Quick answer: for parcel labels choose mode 2 (numeric postcode such as a US ZIP) or mode 3 (alphanumeric postcode), fill in the postcode, the 3-digit ISO country number and the carrier’s service class, and add the rest of the message. For other uses, mode 4 encodes up to 93 characters of text.
Built for speed on the sorting belt
UPS developed MaxiCode in 1992 to sort parcels moving at several metres per second. Instead of square modules it uses 884 hexagons arranged in 33 rows around a central bullseye. The bullseye lets an overhead camera find and orient the code in any position on the parcel, and the most important routing data – the primary message – sits in the most protected ring around the centre.
| Mode | Use |
|---|---|
| 2 | Carrier message with numeric postcode (up to 9 digits, e.g. US ZIP+4) |
| 3 | Carrier message with alphanumeric postcode (up to 6 characters, e.g. UK or Canada) |
| 4 | Standard symbol, up to 93 characters |
| 5 | Full error correction, up to 77 characters |
| 6 | Reader programming (not for labels) |
How to create a MaxiCode
- Choose the mode. Mode 2 or 3 for carrier labels; mode 4 for plain text; mode 5 for extra error correction with less data.
- Fill in the primary message. Postcode, country code (840 = USA, 826 = UK, 586 = Pakistan) and service class from your carrier.
- Add the secondary message. Tracking number, weight or other data agreed with the carrier.
- Download at real size. MaxiCode is always about 1 inch square. Place the PDF or SVG at 100 %.
Using MaxiCode on real shipping labels
Carriers that use MaxiCode publish exactly what the secondary message must contain – typically tracking number, shipper ID, day of year, weight and address lines in a fixed order. If you print labels for UPS, use the label format from your UPS account or certified shipping software; this generator is ideal for testing scanners and building your own internal sorting labels.
MaxiCode always has the same physical size, about 28.1 × 26.9 mm. Do not scale it.
Reading MaxiCode
Because the modules are hexagons, MaxiCode can only be read by image-based (camera) scanners, not by laser scanners. Modern handheld imagers and sorting cameras read it at any angle. Our Barcode Reader also decodes MaxiCode from photos, which is useful for checking test labels.
Frequently asked questions
Why is MaxiCode always the same size?
Sorting cameras are set up for one size, and the structure has a fixed number of hexagons. Only the data changes, not the size.
What is the country code?
The 3-digit ISO 3166 numeric code: 840 for the USA, 124 for Canada, 826 for the UK, 586 for Pakistan, 276 for Germany.
Can I create a valid UPS label here?
You can create a MaxiCode in the right structure, but UPS labels must follow UPS’s own label guide and come from approved shipping software.
Can phone apps read MaxiCode?
Few phone apps support it, but industrial scanners do, and so does our Barcode Reader.