MaxiCode is a fixed size 2D matrix style symbology (originally called UPS Code) which is made up of offset rows of hexagonal modules arranged around a unique bulls-eye finder pattern.

Hexagonal elements allow dense packing, and provide fixed center-to-center spacing of all elements. The central finder pattern and fixed symbol size allow for easy scanning on high-speed conveyors.

Each MaxiCode symbol has 884 hexagonal modules arranged in 33 rows with each row containing up to 30 modules. The maximum data capacity for a MaxiCode symbol is 93 Alphanumeric characters or 138 Numeric characters.

MaxiCode is made up of 1- inch by 1-inch array of 866 interlocking hexagons. This allows the code to be at least 15% denser than a square dot code, but requires higher resolution printers (thermal direct/transfer or laser) to print it. A central bulls-eye allows a scanner to locate the label regardless of orientation.

ASCII data is encoded in six-bit symbol characters. There are five different code sets. A single MaxiCode symbol can encode up to 144 characters of data, provides two levels of Reed-Solomon error correction and can be read when up to 25% of the symbol is destroyed. MaxiCode can be read by CCD camera or scanners.

The design of the MaxiCode symbology was chosen because it is well suited to high speed, orientation independent scanning. Although the capacity of a MaxiCode symbol is not as high as other matrix style bar code symbologies, it was primarily designed to encode address data which rarely requires more than about 80 characters. MaxiCode symbols actually encode two separate messages - a Primary message and a Secondary message. The Primary message normally encodes a postal code, a 3 digit country code and a 3 digit class of service number. The Secondary message normally encodes address data and any other required information.