When the ITF-14 barcode is at its nominal size (100%), the narrowest bar or space measures 1.016 mm. This measurement, known as the X-dimension or module width, is used to determine the barcode’s overall size.
Only use ITF-14 symbols with an X-dimension of less than 0.635 mm when printing on to labels, or directly on to high quality substrates
When the size of an ITF-14 is altered, only the width changes. This is because the height of the bars must always be 31.75 mm.
Samples will need to be checked to ensure your barcodes are scannable
Compliant barcode sizes
| Magnification (%) | X-dimension (mm) | Width (mm) | Height (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0.51 | 61.21 | 31.75 |
| 55 | 0.56 | 67.34 | 31.75 |
| 62.5 | 0.635 | 76.52 | 31.75 |
| 100 | 1.016 | 122.43 | 31.75 |
Bearer bars
The thick black box around the ITF-14 symbol is called the ‘bearer box’. This box should always be featured on the barcode when you’re printing the symbol onto corrugated fibre materials.
If you’re using ‘on-demand’ printing equipment, you will only need to print the top and bottom bearer bars. These bars should have a width of at least 1 mm.
Bearer bars help protect the symbols and prevent the top and bottom bars of the barcode from spreading apart. This can happen if you use flexographic printing plates. The bearer bars can also provide visible checks that show the print head elements are working.