Postnet Overview

The POSTNET (POSTal Numeric Encoding Technique) barcode is a special barcode developed by the US Post Office to encode address information and facilitate automated sorting of US Mail. It is commonly seen just below the address of delivered mail. There are several different standards used where the most popular is the the DPBC Postnet recognized by its 62 bars. We recommend reviewing the USPS Domestic Mail Manual for in-depth information.

PrecisionID USPS Postnet Barcode Font Package Contents

The PrecisionID Postnet Barcode Font Package contains normal and light versions (about 15% lighter) of the USPS Postnet font in Windows TrueType (TTF), Binary PostScript (PFB), and ASCII PostScript (PFA) formats. The package also contains FIM and Planet Fonts as well.

Postnet Barcodes

The USPS defines a few different methods of printing Postnet barcodes. The 5 digit Postnet barcode consists of a , 5 digit ZIP code, , and . The ZIP plus 4 Postnet barcode consists of a , 9 digit ZIP code, , and . The most popular Postnet barcode in use today is the DPBC Postnet barcode which consists of a , 9 digit ZIP code, two digit DPBC number, , and . The two DPBC numbers are usually the last two digits of the street address or PO Box number. This standard is recognized by a total bar count of 62.

FIM Barcodes

Facing Identification Mark (FIM) Barcodes are used by the USPS to sort business reply mail from other mail. The FIM barcodes consist of 4 unique barcodes for the 4 different reply mail classifications.

1. Courtesy Reply Mail with Pre-printed Postnet

2. Business Reply Mail without Pre-printed Postnet

3. Business Reply Mail with Pre-printed Postnet

4. OCR Readable Mail without Pre-printed Postnet.

Planet Barcodes

The US Postal Service recently launched Planet Barcodes to track outbound and inbound letter mail. Planet barcodes complement Postnet barcodes for use in the USPS Confirm Program. The USPS Confirm Program enables confirmation that a letter was received by a customer and enables mailers to synchronize the mail program with telemarketing programs. For more information on the USPS Planet Program, we suggest contacting your local Post Office, visit the USPS Confirm web site, and downloading this guide from the USPS.

USPS EAN128 Barcodes

Several USPS barcode standards do not use Postnet barcodes but instead use Code 128 barcodes. These are typically used for special services such as return receipts, delivery confirmations, large package routing, etc. The PrecisionID C128 14 font when printed at 16 point creates the required barcode size for USPS EAN128 barcodes. The text at the bottom of the barcode must be properly formatted and printed using our OCR-A font to meet USPS specifications. For more information regarding USPS applications, see the USPS website for barcode standards.

Free Postnet Demonstration Package

To enable evaluation of PrecisionID's Postnet Font Package prior to purchasing, a free evaluation package is available. The PrecisionID Postnet Demo Font Package is identical to the purchased package as described above except the font contains a "demo" watermark on select characters. The demo package produces readable barcodes to allow you to fully evaluate our product before investing. Click here to download the demo version.

How to order

To order PrecisionID's Postnet Font Package, click the "Add to Cart" button above to add it to your shopping cart. To finalize the order, click the "Checkout" button at the top of the page to begin the payment process. Payment by credit card is required. When entering billing information, enter the billing address of the credit card you are using for payment. For the e-mail address enter the e-mail address where you wish the product download link sent.

Upon successful completion of the transaction, a confirmation e-mail with the PrecisionID Postnet Font Package download link will be sent. This message also serves as a receipt. The e-mail link is sent nearly immediately; however, some corporate e-mail systems and SPAM filters may delay the e-mail. If you do not receive the e-mail within a few hours, please contact PrecisionID for help. Per PrecisionID's EULA, PrecisionID's return policy is 30 days.