Quick answer: choose the postal service in the list, type the postcode data in the format shown under the field – for Royal Mail the postcode without spaces plus the 2-character delivery point suffix – and download. The barcode is drawn at the standard size for that postal service.
The postal barcodes on this page
| Barcode | Country | Data |
|---|---|---|
| RM4SCC (Royal Mail 4-State Customer Code) | UK | Postcode + delivery point suffix, e.g. SN34RD1A |
| Australia Post 4-State | Australia | Format code (11, 59, 62) + 8-digit DPID + optional customer data |
| KIX (Klant Index) | Netherlands | Postcode + house number + suffix |
| Japan Post customer barcode | Japan | 7-digit postcode + address number |
| POSTNET | USA (retired 2013) | ZIP, ZIP+4 or 11-digit delivery point |
| PLANET | USA (retired) | 11 or 13 digits for tracking |
| Identcode | Germany | 11-digit parcel tracking number |
| Leitcode | Germany | 13-digit routing code: postcode, street, house number |
How to create a postal barcode
- Choose the postal service. Royal Mail, Australia Post, PostNL KIX, Japan Post, USPS POSTNET/PLANET or Deutsche Post.
- Enter the data. Follow the hint under the field: each service has its own format.
- Check the size. Postal barcodes have fixed sizes; the size line shows the printed dimensions.
- Print or mail-merge. Use the bulk option for a whole address list.
What “4-state” means
Most of these codes use bars that differ in height, not width: a full bar, an ascender, a descender and a short tracker. Four shapes give two bits per bar, so a compact row of bars carries a whole postcode and is easy for high-speed sorting machines to read.
Before you print a large mailing
- Royal Mail now uses Mailmark for most business mail discounts; RM4SCC is still read but check which barcode your contract requires.
- Australia Post barcodes need the correct DPID from Australia Post's address file (PAF).
- USPS: for automation prices use the Intelligent Mail barcode; POSTNET and PLANET are only for legacy systems.
Australia Post format control codes
The first two digits of an Australia Post barcode choose its length. FCC 11 is the standard customer barcode with 37 bars and the 8-digit Delivery Point Identifier only. FCC 59 (Customer Barcode 2, 52 bars) and FCC 62 (Customer Barcode 3, 67 bars) add a customer information field – for example a customer number – that is returned to you with undeliverable mail. Enter the FCC, the DPID and, if used, the customer information separated by a space.
Frequently asked questions
What is the delivery point suffix in a Royal Mail barcode?
Two characters (a digit and a letter) that identify the exact delivery point within the postcode. They come from Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File.
Do I need permission to print postal barcodes?
Anyone can print them, but mail discounts depend on your contract with the postal service and on correct data.
Why can’t phone apps read these barcodes?
4-state postal codes are read by sorting machines. Most phone apps and general scanners do not support them.
Is Identcode the DHL tracking barcode?
Identcode and Leitcode are the older Deutsche Post / DHL parcel codes, based on Interleaved 2 of 5. DHL now mostly uses Code 128 labels.