Free PDF417 Barcode Generator
Build ISO/IEC 15438 PDF417 stacked 2D barcodes for ID cards, shipping labels, and any high-density linear-friendly application.
- 79 QR Types
- Free Business Card Designer
- Printable WiFi Cards
- Batch CSV (500 codes)
- 50 Templates
- 26 Languages
This barcode format renders monochrome with foreground and background colours only. Templates, dot/eye shapes, gradients, frames, and centre logos apply to QR codes only and are hidden here.
Show 30 more templates
Save a style with the button above to keep your favourites here.
Or pick a built-in icon:
Show 108 more icons
Renders behind the QR at adjustable opacity. Auto-forces EC=H so the QR still scans through the photo.
Batch Generation
Upload a CSV to generate up to 500 QR codes in a single batch. Each row becomes its own QR — pick a template or override 21 properties on a per-row basis: colors, frames, dot/eye/eyeball styles, gradients, transparency, size, error correction, format, built-in logo, and more.
21 columns: type, data, filename, frametext, frame, template, fgcolor, bgcolor, size, ec, dotstyle, eyestyle, format, logo, gradient, g2, gtype, gangle, transparent, eyeball, eyecolor. Only type and data are required. Use | to separate fields inside data (e.g. ssid|password|WPA).
All 79 QR types supported, including URL, WiFi, vCard, TOTP, Swiss QR-bill, PIX, PromptPay, ZATCA, PayNow, Bitcoin + Lightning, and more. Download the sample CSV to see every column, all 50 templates, 11 frame styles, and 156 built-in logo icons in action.
1. Download the sample CSV · 2. Edit it in Google Sheets, Excel, Numbers, or any text editor · 3. Upload it here
Save the entire QR — type, all field values, style, frame, logo, business card design — as a single .qr.json file. Load it later to recreate everything in one click.
Enter content to generate your QR code
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What is PDF417?
PDF417 (Portable Data File 417) is a stacked 2D barcode invented by Symbol Technologies in 1991 and standardised as ISO/IEC 15438. The format consists of 3 to 90 stacked rows of codewords; each codeword is 17 modules wide and 4 bars + 4 spaces tall (hence "417"). PDF417 is technically not a matrix barcode — it's stacked linear — which means traditional 1D laser scanners can read it row-by-row, while modern image scanners read the whole symbol at once.
Where PDF417 dominates
- US driver's licences and ID cards — the AAMVA standard requires PDF417 with name, address, DOB, licence class, restrictions, etc. Every state DMV uses it.
- US passports — the inside-cover machine-readable zone is supplemented by a PDF417 on some travel documents.
- FedEx airbills — routing and tracking data encoded for hub scanners.
- Boarding passes — alongside Aztec, PDF417 is one of the two IATA BCBP-compliant formats; American Airlines and Delta historically used PDF417.
- USPS Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb) — PDF417 stacked linear for parcel routing.
Limits
Up to 1,850 alphanumeric, 2,710 numeric, or 1,108 binary bytes. Error correction is configurable from level 0 (~2%) to level 8 (~50%); bwip-js defaults to level 5 (good balance for printed labels).
Note on styling
PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode, not a 2D matrix. QR-only style controls don't apply. The aspect ratio is intentionally wide (typically 3:1 to 5:1); we render at the requested size width and adjust height to maintain readability.
Available in 26 Languages
Fully translated UI, native script rendering, and right-to-left support for Arabic and Urdu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will iPhone Camera scan PDF417?
Yes since iOS 13. Android Camera (Google Lens) reads PDF417 reliably.
Can I generate an AAMVA-compliant driver's licence barcode?
The encoder produces a PDF417 from any text. Building the AAMVA-compliant content string (DLPI subfile structure with elements like DCS, DAC, DAD, DBA) is up to you — see the AAMVA Card Design Standard for the layout. Once you have the string, paste it here.
Why is my PDF417 so wide?
PDF417 is a stacked linear format — it's inherently wider than tall. Rows can be added to make it more compact vertically, but the aspect ratio is bounded by the standard.
Can I add a logo?
No. PDF417 has no central error-correction headroom; every row is data + ECC and obscuring any portion risks unscannable rows.
What's the difference between PDF417 and MicroPDF417?
MicroPDF417 is a more compact variant (1 to 4 columns) optimised for tiny labels. bwip-js supports both; this generator currently exposes only standard PDF417.
Can I generate PDF417 in batch?
Yes — use the batch CSV with type=pdf417.
Is PDF417 patented?
Patents have expired. Royalty-free under ISO/IEC 15438.