GLOSSARY
Delivery Point Barcode (DPBC)
By Justin Winter · Updated August 28, 2026
A USPS barcode encoding a ZIP+4 code plus a two-digit delivery point number, printed on mail to speed automated sorting to the exact address.
The Delivery Point Barcode adds two digits, derived from the primary street number, to a ZIP+4 code so that automated sorting equipment can route a piece to one specific delivery point rather than a small cluster of addresses.
It has largely been superseded by the Intelligent Mail Barcode, which encodes the same delivery-point information alongside tracking and mailer data in a single symbol, but the term still appears in USPS documentation and older mailing software.
See also
- Intelligent Mail barcode — The USPS barcode printed on letter mail that encodes routing and a unique piece identifier, enabling automation rates and tracking.
- ZIP+4 — The 4-digit extension USPS adds to a 5-digit ZIP code to identify a specific delivery segment — often a single building, floor, or even a large mail recipient.
- Address standardization — Rewriting an address into the exact form USPS uses — canonical abbreviations, directionals, unit designators, and ZIP+4.
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