MaxiCode Generator

Make a MaxiCode online for free. Type up to 93 characters of text or 138 digits, choose mode 4 or the enhanced error correction of mode 5, and keep the symbol inside its fixed width of 24 to 27 mm. Download SVG, PNG, PDF or EPS for your own labels.

Valid

29.0 × 28.0 mm at 300 DPI

Barcode

22 characters

Up to 93 characters of text, or 138 digits (mode 4).

22 characters used; data like this fits up to 82 characters in this size.

MaxiCode options

Size and resolution

Output DPI

300 DPI · Thermal / offset

12 px per module at 300 DPI. Print size: 29.0 × 28.0 mm (1.14 × 1.10 in). PNG, WebP and JPEG: 410 × 395 px.

Label textNew

Font

Alignment

Printed in the file with the barcode, outside the quiet zone, in Helvetica or Courier so it looks the same in every format.

Colors

Contrast 21.0:1; estimated symbol contrast 100%.

Quiet zone (modules)4 · 4 · 4 · 4

Bar width reduction0 mil

Makes each bar thinner by this amount, to make up for ink that spreads on paper. Ask your printer for the value, or leave 0 for laser and thermal printing.

Rotation and backgroundNew0° · Filled

Rotation

In the preview, a checkered pattern shows the transparent areas. Print a transparent barcode only on a white or very light surface: scanners need the light quiet zone around it.

Margin and borderNew0 mm · no border

The margin is blank space outside the quiet zone, for cutting; the border is drawn at the outer edge. Both count in the print size.

Data inspectorNew22 chars
PresetsNew0 saved

No presets yet. Save the current settings to reuse them.

    Presets stay in this browser. They keep the type, size and style; the data and the logo are not saved.

    Recent barcodesNew0

    The barcodes you download appear here, newest first.

      The last 10 downloads, kept in this browser only.
      MaxiCode · Live previewValid
      MaxiCode barcode encoding Barcode.codes MaxiCode
      New

      Scaled to fit. Actual size shows the print size on screen.

      Print simulationNew

      Shows how a worn print looks and tests it with the decoder.

      Type
      MaxiCode · 2D
      Print size
      29.0 × 28.0 mm
      Raster
      410 × 395 px

      Download

      Vector drawing, 29.0 × 28.0 mm. Design and label programs place it at its print size.

      New
      More export optionsNewTest sheet · size set · embed code

      Print test sheet (PDF)

      The code at 80%, 100% and 150% with 100 mm and 4 in rulers. Print it at actual size and scan each copy before printing many.

      Size set (ZIP)

      Magnification

      Embed code

      Nothing you type is uploaded.New

      How to Create a MaxiCode

      Type your data, choose the mode, check the width, and download the file.

      1. Type the text or number you want to encode.
      2. Keep the automatic mode, or choose mode 4 or mode 5.
      3. Keep the X-dimension so the symbol is 24 to 27 mm wide; the generator warns outside that range.
      4. Download SVG, PNG, PDF or EPS and scan a test print.

      MaxiCode Modes

      The mode sets how the data is structured and how much error correction it gets; this generator makes modes 4 and 5.

      Modes in This Generator

      • Mode 4: any data with standard error correction: up to 93 characters or 138 digits.

        MaxiCode in mode 4, standard error correction, holding the text Barcode.codes MaxiCode.

      • Mode 5: any data with enhanced error correction: up to 77 characters or 113 digits.

        MaxiCode in mode 5, enhanced error correction, holding the text Barcode.codes MaxiCode.

      • Automatic: mode 5 when the data fits, otherwise mode 4.

        MaxiCode for a text of 86 characters, too long for mode 5, so the automatic mode draws it in mode 4.

      Modes Not Offered Here

      • Modes 2 and 3: a structured carrier message with a postal code, country code and class of service, used on parcel labels.
      • Mode 6: programs barcode readers.

      MaxiCode Specifications

      These are the rules of MaxiCode as described in the encoder's reference, which cites ISO/IEC 16023.

      MaxiCode at a glance
      PropertyMaxiCode
      DigitsUp to 138 digits (mode 4) or 113 digits (mode 5)
      CharactersAny data in modes 4 and 5; modes 2 and 3 start with a structured carrier message (postal code, country code and class of service)
      Check digitNo check digit: mode 4 has standard and mode 5 enhanced error correction
      SizeFixed: hexagonal modules around a bull's-eye, 24 to 27 mm wide
      Structured carrier messageModes 2 and 3: a postal code, a three-digit country code and a three-digit class of service, separated by GS characters; mode 2 takes a numeric postal code, mode 3 up to six digits, capital letters and spaces
      HexagonsDark hexagons are drawn 0.12 mm narrower than the module pitch, as the specification requires
      Capacity in this generatorMode 4: 138 digits or 93 capital letters and digits; mode 5: 113 digits or 77 capital letters and digits
      Also known asUPS Code, Code 6
      StandardsISO/IEC 16023 and ANSI/AIM BC10
      Where the numbers come fromYour own data; carrier messages follow the carrier's rules
      ExampleBarcode.codes MaxiCode

      BWIPP MaxiCode reference (modes, structured carrier message, width 24 to 27 mm, other names, standards); capacities measured with this generator's encoder (test/phase8.test.ts).

      Sources, checked 2026-10-04: MaxiCode reference (BWIPP).

      MaxiCode Size

      MaxiCode is a fixed-size symbol: its hexagons surround a bull's-eye, and the whole symbol should be 24 to 27 mm wide.

      Setting the Width

      In this generator the X-dimension sets the width: the symbol is 30.25 times the X-dimension wide. The default of 0.85 mm draws it 25.7 mm wide, and a warning appears outside 24 to 27 mm.

      MaxiCode at the default X-dimension of 0.85 mm, 25.7 mm wide, with hexagonal modules around a bullseye.
      The default size: 25.7 mm wide.

      MaxiCode on UPS Labels

      MaxiCode is also known as UPS Code, and its modes 2 and 3 carry the structured carrier message of a parcel label.

      Printing Shipping Labels

      A carrier's shipping label follows the carrier's own data format, so print it with the software the carrier provides. Use this generator for MaxiCode with your own data, such as tests and internal labels.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Is This MaxiCode Generator Free?

      Yes. There is no account, watermark or download limit, and the codes may be used commercially.

      What Is MaxiCode?

      A fixed-size 2D barcode made of hexagons around a bull's-eye. It is also known as UPS Code and Code 6.

      Can I Make a UPS Shipping Label Here?

      No. Shipping labels use the carrier's structured message in modes 2 and 3, which this generator does not build. Use the carrier's own software for labels.

      What Is the Difference Between Mode 4 and Mode 5?

      Mode 5 adds more error correction, so it holds less: 77 characters instead of 93. Mode 4 holds more with standard error correction.

      Why Can't I Make a Bigger MaxiCode?

      MaxiCode has a fixed size, about 24 to 27 mm wide, whatever the data. Longer data does not enlarge it; it simply has to fit.

      Can the Barcode.codes Scanner Read MaxiCode?

      Yes. The scanner and the image reader read MaxiCode in the browser, from the camera or from a photo.

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