcode tag typically includes:
- Brand name — your store or label name
- Product name — the item description (e.g., "Slim Fit Chinos")
- Size — S, M, L, XL or numeric (28, 30, 32...)
- Color — especially important when the same style comes in multiple colors
- Price — shown as MRP or retail price
- SKU or item code — your internal reference number
- Barcode — the scannable barcode linked to the SKU
Some brands also add a QR code on the back of the tag linking to care instructions or product pages.
What Type of Barcode Should You Use?#
This depends on where you're selling:
| Where you're selling | Barcode to use |
|---|---|
| Your own retail store only | Code 128 (any barcode scanner reads it) |
| Online marketplaces (Amazon, Flipkart) | FNSKU or UPC/EAN assigned by the platform |
| Wholesale to retailers | UPC (12-digit) or EAN-13 (13-digit) |
| Internal tracking only | Code 128 or QR code |
For most small clothing brands selling through their own store, Code 128 is the right choice. It's free to generate (no registration needed), supported by every barcode scanner, and works with any number or code format.
If you're selling on Amazon, you'll need FNSKU labels — these are Amazon-specific. More on that in our Amazon FBA barcode guide.
How to Make Barcode Labels for Clothing#
Step 1 — Prepare your product list#
Start with a spreadsheet. One row per product variation. If a shirt comes in 3 sizes and 2 colors, that's 6 rows — each with its own SKU and barcode.
| Brand | Product | Size | Color | Price | SKU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threadco | Slim Tee | S | White | $29 | TC-SLT-S-WHT |
| Threadco | Slim Tee | M | White | $29 | TC-SLT-M-WHT |
| Threadco | Slim Tee | S | Black | $29 | TC-SLT-S-BLK |
Use the SKU as your barcode value. It's already unique per variation, which is exactly what a barcode needs to be.
Step 2 — Open Labeliy and use the Clothing Tag template#
Go to labeliy.com/label-maker and select the Clothing Tag template. It includes fields for brand, product, color, size, price, and a barcode — already laid out in a portrait hang tag format.
Step 3 — Set your fields as dynamic#
Click each text element in the label designer and check the Dynamic box. This tells Labeliy to pull the value from your spreadsheet column instead of using fixed text.
Do the same for the barcode element — set it as dynamic and point it to your SKU column. Labeliy will generate a unique barcode for each row automatically.
Step 4 — Paste your product data#
In the Data Source table, paste your spreadsheet data. Each row becomes one label — one per size/color/variation.
Step 5 — Choose your label sheet and print#
For hang tags, most brands print on cardstock and cut them. Choose a label size that matches your tag dimensions, download the PDF, and print.
For adhesive barcode labels (stuck directly on the tag or garment bag), use standard label sheets — something like 1" × 2.625" works well for a small barcode + SKU label.
What Size Should Clothing Barcode Labels Be?#
It depends on what type of label you're making:
Hang tags (attached with a pin or string) — Typically 2" × 3.5" to 2" × 4". Enough space for brand name, size, price, and a barcode.
Adhesive barcode-only labels — 1" × 2" or 1" × 2.625" (Avery 5160 size). Just the barcode and SKU code — stuck on the inside of the garment or on the packaging.
Woven or printed care labels — These are sewn inside the garment. Not printed on a label printer — you'd order these from a label manufacturer.
Can I Add a QR Code Instead of a Barcode?#
Yes. A QR code takes up slightly more space but can hold much more information — a URL, product description, care guide, or size chart link.
In Labeliy, add a QR code element to your label design, set it as dynamic, and point it to whichever column has the data you want encoded (a URL or product code).
QR codes are especially popular for sustainable brands who want to link to a digital product passport or recycling information.
Common Questions#
Do I need to buy barcodes (UPC numbers)? Only if you're selling wholesale to retailers or on Amazon as a brand-registered seller. For your own store, you can use your own SKU codes as the barcode value — you don't need to purchase registered UPCs.
Can I print barcode labels from home? Yes. A standard inkjet or laser printer on adhesive label sheets works fine for most retail uses. For high-volume or thermal printing, a dedicated label printer (Zebra, Rollo, etc.) gives better quality.
How do I scan these barcodes? Any smartphone barcode scanner app reads Code 128 barcodes. For point-of-sale systems, connect a USB barcode scanner — they're inexpensive and plug-and-play.
My sizes and colors create too many variations — is there an easier way? Use a spreadsheet. If you have 10 styles × 4 sizes × 3 colors = 120 variations, put all 120 rows in a spreadsheet, paste it into Labeliy, and it generates all 120 labels in one go. That's the whole point of the dynamic fields.
Barcode labels for clothing don't require expensive software or a designer. A spreadsheet, a template, and a label printer is all you need.