Code 11
A digits-only high-density symbology from 1977 built for telecom equipment labeling, with an optional Mod 11 check digit.
Code 11 Specification
| Character set | Digits 0-9 and the hyphen (11 characters total) |
| Data length | Variable; typically 10-12 digits in practice |
| Check digit | Optional one or two Mod 11 check digits |
| Density | Very high for numeric data — narrower than ITF at equal X |
| Module width (X-dimension) | 0.19-0.50 mm typical |
| Print ratio | Wide:narrow ratio 1:2 to 1:3 (configurable) |
| Magnification | Not fixed by the standard; scales with X-dimension |
| Quiet zone | 10X on each side |
| Standard | AIM USS-11 |
| Origin | Intermec, 1977 |
Not generated by barcodegen.net
Code 11 is documented here for completeness, but our free generator does not produce this symbology. The closest supported format is Code 128C.
What Is Code 11?
Code 11 (sometimes "USD-8") was introduced by Intermec in 1977 for labeling telecommunications components, where payloads were long digit strings. Each character uses five elements — three bars and two spaces — of which exactly one bar and one space are wide, giving 11 possible characters: digits 0-9 and the hyphen. It is denser than Interleaved 2 of 5 for pure digits at comparable quality.
The single check digit is optional (one Mod 11 character for messages up to 10 digits, two for longer ones), which is a weakness by modern standards — a single misread can propagate as a valid-looking number. Code 11 survives mainly in legacy telecom and electronics inventory; new digit-heavy applications overwhelmingly choose Code 128 code set C or ITF with proper check digits.
Common Applications
- Telecommunications equipment identification
- Legacy electronics inventory labels
Related Barcode Types
Code 128 locked to code set C — digit pairs packed two per character for maximum numeric density.
A dense digits-only linear barcode that interleaves bar and space character pairs — logistics workhorse for numeric data.
A denser, more secure sibling of Code 39 offering full ASCII and two mandatory check characters, used mainly in logistics and by the Canadian postal system.