ITF-14
Interleaved Two of Five (14-digit)
What is an ITF-14?
ITF-14 is a 1D barcode symbology that encodes a 14-digit GTIN-14 . It is designed specifically for printing directly on corrugated cardboard - the brown outer cases and cartons used in warehouses and distribution centres. The "Interleaved Two of Five" encoding is tolerant of the rough, absorbent surfaces and wide printing tolerances found on corrugated packaging.
ITF-14 is not used at point of sale. Retail scanners at checkout do not read ITF-14 barcodes. Instead, ITF-14 serves the logistics chain - receiving, warehousing, shipping, and cross-docking - where workers need to identify what product is inside a case and at what packaging level without opening it.
Used for: Outer case identification in warehouses, distribution centres, and logistics operations. Often paired with GS1-128 barcodes when additional data (batch, expiry, serial) is needed on the same case.
Structure
An ITF-14 barcode encodes exactly 14 digits - a complete GTIN-14. The key distinguishing feature is the indicator digit, which identifies the packaging level of the trade item.
| Component | Digits | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Indicator Digit | 1 | A value from 0 to 8 that identifies the packaging configuration. See the indicator digit table below. |
| GS1 Company Prefix | 6 - 12 | The same company prefix used for the base GTIN-13 of the product inside the case, assigned by a GS1 Member Organisation. |
| Item Reference | 1 - 7 | Identifies the specific product. Together with the company prefix, these digits match the inner product's GTIN (minus the indicator and check digit). |
| Check Digit | 1 | Calculated using the standard GS1 mod-10 algorithm across all 14 digits. Note: the check digit changes when the indicator digit changes. |
Example: ITF-14
10614141123450Indicator digit
The leading digit of a GTIN-14 indicates the packaging level. The brand owner assigns the meaning of each indicator value for their products. The general conventions are:
| Indicator | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Base unit / each - equivalent to the GTIN-13 (this indicator is typically encoded in EAN-13 or UPC-A, not ITF-14) |
| 1 | Inner pack - a smaller grouping of base units (e.g., a sleeve of 6) |
| 2 | Case configuration 1 (e.g., a case of 12 units) |
| 3 | Case configuration 2 (e.g., a case of 24 units) |
| 4 | Case configuration 3 (e.g., a case of 48 units) |
| 5 | Case configuration 4 |
| 6 | Case configuration 5 |
| 7 | Case configuration 6 |
| 8 | Case configuration 7 |
Indicator 9 is reserved and has a special meaning: it designates a variable-measure trade item. Indicators 1 through 8 let a single product have up to eight distinct packaging configurations, each with its own GTIN-14 (and its own check digit).
How it relates to EPC/RFID
An ITF-14 barcode already encodes a GTIN-14, which is the native GTIN format used by EPC schemes. This means the mapping to SGTIN is direct - no zero-padding is needed (unlike GTIN-8, GTIN-12, or GTIN-13).
The indicator digit becomes the first digit of the item reference field in the SGTIN encoding:
| Layer | Value |
|---|---|
| ITF-14 / GTIN-14 | 10614141123450 |
| Indicator digit | 1(inner pack) |
| Company Prefix | 0614141 |
| Item Reference (in SGTIN) | 112345(indicator 1 + reference 12345) |
| Serial Number | 5000(assigned per individual case) |
| Pure Identity URI | urn:epc:id:sgtin:0614141.112345.5000 |
The check digit is dropped during SGTIN encoding - it is always recalculated when converting back. Notice how the indicator digit 1 distinguishes this case-level SGTIN from the base-unit SGTIN (which would have indicator 0 and item reference 012345).
For trade items that need to track the piece position within a case (e.g., which individual piece within a multi-pack), the ITIP (Individual Trade Item Piece) EPC scheme extends SGTIN with piece and total counts.
Where it's used
ITF-14 is used exclusively in logistics and supply chain operations - never at retail point of sale. Common applications include:
- Outer cases and cartons in warehouse receiving and put-away
- Cross-docking operations where cases are sorted by GTIN without being opened
- Shipping and distribution centre operations
- Inventory counting at the case level
The ITF-14 symbology is intentionally robust. Its wide bars and bearer bars (the thick frame around the barcode) make it reliable even when printed directly on uncoated corrugated cardboard with flexographic printing, which has much lower resolution and consistency than labels.
When a case requires additional data elements beyond the GTIN - such as batch/lot number, expiry date, or a serial number - a GS1-128 barcode is used alongside or instead of the ITF-14.
Related EPC schemes
Source
GS1 ITF-14 Barcode Standards and the GS1 General Specifications. The GTIN-14-to-SGTIN encoding procedure is defined in the GS1 EPC Tag Data Standard, Section 10.