What is a Standard 2 of 5 barcode?
Standard 2 of 5, also called Code 2 of 5 or straight 2 of 5, is a simple numbers-only barcode dating from the 1960s. It is one of the first members of the 2 of 5 family and still appears in some older warehouse, photofinishing and ticketing systems.
Each digit is made of five bars, two of them wide, which is where the name comes from. The spaces carry no data, so the code is easy to print but takes a lot of room. In many software libraries, Standard 2 of 5 and Industrial 2 of 5 refer to the same bar pattern, but some vendors use the names differently, so check what your scanner expects.
For new numeric barcodes, Interleaved 2 of 5 or Code 128 hold the same digits in much less space. Use Standard 2 of 5 only to match an existing system.
What data can Standard 2 of 5 hold?
Digits 0-9 only, any length. Spaces are removed. An optional modulo 10 check digit can be added.
Recommended size
Keep a quiet zone of at least 10 times the narrowest bar on each side. This code is wide, so keep numbers short and make sure your label has enough horizontal room.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Often yes: many generators and scanners treat the two names as the same symbology. Some older documentation uses Standard 2 of 5 for other variants, so test with your scanner before printing in bulk.
No. It encodes digits only. Use Code 39 or Code 128 if you need letters.
Interleaved 2 of 5 is much more compact for digits, and Code 128 is the most flexible general choice. Both are widely supported.