For most barcode types except EAN/UPC and ITF the value in the Margin Size edit box specifies the left and right margin size in millimetre or inch units. This property is used in conjunction with the bearer bar settings to specify the amount by which the bearer bars extend outside the barcode. This is effectively the size of the light margin.
For EAN/UPC and ITF barcodes the light margins are defined by the standard and are always included, so the value in the Margin Size box is ignored.