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MaxiCode Generator

MaxiCode is a fixed-size 2D code of hexagonal modules around a central bullseye, designed for fast reading on parcel conveyors. It is used on UPS shipping labels. Enter the postal code, country, service class and message, and the app builds the symbol.

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What MaxiCode is for

MaxiCode was developed by UPS for high-speed sortation, where packages pass overhead cameras in any orientation. It is standardised as ISO/IEC 16023 and appears on UPS labels next to a 1D tracking barcode. If you ship with a carrier, use the label your carrier's system produces or certifies; a self-made MaxiCode is useful for testing, training and integration work.

Structure

  • Always the same size: 33 rows of 30 hexagonal modules, about 28 × 27 mm (roughly 1.1 × 1.05 inch).
  • A bullseye of three concentric dark rings in the centre lets cameras locate the code at any angle.
  • Modes 2 and 3 hold a structured carrier message: postal code (numeric in mode 2, alphanumeric in mode 3), 3-digit country code and 3-digit class of service, followed by secondary data.
  • Mode 4 is for general data, mode 5 adds enhanced error correction, and mode 6 is for reader programming.
  • Capacity is up to 93 characters or 138 digits, protected by Reed-Solomon error correction.

Printing tips

Because the size is fixed, print MaxiCode at its nominal dimensions; do not shrink or stretch it. Leave a quiet zone of at least one module, more on labels with dense text. Thermal printers at 203 dpi or higher reproduce the hexagons well. Use black on white label stock and keep the bullseye free of smudges and creases.

How to make it

  1. Choose MaxiCode in the barcode generator.
  2. Select the mode, usually 2 for numeric postal codes or 3 for alphanumeric.
  3. Enter postal code, country code, service class and the secondary message.
  4. Export SVG or PDF at the fixed nominal size.
  5. Scan the printed label with an imaging scanner to confirm the fields.

Frequently asked questions

Can I print my own UPS labels with this?

Real shipments need a label generated through your UPS account or certified software. Use this generator for testing and learning.

Why can't I change the MaxiCode size?

The specification defines one physical size so that sorting cameras can be tuned to it.

Do phones read MaxiCode?

Some scanner apps do, but MaxiCode is mainly read by industrial imagers.