What is a MaxiCode barcode?
MaxiCode is a 2D symbology developed by UPS and standardized as ISO/IEC 16023. It is made of hexagonal dots around a central bullseye, and it always has the same physical size of roughly one inch square, so high-speed sorters can find and read it on moving parcels.
It supports several modes. Modes 2 and 3 carry a structured carrier message with postal code, country code and service class, while modes 4 to 6 carry general data. A single symbol holds up to 93 characters.
MaxiCode is mostly used on shipping labels. For product marking or general data, Data Matrix or QR codes are more flexible because they can scale in size.
What data can MaxiCode hold?
Text up to 93 characters (fewer in the structured carrier modes). Carrier-ready data must follow the format your carrier specifies.
Recommended size
MaxiCode has a fixed nominal size of about 1 inch (25 mm) square, so don't stretch or shrink it much. It is printed in black on white; color options are not available for this type.
More 2D Codes barcodes
How to Create a Barcode in 3 Steps
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Select a category on the left (e.g. Linear Codes), then the exact type like Code-128.
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Type your data — we check it live and add check digits. Adjust size, font and colors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Only if the data follows the carrier's specification, which normally comes from certified shipping software. The generator encodes exactly the data you supply.
MaxiCode is designed with a fixed size so sorting systems know what to expect. Printing it much larger or smaller can make it fail on those systems.
Modes 2 and 3 hold a structured shipping message with postal and service data, mode 4 is general data, mode 5 has extra error correction and mode 6 is for reader programming.