2D codes

GS1 DataMatrix

GS1 DataMatrix packs Application Identifier data into a small 2D square, widely used for healthcare and direct part marking.

GS1 application identifiers(01) GTIN (14 digits) — AI (01)(10) Batch / Lot — AI (10)(21) Serial number — AI (21)(11) Production date (YYMMDD) — AI (11)(17) Expiry date (YYMMDD) — AI (17)(30) Quantity — AI (30)(3103) Net weight in kg (3 decimals) — AI (3103)(00) SSCC (18 digits) — AI (00)

Size

Preview

Enter valid data to see the barcode.

Encoding happens entirely in your browser. This tool encodes numbers you already own — it does not issue or register GS1 company prefixes.

Data rules

GS1 Application Identifier element strings

Length: 1–200 characters
Character set: alphanumeric
Check digit: not used
Quiet zone: 1 modules

Printing notes

GS1 DataMatrix differs from plain Data Matrix by the leading FNC1, which identifies the content as GS1 element strings.
It is the required carrier for EU Falsified Medicines Directive and UDI marking on many medical devices.
Quiet zone is one module on all four sides.

Workflow links

Bulk generator

Generate hundreds of GS1 DataMatrix symbols from a CSV or pasted list.

Label printing

Print GS1 DataMatrix on Avery sheets or thermal labels with calibration.

GS1 tools

Build GS1-128, GS1 DataMatrix, SSCC and logistics labels.

Related barcode formats

GS1-128

Build a GS1-128 barcode from structured fields — GTIN, batch, expiry, serial — or switch to raw Application Identifier mode.

Data Matrix

Data Matrix encodes text or numbers in a compact square with strong error correction — ideal for very small parts.

What is GS1 DataMatrix?

GS1 DataMatrix is a two-dimensional matrix symbol carrying GS1 Application Identifier data. It holds GTIN, batch, expiry and serial in a square a few millimetres across, which is why regulated healthcare packaging adopted it.

Reed-Solomon error correction lets it still decode when part of the symbol is damaged or obscured — important on curved vials and small cartons.

Frequently asked questions

Is this GS1 DataMatrix generator free to use?

Yes. The GS1 DataMatrix generator is free, has no signup and adds no watermark. The symbol is encoded in your browser, so the data you type is never uploaded to a server.

What file format should I download for printing GS1 DataMatrix?

Download SVG for anything that will be printed. SVG is vector, so bar widths and the quiet zone stay exact at any size. PNG is fine for screens and slide decks, but never scale a PNG barcode up — enlarging it blurs the bar edges and scanners start failing.

How is GS1 DataMatrix different from a plain Data Matrix?

The symbology is identical. GS1 DataMatrix starts with an FNC1 and structures its content as Application Identifiers, which is what makes the data interoperable across the supply chain.

Can GS1 DataMatrix replace the retail barcode at the till?

Increasingly, under GS1's Sunrise 2027 programme, but only where the point-of-sale scanner and software support 2D. Until then, keep the linear retail symbol on consumer packs.

Standards & references

This page follows the published specifications. The bodies that own them: