DataMatrix codes can utilize any of a number of formats, known as error correction codes, or 'ECC's' for short. By far, the most commonly used error correction code for direct part marking is ECC200. For ECC200, the maximum number of characters that can be encrypted in codes of various sizes in terms of rows and columns are as follows:
Maximum Number of Characters - Square Matrices
| Rows x Columns |
Maximum Number of Characters in Matrix* |
Format Parameter = NUMERIC |
Format Parameter = ALPHANUMERIC |
Format Parameter = 8-BIT |
| 10 x 10 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
| 12 x 12 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
| 14 x 14 |
16 |
10 |
6 |
| 16 x 16 |
24 |
16 |
10 |
| 18 x 18 |
36 |
25 |
16 |
| 20 x 20 |
44 |
31 |
20 |
| 22 x 22 |
60 |
43 |
28 |
| 24 x 24 |
72 |
52 |
34 |
| 26 x 26 |
80 |
64 |
42 |
| 32 x 32 |
80 |
80 |
60 |
*Square codes can be as large as 144x144
Maximum Number of Characters - Rectangular Matrices
Code Parameter = (see below) Rows x Columns |
Maximum Number of Characters in Matrix* |
Format Parameter = NUMERIC |
Format Parameter = ALPHANUMERIC |
Format Parameter = 8-BIT |
| 8 x 18 |
10 |
6 |
3 |
| 8 x 32 |
20 |
13 |
8 |
| 12 x 26 |
32 |
22 |
14 |
| 12 x 36 |
44 |
31 |
20 |
| 16 x 36 |
64 |
46 |
30 |
| 16 x 48 |
80 |
72 |
47 |