**USPS**

**Intelligent Mail Container Barcode**

**Specification**

**(For Use on Mailer-generated** **Pallet Labels)**

**Version 12**

**Revised** **September** **17, 2007**

**[Table of Contents]{.underline}**

[About this document 1](#about-this-document)

[Comments and Feedback 1](#comments-and-feedback)

[Intelligent mail Container Barcode Specifications
2](#intelligent-mail-container-barcode-specifications)

[General Barcode Requirements 2](#general-barcode-requirements)

[Human-Readable Text 3](#human-readable-text)

[Barcode Quality 3](#barcode-quality)

[Barcode Placement 4](#barcode-placement)

[Barcode Data Constructs 4](#barcode-data-constructs)

[6-digit Mailer ID Format 4](#digit-mailer-id-format)

[9-digit Mailer ID Format 5](#digit-mailer-id-format-1)

[Barcode Examples 5](#barcode-examples)

# About this document

This document provides specifications for printing the USPS Intelligent
Mail Container Barcode. The Intelligent Mail Container Barcode is used
on mailer-generated pallet labels to identify the mail owner and
uniquely identify the unit load (pallet, container, or rolling stock).
Other human-readable data elements, beyond the Intelligent Mail
Container Barcode, such as text identifying the mail owner, destination,
and type of mail are also required on the placard (see *Section 705* of
the *Domestic Mail Manual* for more information). Certain USPS programs
may also have additional program-specific requirements. Contact your
USPS account representative or the *PostalOne!* helpdesk at (800)
522-9085 if you need assistance in determining these requirements.

This specification may periodically be revised. A current version of
this specification is available for download along with other related
guidance documents on the USPS Rapid Information Bulletin Board System
(RIBBS) at [http://ribbs.usps.gov](http://ribbs.usps.gov/).

# Comments and Feedback

Comments or suggestions regarding the content of this document should be
directed to:

> Himesh Patel
>
> Program Manager
>
> USPS Intelligent Mail - Planning & Standards
>
> 703-280-7498
>
> <HPatel@usps.gov>

# Intelligent mail Container Barcode Specifications

## General Barcode Requirements

+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Barcode          | -   Barcodes shall be produced using the        |
| Symbology:**       |     GS1-128 (formerly UCC/EAN Code 128)         |
|                    |     symbology. Only Subsets B and C are         |
|                    |     permitted for this application.             |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   **NOTE**: Subset C allows for more          |
|                    |     efficient encoding of numeric values (i.e.  |
|                    |     can shorten the overall barcode length)     |
|                    |     than Subset B; however, Subset C does not   |
|                    |     support encodation of alpha characters.     |
|                    |     Subset B allows for encoding of numeric     |
|                    |     values plus it supports encoding of both    |
|                    |     "upper" and "lower" cases alpha characters. |
|                    |     Special shift characters must be used to    |
|                    |     toggle between subsets. Some commercial     |
|                    |     barcode applications may have automatic     |
|                    |     subset-selection functionality designed to  |
|                    |     construct the most compressed (i.e.         |
|                    |     shortest length) barcode. Care should be    |
|                    |     taken to ensure that Subset A is not        |
|                    |     inadvertently used. Additionally, customers |
|                    |     are cautioned to encode alpha characters in |
|                    |     the same case as provided to the USPS in    |
|                    |     any other medium (physical or electronic)   |
|                    |     (e.g. Mail.dat file).                       |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Barcode Data:**  | -   Barcodes must encode 21 characters          |
|                    |     conforming to one of the approved barcode   |
|                    |     constructs defined in the Barcode Data      |
|                    |     Constructs section of this document.        |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **X-Dimension:**   | -   The barcode's X-dimension shall measure     |
|                    |     greater than or equal to 15.8 mils (≥ 15.8  |
|                    |     mils), but not more than 19.5 mils (≤ 19.5  |
|                    |     mils).                                      |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   **NOTE:** X-dimension is an industry        |
|                    |     recognized term that specifies the width of |
|                    |     the narrowest bar or space within the       |
|                    |     barcode. A barcode's X-dimension is         |
|                    |     expressed in "mils" which corresponds to    |
|                    |     the width of this narrowest bar or space in |
|                    |     thousands of an inch (i.e. 0.001"). A value |
|                    |     of 19.5 mils is equivalent to 0.0195".      |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Barcode          | -   The overall length of the barcode, measured |
| Length:**          |     from the leading edge of the first bar to   |
|                    |     the trailing edge of the last bar, shall    |
|                    |     not exceed 5.00 inches.                     |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Barcode          | -   The minimum barcode height shall not be     |
| Height:**          |     less than 15% of the barcode's length.      |
|                    |     Under no circumstance, regardless of        |
|                    |     barcode length, shall the barcode height be |
|                    |     less than 0.54".                            |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | ```{=html}                                      |
|                    | <!-- -->                                        |
|                    | ```                                             |
|                    | -   The maximum height of the barcode shall not |
|                    |     exceed 1.00 inch.                           |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+

## Human-Readable Text

+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **USPS Banner:**   | -   The phrase "USPS BARCODE" shall be printed  |
|                    |     in all uppercases letters centered above    |
|                    |     the barcode.                                |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   A clear zone of at least 0.125", but not    |
|                    |     more than 0.5", shall be observed between   |
|                    |     the bottom edge of this text and the top of |
|                    |     the barcode.                                |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   A clear zone of at least 0.125" shall be    |
|                    |     observed in all directions around this      |
|                    |     text.                                       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   The text shall be printed in a boldface     |
|                    |     sans serif font. The text should be printed |
|                    |     in at least 12-point type.                  |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Human-Readable   | -   The human-readable representation of the    |
| Representation of  |     barcode shall be centered below the         |
| Encoded Barcode    |     barcode.                                    |
| Data:**            |                                                 |
|                    | -   A clear zone of at least 0.125", but not    |
|                    |     more than 0.5", shall be observed between   |
|                    |     the lower edge of the barcode and the top   |
|                    |     of this text.                               |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   A clear zone of at least 0.125" shall be    |
|                    |     observed in all directions around this      |
|                    |     text.                                       |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   The text shall be printed in a boldface     |
|                    |     sans serif font. The text should be printed |
|                    |     in at least 10-point type.                  |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   To enhance readability, the human readable  |
|                    |     representation of the barcode data shall be |
|                    |     "parsed" or separated by data field. Two    |
|                    |     blank spaces shall be left between each     |
|                    |     field.                                      |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+

## Barcode Quality

+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Minimum Scan     | -   At least 70% of a mailer's barcodes must    |
| Grade:**           |     have an Overall Symbol Grade of "B" or      |
|                    |     better based upon the American National     |
|                    |     Standards Institute (ANSI) *Guideline for   |
|                    |     Barcode Print Quality* \[ANSI INCITS        |
|                    |     182-1990\]. The remainder can grade no less |
|                    |     than a "C".                                 |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   **NOTE**: More information and/or a copy of |
|                    |     the guideline can be obtained from:         |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | > American National Standards Institute         |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > 25 West 43rd Street                           |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > 4th Floor                                     |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > New York, NY 10036                            |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > Tel:  212-642-4900                            |
|                    | >                                               |
|                    | > [www.ansi.org](http://www.ansi.org/)          |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+

## Barcode Placement

+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| **Barcode          | -   The barcode shall be printed on the front   |
| Location:**        |     side of the mailer pallet label.            |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   A clear zone of at least 0.25" shall be     |
|                    |     observed directly to the left and right of  |
|                    |     the barcode. No text, images, or other      |
|                    |     markings shall appear in this area.         |
|                    |                                                 |
|                    | -   A vertical clear zone of at least 0.125"    |
|                    |     shall be observed directly above and below  |
|                    |     the barcode. No text, images, or other      |
|                    |     markings shall appear in this area.         |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+

## Barcode Data Constructs

Two distinct data constructs are permitted. Both formats are
21-characters in length and will require mailers to encode their
respective USPS-assigned Mailer ID. The length of the mailer's Mailer ID
(6 or 9 digits) will dictate which format to follow. Contact your USPS
account representative or the *PostalOne!* helpdesk at (800) 522-9085 if
you have not yet been assigned a Mailer ID or have other questions.

+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| ## |                  |    |         |             |                |
| #  |                  |    |         |             |                |
| 6- |                  |    |         |             |                |
| di |                  |    |         |             |                |
| gi |                  |    |         |             |                |
| t  |                  |    |         |             |                |
| Ma |                  |    |         |             |                |
| il |                  |    |         |             |                |
| er |                  |    |         |             |                |
|  I |                  |    |         |             |                |
| D  |                  |    |         |             |                |
| Fo |                  |    |         |             |                |
| rm |                  |    |         |             |                |
| at |                  |    |         |             |                |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| *  | **Field**        | *  | **Char  | **Logical** | **Allowable**  |
| *F |                  | *F | acter** |             |                |
| ie | **Description**  | ie |         | **Values**  | **Values**     |
| ld |                  | ld | **Pos   |             |                |
| N  |                  | ** | ition** |             |                |
| o. |                  |    |         |             |                |
| ** |                  | ** |         |             |                |
|    |                  | Si |         |             |                |
|    |                  | ze |         |             |                |
|    |                  | ** |         |             |                |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 1  | Application      | 2  | 1-2     | Numeric     | "99" (Only)    |
|    | Identifier       |    |         |             |                |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 2  | Type Indicator   | 1  | 3       | Alpha       | "M" (Only)     |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 3  | Mailer ID        | 6  | 4-9     | Numeric     | USPS-assigned  |
|    |                  |    |         |             | ID with the    |
|    |                  |    |         |             | leading digit  |
|    |                  |    |         |             | ranging from   |
|    |                  |    |         |             | "0" through    |
|    |                  |    |         |             | "8"            |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 4  | Serial Number    | 12 | 10-21   | A           | Mailer-defined |
|    |                  |    |         | lphanumeric | **^(1)^**      |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+

**^(1)^ NOTE**: The Serial Number field shall be padded with leading "-"
characters or dashes (ASCII value 0045) if the mailer-defined value is
less than the required 12 characters. For example, if the mailer opts
for a container identifier of "123456", a value of "\-\-\-\-\--123456"
should be encoded.

+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| ## |                  |    |         |             |                |
| #  |                  |    |         |             |                |
| 9- |                  |    |         |             |                |
| di |                  |    |         |             |                |
| gi |                  |    |         |             |                |
| t  |                  |    |         |             |                |
| Ma |                  |    |         |             |                |
| il |                  |    |         |             |                |
| er |                  |    |         |             |                |
|  I |                  |    |         |             |                |
| D  |                  |    |         |             |                |
| Fo |                  |    |         |             |                |
| rm |                  |    |         |             |                |
| at |                  |    |         |             |                |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| *  | **Field**        | *  | **Char  | **Logical** | **Allowable**  |
| *F |                  | *F | acter** |             |                |
| ie | **Description**  | ie |         | **Values**  | **Values**     |
| ld |                  | ld | **Pos   |             |                |
| N  |                  | ** | ition** |             |                |
| o. |                  |    |         |             |                |
| ** |                  | ** |         |             |                |
|    |                  | Si |         |             |                |
|    |                  | ze |         |             |                |
|    |                  | ** |         |             |                |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 1  | Application      | 2  | 1-2     | Numeric     | "99" (Only)    |
|    | Identifier       |    |         |             |                |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 2  | Type Indicator   | 1  | 3       | Alpha       | "M" (Only)     |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 3  | Mailer ID        | 9  | 4-12    | Numeric     | USPS-assigned  |
|    |                  |    |         |             | ID with the    |
|    |                  |    |         |             | leading digit  |
|    |                  |    |         |             | being "9"      |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+
| 4  | Serial Number    | 9  | 13-21   | A           | Mailer-        |
|    |                  |    |         | lphanumeric | defined        |
|    |                  |    |         |             | **^(2)^**      |
+----+------------------+----+---------+-------------+----------------+

**^(2)^ NOTE**: The Serial Number field shall be padded with leading "-"
characters or dashes (ASCII value 0045) if the mailer-defined value is
less than the required 9 characters. For example, if the mailer opts for
a container identifier of "123456", a value of "\-\--123456" should be
encoded.

## Barcode Examples

![](media/image1.png){width="4.490277777777778in"
height="1.2013888888888888in"}

*Figure 1 - 6-digit Mailer ID Barcode*

![](media/image2.png){width="4.490277777777778in"
height="1.2069444444444444in"}

*Figure 2 - 9-digit Mailer ID Barcode*