Code 49
The first stacked symbology (1987): rows of Code 39-based characters, one check character per row, designed by Intermec for small-item labeling.
Code 49 Specification
| Character set | Full ASCII (128 characters) via mode encoding |
| Data length | Up to 49 alphanumeric characters (2-8 rows) |
| Check digit | One row check character per row plus a final check character |
| Density | High — stacks up to 8 rows of 9 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-49 |
| Origin | Intermec (David Allais), 1987 |
Not generated by barcodegen.net
Code 49 is documented here for completeness, but our free generator does not produce this symbology. The closest supported format is PDF417.
What Is Code 49?
Code 49, introduced by Intermec in 1987, answered a question nobody had solved yet: how to put lots of data in a small footprint when linear barcodes get too wide. It stacks 2 to 8 rows, each holding 9 characters of Code 39-derived encoding plus a row check character and mode indicators, for up to 49 alphanumeric characters — hence the name. A full ASCII set is built in.
Historically it is the direct ancestor of the stacked-linear family: PDF417 generalized the idea to much larger payloads a few years later and effectively displaced it. Code 49 still appears in some electronics and healthcare labeling legacies. New applications needing compact stacked symbols choose PDF417 or a 2D matrix code.
Common Applications
- Small-item electronics labeling (legacy)
- Healthcare unit-dose labels (legacy)
Related Barcode Types
A stacked-linear 2D code carrying up to 1,850 text characters — the workhorse of IDs, boarding passes, and transport documents.
A stacked symbology built from Code 128 character structure — 2 to 16 rows, up to 107 characters — designed for small labels in electronics.
The classic self-checking alphanumeric barcode: 43 characters, simple structure, still everywhere in industry.