Barcode Asset Labels
Scannable, serialized, sealed. 1D and 2D codes that survive the asset.
A barcode is only as useful as the day you can still scan it. We thermal-transfer or full-color digital print barcodes underneath an overlaminate so the code survives sunlight, solvent, scanner glass, and time. Code 39 and Code 128 are the standard for asset management. We also produce GS1-compliant labels, UPC-A and UPC-E retail codes, and dense 2D codes like Data Matrix and PDF417 for serialized assets with limited surface area.
| Symbologies | Code 39, Code 128, UPC, EAN, ITF, GS1, Data Matrix, PDF417 |
|---|---|
| Sequencing | Sequential, variable, prefix-controlled, multi-segment |
| Minimum X-dimension | 10 mil at 5 mil overlaminate |
| Print method | Thermal-transfer (Strong) or digital + laminate (Stronger/Strongest) |
Best for
- Fixed-asset inventory
- Tool and equipment tracking
- Returnable container tracking
- Sequential serialization
Recommended tier
Stronger tier (5 mil Laminated VINYL) is the right specification for this format and most environments.
Pricing by durability tier
Per-tag pricing, no setup fees and no die charges. Pick the tier that matches the worst day your tag will face.
Clean, economical indoor workhorse. Smooth surfaces, crisp barcodes.
- Outdoor
- Rated 2 years outdoors
- Material
- 2 mil POLYESTER
- Best for
- Smooth surfaces. Tamper-evident option available.
| Quantity | Unit price | Pack total |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | $0.65 ea | $325 |
| 1,000 | $0.59 ea | $590 |
Full-color laminated vinyl. Strong adhesive, outdoor-rated.
- Outdoor
- Rated 2 to 5 years outdoors
- Material
- 5 mil Laminated VINYL
- Best for
- Smooth surfaces. Full-color branding that survives UV and water.
| Quantity | Unit price | Pack total |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $1.55 ea | $155 |
| 250 | $1.25 ea | $312.50 |
| 500 | $0.89 ea | $445 |
| 1,000 | $0.79 ea | $790 |
The bulldozer-tread tier. 12 mil plastic, EXTREME protection. Strongest adhesive.
- Outdoor
- Rated 5+ years outdoors
- Material
- 12 mil PLASTIC
- Best for
- Smooth or textured surfaces. Mission-critical assets in punishing conditions. Sticks to difficult substrates.
| Quantity | Unit price | Pack total |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | $2.25 ea | $225 |
| 250 | $1.55 ea | $387.50 |
| 500 | $1.29 ea | $645 |
| 1,000 | $1.05 ea | $1,050 |
Real photographs of the construction, application, and finish.
Barcode labels, barcode stickers, asset tags: one job
Barcode labels, barcode stickers, asset labels, asset stickers, and asset tag labels are names for the same thing: a printed, adhesive-backed tag that identifies one asset with a unique number and a code a scanner can read. The name does not decide whether a label lasts. The material, the adhesive, and the protection over the print do.
Every label we make carries a barcode, a QR code, or a serial number. On the Stronger and Strongest tiers the print sits under a clear overlaminate, so the code survives sunlight, solvent, and scanner glass.
Getting the construction right shows up in the numbers. A mid-size school district tagged 12,000 Chromebooks with Stronger-tier labels and, three school years in, has had no tag failures and replacement orders under 1 percent of inventory per year. A federal agency that re-tagged 12,000 capitalized assets with Stronger-tier tamper-evident labels saw its asset discrepancy rate drop from 4.2 percent to 0.3 percent. Both stories are in our case studies.
Choose the construction first
Asset tracking labels come in three constructions. Pick the one that matches the worst day the tag will see.
- Strong: 2-mil polyester, thermal-transfer printed in one of six colors on a white or silver background. Rated 2 years outdoors. Built for smooth indoor surfaces like office IT and lab equipment. No logo at this tier.
- Stronger: 5-mil laminated vinyl with full-color digital print under a 3-mil clear overlaminate. Rated 2 to 5 years outdoors. Our recommended tier for most barcode asset labels.
- Strongest: 12-mil plastic with a 6-mil overlaminate and a 3.5-mil permanent adhesive that bonds to powdercoat, textured, and low-surface-energy surfaces. Rated 5+ years outdoors. These are our heavy duty barcode labels.
Custom barcode labels: symbology and numbering
Code 128 and Code 39 are the standard symbologies for asset management. We also print UPC, EAN, ITF, and GS1 codes, plus 2D codes like Data Matrix and PDF417 for assets with limited surface area. Our minimum X-dimension, the width of the narrowest bar, is 10 mil at a 5-mil overlaminate.
Numbering is where custom barcode labels earn their keep. We print sequential runs from any starting number, prefix-controlled ranges, multi-segment numbers, and variable data from your own spreadsheet. Serialized labels carry the number in human-readable form and in the barcode, so the tag reads by eye or by scanner. For serialized runs, see serial number stickers. To order printed barcodes for a tracking program, see buy barcodes.
Heavy duty and waterproof barcode labels
A 1D barcode is fragile. One deep scratch across the bars can stop a read. 2D codes like Data Matrix include error correction that reads through partial damage, so for high-abrasion assets we recommend a 2D code on Strongest construction.
Water and temperature are the other common failures. Our overlaminated tiers are rated for -40°F to 250°F continuous service and are waterproof under standard industrial washdown, and our waterproof barcode labels cover wet areas and outdoor installations. The Hall of Shame shows real labels that failed in the field and what replaced them.
Start from a proven layout
The tag designer offers six barcode layouts, including a full-color field with the barcode and serial in a white strip, a half-color design with the code on the white lower half, and a minimal white tag with a border. Each one can be recolored and edited with your logo, your own text, and a starting number.
Not sure which tier fits? Compare them side by side or let the spec builder recommend one. To scan real material before you commit, order samples.
Barcode asset labels FAQ
Can I supply my own barcode numbers?
Yes. Send a spreadsheet of values, prefixes, or ranges and we print exactly what you specify. There is no setup fee for variable data.
Will the barcode read through dirt or scratches?
1D codes degrade quickly under abrasion. 2D codes like Data Matrix include error correction that can read through partial damage. For high-abrasion assets, we recommend a 2D code on Strongest-tier construction.
What is the difference between barcode labels and barcode stickers?
Only the name. Barcode labels, barcode stickers, asset labels, and asset stickers are all adhesive-backed printed tags. How long one lasts depends on the tier: the material, the adhesive, and whether the print sits under an overlaminate.
Which barcode should I use for asset tracking?
Code 128 or Code 39 covers most asset programs and reads on standard scanners. Use a 2D code like Data Matrix or QR when space is tight or the tag will take abrasion.
Can you print my logo on barcode labels?
Yes, in full color on the Stronger and Strongest tiers. Strong-tier labels carry text, barcodes, and serial numbers in one print color with no logo.
Are heavy duty barcode labels waterproof?
Stronger and Strongest labels are weatherproof with overlaminate and waterproof under standard industrial washdown. Strongest is the heavy duty option, with 12-mil plastic and a permanent adhesive that bonds to powdercoat.
Stop replacing labels. Start trusting them.
Send us a photo of where the tag has to live. We ship samples in the format and size you'd use. No setup fees, low minimums, no obligation.