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PDF417 Barcode Generator for IDs, Tickets and Documents

Create the stacked 2D barcode used on driver licenses, boarding passes and shipping documents. It holds long records and can be read by linear imagers.

  • 100% free
  • No sign-up
  • Never expires
  • No watermark
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How to use the PDF417 generator

  1. 1

    Enter the record

    Paste the text or structured data. PDF417 handles long values such as full names, addresses and reference numbers.

  2. 2

    Scale for the space

    Raise the scale for the print size. PDF417 is wider than it is tall, so check it fits your card or document area.

  3. 3

    Download

    Export SVG or PDF for print layouts, or PNG for digital documents.

Features

  • Stacked linear format that holds up to about 1,800 characters
  • Reed-Solomon error correction for damaged or worn prints
  • Wide, short shape that fits on cards and document margins
  • SVG, PNG and PDF export with custom scale and colors
  • Generated in your browser, so personal data is not uploaded

What PDF417 is

PDF417 stands for Portable Data File. Each codeword is made of 4 bars and 4 spaces spread over 17 modules, which gives the format its name. Rows of codewords are stacked on top of each other, between start and stop patterns, to form a rectangular symbol that can hold far more data than any linear barcode.

It was introduced by Symbol Technologies in 1991 and standardised as ISO/IEC 15438. Because each row looks like a short linear barcode, it can be read by laser and linear imagers as well as camera-based scanners.

PDF417 symbol drawn as five stacked rows of bars with each row labelled
Every row is self-contained, so a scratched label can still decode from the rows that survived.

Common PDF417 applications

ApplicationWhat is encoded
US and Canadian driver licenses (AAMVA)Name, address, date of birth, license number
Airline boarding passes (IATA BCBP)Passenger name, flight, seat, booking reference
Shipping and freight documentsConsignment details and addresses
Government and tax formsForm data for fast data entry

Best practices

  • Keep a quiet zone of at least two modules on all sides.
  • Higher error correction levels add rows, making the symbol larger but more robust.
  • Do not use generated codes to imitate official ID or travel documents. Those must follow the issuing authority specification.
  • If the data is a URL for phones, a QR code is a better choice because phone cameras read it natively.

Sizing a PDF417 symbol

PDF417 is a stacked symbology: data runs along a row, the row closes, and the next one starts underneath. You decide the row and column count and the payload fills them. More rows give a taller, narrower footprint that suits a label; more columns give a flatter symbol that suits the wide blank area of a document.

Each row carries its own Reed-Solomon redundancy, and the level is selectable from 0 upwards. The higher levels spend a large share of the symbol on recovery, which is exactly what a form that will be folded, photocopied or handled by hand needs. Set the level from the damage you expect, not from the smallest symbol you can achieve.

PropertyTypical value
Data codewordsUp to 925 per symbol
Rows3 to 99
Columns1 to 30
Error correctionLevels 0 to 8, selected per symbol
Best shapeTaller stacks for labels, flatter for forms

Frequently Asked Questions

How much data can PDF417 hold?

About 1,850 text characters, 2,710 digits or 1,108 bytes in a single symbol. Very large symbols are hard to scan, so keep the data as short as practical.

Can phones scan PDF417?

Many scanner apps and some phone cameras read PDF417, but support varies. Dedicated imagers used by airlines, police and retailers read it reliably.

Can I make a driver license barcode here?

You can encode any text as PDF417, but official ID barcodes follow the AAMVA specification and may only be produced by the issuing authority. Use this tool for legitimate documents and tickets of your own.

What is Truncated PDF417?

A variant that keeps the same data but drops the indicator columns at each side, producing a much narrower symbol. It has to be configured in the reader, so you will meet it in space-limited applications rather than in general document work.

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