BarcodeOwl

PDF417 Generator — Free Stacked Barcodes

PNG downloads at 1x–4x resolution.

Preview

PNG for documents & web, SVG for print & designers — always free, no watermark, no signup.

Enter your data above — up to about 1,800 characters — and the PDF417 symbol renders instantly. PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode: rows of mini-codewords that any 2D imager (and many laser scanners with rastering) can read.

Download PNG up to 4x or SVG vector. Free, no signup, no watermark.

What is PDF417?

PDF417 (Portable Data File, ISO/IEC 15438) is a stacked 2D symbology: instead of a grid of modules, it stacks multiple short linear rows, each self-clocking, with row indicators so the scanner always knows its vertical position. That structure made it the first high-capacity barcode readable by modified laser scanners — one reason it conquered government ID in the 1990s and never left.

Capacity reaches about 1,800 text characters or 2,700 digits per symbol, with adjustable error correction (levels 0–8) that can rebuild the data even when part of the label is torn away.

Where PDF417 is used

  • Driver's licenses & ID cards — the AAMVA standard on the back of every US and Canadian license is PDF417
  • Airline boarding passes — one of the three IATA BCBP-approved symbologies
  • Shipping & logistics — manifest labels, USPS forms, customs documentation
  • Government forms — tax returns, visa applications, voter registration cards
  • Healthcare — patient records and lab requisitions where a document must carry its own data

PDF417 specifications

PropertySpecification
StandardISO/IEC 15438
Capacity~1,850 text chars / 2,710 digits / 1,108 bytes
Structure3–90 rows × 1–30 columns of codewords
Error correctionReed–Solomon, 9 selectable levels (0–8)
Row heightTypically 3x the module width
Quiet zone2 module widths on all sides
VariantsCompact PDF417, Macro PDF417 (chained symbols), MicroPDF417

PDF417 vs QR and DataMatrix

PDF417's stacked-linear design is longer and thinner than matrix codes — it fills the rectangle on the back of a card beautifully, where a square QR would waste space. It also tolerates the stretch and skew of card printers. The trade-offs: lower data density per area than DataMatrix, slower decode, and weaker phone-camera support (consumers' camera apps don't read PDF417 reliably). For regulated ID and document workflows it's the mandated choice; for anything consumer-facing, use QR.

Printing & scanning tips

  • Keep the aspect ratio sensible: more rows beats more columns for reliability
  • Print at 300 DPI+ — PDF417 codewords are narrow and suffer from dot gain
  • Don't truncate rows or clip the start/stop patterns at the edges
  • Use a 2D imager for best results; legacy laser scanners need rastering firmware
  • Test with the AAMVA or IATA reference app if you're building ID or travel documents

Frequently asked questions

Is this PDF417 generator free?

Yes — unlimited PDF417 barcodes, PNG up to 4x and SVG downloads, no signup, no watermark. PDF417 is an open ISO standard in the public domain.

What does PDF417 stand for?

Portable Data File — the '417' describes the codeword structure: each codeword is 17 modules wide, built from 4 bars and 4 spaces.

Can phones scan PDF417?

Not reliably with default camera apps — PDF417 is aimed at dedicated 2D imagers and document scanners (which is why it lives on ID cards, not marketing). iOS and Android scanning SDKs (and most scanner apps) do support it.

How do driver's licenses use PDF417?

US and Canadian licenses follow the AAMVA DL/ID standard: the PDF417 on the back encodes name, address, license number, dates and restrictions in a defined field structure. BarcodeOwl generates the symbol; producing a compliant AAMVA payload is on you (and encoding data for fraudulent IDs is illegal).

How much data fits in one PDF417?

About 1,800 text characters per symbol at maximum size. Need more? Macro PDF417 chains multiple symbols into one logical file — contact us if that's a requirement, it's a niche feature.

PDF417 vs QR code — which should I pick?

PDF417 when an industry standard mandates it (AAMVA licenses, IATA boarding passes, government forms) or when you need a rectangular high-capacity symbol. QR for anything consumer-facing scanned by phones.

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