Code 16K
A stacked symbology built from Code 128 character structure — 2 to 16 rows, up to 107 characters — designed for small labels in electronics.
Code 16K Specification
| Character set | Full ASCII via Code 128 code sets A/B |
| Data length | Up to 107 alphanumeric / 154 numeric characters |
| Check digit | Row check characters plus one Mod 107 symbol check |
| Density | Very high — 2-16 stacked rows of Code 128 characters |
| Module width (X-dimension) | 0.19-0.33 mm typical |
| Print ratio | Variable-width bars and spaces |
| Magnification | Not fixed; scales with X-dimension |
| Quiet zone | 10X on each side |
| Standard | AIM USS-16K (ANSI/AIM BC6) |
| Origin | Theodore Williams, Laserlight Systems, 1988 |
Not generated by barcodegen.net
Code 16K is documented here for completeness, but our free generator does not produce this symbology. The closest supported format is PDF417.
What Is Code 16K?
Code 16K (Theodore Williams, 1988, later standardized as AIM USS-16K) reuses Code 128's 11-module character structure, stacking 2 to 16 short rows separated by separator patterns. Row prefixes identify the row and mode, and the symbol can carry up to 107 alphanumeric or 154 numeric characters. The Code 128 lineage means full ASCII and code-set switching come for free.
It competed with Code 49 and lost ground to PDF417 in the 1990s for the same reason: PDF417's error correction and larger capacity fit document-scale payloads better. Code 16K persists in niche electronics labeling. If you need a compact stacked symbol today, PDF417 — or Data Matrix when footprint matters most — is the standard answer.
Common Applications
- Compact electronics component labels
- Laboratory specimen labeling (legacy)
Related Barcode Types
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The first stacked symbology (1987): rows of Code 39-based characters, one check character per row, designed by Intermec for small-item labeling.
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