PDF417 barcode generator, columns and security level
Make a PDF417 barcode for labels, forms and passes: set the columns, rows, security level and row height, then download SVG, PDF or PNG.
Where PDF417 is used
Shipping and warehouse labels, airline boarding passes, identity cards and driver's licenses in North America, and forms that carry their own data. It is a stacked barcode, so laser and imaging scanners both read it; many phone camera apps do not.
ID cards and licenses
Driver's license and ID barcodes follow the AAMVA standard and are issued only by the licensing authority. This tool has no license or ID templates and does not make them; it encodes the text you type.
Type or paste the text to encode.
Leave columns, rows and security level on auto, or set them to fit the space on your label.
Pick the module size and download SVG, PDF or PNG. Each symbol is read back before you save it.
Questions
What is PDF417 used for?+
Shipping and warehouse labels, airline boarding passes, forms that carry their own data, and identity cards and driver’s licenses in North America. It is a stacked linear barcode, so both laser and imaging scanners read it.
What do columns and rows change?+
The shape. More data columns make the symbol wider and shorter; fewer make it taller and narrower. Set the columns to fit your label width and leave the rows on auto.
What security level should I use?+
Auto picks one by data length, following the standard’s advice. Levels run from 0 to 8, and each level doubles the error correction codewords. Go higher for labels that get scuffed or wet.
Can I make a driver’s license or ID barcode?+
No. License and ID barcodes follow the AAMVA standard and are issued only by the licensing authority. This tool has no ID templates; it encodes the text you type.
What is compact PDF417?+
A truncated form that drops the right-hand row indicators to save width. It is less tolerant of damage, so use it only where the label stays clean.
More free tools
Learn the terms
- Reed–Solomon error correctionReed–Solomon error correction is the math that lets a damaged QR code still scan. It adds check codewords to the data so a reader can rebuild missing or wrong bytes, up to a set limit.
- PDF417PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode made of 3 to 90 rows of codewords, each 17 modules long with 4 bars and 4 spaces. It is used on US and Canadian driver’s licenses and boarding passes.
- Boarding pass barcode (IATA BCBP)A boarding pass barcode follows IATA’s Bar Coded Boarding Pass (BCBP) standard. It encodes the passenger’s name, booking reference, flight and seat, as PDF417 on paper or Aztec or QR on phones.
- Event ticket codesEvent ticket codes are barcodes, often QR, Aztec or PDF417, that carry a unique ticket ID checked by a scanner at the door. The ID is validated so each ticket admits one person once.
- ISO/IEC 15438ISO/IEC 15438 is the international standard for PDF417, a stacked barcode made of rows of short linear codewords. The current edition dates from 2015.
The next step
Make the code the artwork.
These tools make and check classic codes. AriaQR turns your photo, logo or illustration into the code itself, verified on real decoders before you download, with a link you can edit and track.
