Inventory Barcode Labels

Barcode labels are the most practical way to track inventory accurately. Each label encodes a unique identifier that a scanner reads instantly — no typing, no misreads. This page covers how to plan and produce barcode labels for a working inventory system using Batch Label Studio.

SKU vs barcode: what goes on the label?

A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a human-readable identifier you assign to each product — for example, WIDGET-BLU-M. It encodes meaning: brand, colour, size. People can read it and understand it.

A barcode is the machine-readable representation of that identifier. The barcode on an inventory label typically encodes the SKU value — so scanning the barcode delivers the same data as reading the SKU text, but faster and without transcription errors.

For internal inventory (not sold through retail), you can encode your SKU directly into a Code 128 barcode. For retail products, you encode a GS1-assigned UPC-A or EAN-13 number, and include the SKU as human-readable text on the label.

Which barcode type to use for inventory

For most internal inventory systems — warehouses, storerooms, event equipment, tool libraries — Code 128 is the right choice. It encodes any combination of letters and numbers, it is compact at small sizes, and virtually every handheld scanner supports it.

What information to put on an inventory label

A practical inventory label contains four pieces of information:

1. The barcode — takes up the most space; must be large enough to scan reliably (at least 20 mm wide for Code 128).
2. The human-readable code — the SKU or barcode number printed in plain text below the barcode, so staff can read it when a scanner is unavailable.
3. A product name or description — short text that identifies the item at a glance.
4. Optional fields — location code, lot number, expiry date, quantity. Include only what staff actually need; too much text makes labels hard to scan and read.

Example inventory spreadsheet structure

This column structure covers most inventory use cases and maps cleanly into Batch Label Studio Pro:

In this example, the sku column is the barcode value. Map it to the barcode value field when importing. The product_name column becomes the label title.

Choosing the right label size

Label size depends on how the item is stored and scanned. General guidance:

• Small bin or shelf edge labels: 2 × 1 inch (51 × 25 mm) — fits on a narrow shelf divider or small part bin.
• Standard product labels: 3 × 2 inch (76 × 51 mm) — enough space for a barcode, SKU, and one or two lines of text.
• Packing and shipping labels: 4 × 6 inch (102 × 152 mm) — the standard thermal shipping label size; includes full address and order details alongside the barcode.
• Pallet tags: 4 × 4 inch (102 × 102 mm) or larger — scanned from a distance in a warehouse aisle.

Use our thermal label size calculator to find the exact pixel dimensions for your label size at your printer's DPI.

Printing inventory labels with Batch Label Studio

1. 1.Build your inventory spreadsheet with one row per SKU. Include the SKU value, a product name, and optionally a location or lot number.
2. 2.Save as CSV or XLSX. If your SKU starts with a number and you are saving from Excel, format the SKU column as Text first to prevent leading zeros being stripped.
3. 3.Open Batch Label Studio Pro and drag the file onto the import area. Map the SKU column to the barcode value field and the product name column to the label title.
4. 4.Choose a label template matching your label stock and set Code 128 as the barcode type (or use a mixed-type spreadsheet with a barcode_type column).
5. 5.Click Generate. Export as PDF for immediate printing on label sheets, or as a ZIP of PNGs if you need to pass label files to a print service.

Frequently Asked Questions