Postal

The main symbologies that are used in the postal industry include: 

Additionally, Code 128 is widely used in shipping, product labeling, coupons, and postal applications.

USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)

IMb replaced USPS Postal Numeric Encoding Technique (USPS POSTNET) in 2009 and USPS Postal Alpha Numeric Encoding Technique (USPS PLANET) in 2013.

IMb (formerly known as the 4-State Customer Barcode) combines the capabilities of POSTNET and PLANET. Mailers use IMb to encode routing and tracking information on letters, cards, and flats.

The components of the IMb code are as follows:

  • Barcode identifier: Two digits that are assigned by the USPS

  • Service type identifier: Three digits that represent the mail class (such as first-class, standard mail, or periodical) and any services that are requested by the sender

  • Mailer ID: Six or nine digits, assigned by the USPS, that identify the specific business that is sending the mailing

  • Sequence number: Nine (if the mailer ID has six) or six (if the mailer ID has nine) digits, specific to one piece of mail, that identify the recipient or household

  • Delivery point ZIP Code: Five, nine, or eleven digits; the eleven-digit version includes the standard five-digit ZIP Code, the ZIP+4 Code, and a two-digit code that indicates the exact delivery point

USPS Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMpb)

IMpb concatenates destination routing information, such as a ZIP Code, mailer identifiers, package identification code, and other information in a single GS1-128 barcode symbol, which is compatible with package processing equipment. Mailers use IMpb to encode routing and tracking information on boxes and packages.

The components of the IMpb code are as follows:

  • Postal Code Application Identifier (AI): Three-digit GS1 Application Identifier (always 420) that indicates the presence of a Destination Delivery ZIP Code

  • Destination ZIP Code: Five or nine digits

  • Channel Application Identifier: 92, 93, or 94; makes the barcode unique

  • Service type code (STC): Three digits that identify the mail class, product, and/or extra services

  • Source identifier: Two digits, assigned by the USPS, that identify the type of online source, such as PC Postage vendor, postage meter, or an internal USPS system; used only with Channel Application Identifier 94

  • Mailer ID (MID): Six or nine digits

  • Serial number: Variable length

Standards that apply to barcoding in the US postal industry include:

  • Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

  • USPS2000508 Barcode Package Intelligent Mail Specification 2011-12-29 Rev E

  • USPS-B-3200 Intelligent Mail Barcode 4-State 2015-04-20 Rev H