How small can I make a Code 39 or Code 128 barcode?
The smallest x-dimension possible with current printing and reading technology is 5 mil. The safe limit is 7.5 mil. There are Javascript programs for calculation the length of both a Code 39 and Code 128 symbol here at BarCode-1. Code 93 is not as widely used but would provide an even higher density than either Code 39 or Code 128. There are other code formats that can store even more info in a small space. 2-dimensional symbologies can store a great amount of alphanumeric info in a very small space. The tradeoff is that these 2-D symbologies require more expensive scanners. It is possible to print such a barcode using a laser or inkjet printer. Best bet would be to use a 600 dpi model. A 300 dpi model will be right on the edge for a 7.5 mil barcode (only about 2 dots across).
