GS1 Logistics
ITF-14 Barcode Formatting Guide
Durability for the warehouse. Master the 14-digit standard for shipping cartons and outer case identification on corrugated surfaces.
What is an ITF-14?
The ITF-14 (Interleaved 2 of 5) is the GS1 standard for identifying shipping cartons or outer cases. It encodes a 14-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTIN-14) and is specifically designed to handle the challenges of printing directly on cardboard boxes.
The Role of Bearer Bars
The defining visual feature of an ITF-14 is the thick black border surrounding it, known as "Bearer Bars." These bars serve two critical technical purposes:
- Even Pressure: They help the printing plate apply even pressure across the surface, reducing ink gain on corrugated cardboard.
- Scanning Integrity: They prevent "short scans" by ensuring the scanner reads the entire barcode width.
14-Digit Anatomy
An ITF-14 contains an indicator digit (defining the package level), your GS1 company prefix, an item reference number, and a final Modulo 10 check digit.
Technical Specs
Digit CountExactly 14
SymbologyInterleaved 2 of 5
Bearer BarsMandatory
Data TypeNumeric Only
Direct Printing
The wide tolerance of ITF-14 makes it the only barcode standard reliable enough for high-speed ink-jet or flexographic printing directly onto corrugated fiberboard.