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Key takeaways
- Print QR codes at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 in) — and larger for anything scanned from more than an arm’s length.
- Rule of thumb: make the code about 1/10 of the scanning distance (10 cm wide at 1 m).
- More content means a denser code that needs more size. Dynamic codes stay small because they only store a short link.
- Leave a white margin (the quiet zone) of 4 modules around the code, and test a printed copy before your print run.
The short answer
For most printed materials, a QR code should be at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 inches). That works for a simple code scanned from close up — a short link on a business card, label or flyer. From there, two things decide how big it really needs to be:
- Scanning distance. The further away people are, the bigger the code. A good rule of thumb is a code about one tenth as wide as the distance: 10 cm for 1 metre, 30 cm for 3 metres.
- How much is inside it. A long web address or a full contact card makes the code denser — more, smaller squares — so it needs more size to scan reliably.
QR code size calculator
Pick what your code contains and how far away people will be when they scan it. The calculator works out the code’s real density and suggests a minimum printed width.
Recommended minimum size
5 cm
2.0 in wide · plus white margin: 6.5 cm in total
This code has 29 × 29 modules. Estimate only — lighting, angle and camera quality matter, so print a test copy and scan it from the real distance.
Recommended sizes by use
These minimums come from the same calculation, for three common kinds of content. If your code is somewhere in between, round up.
| Where it’s printed | Typical distance | Short link | Long URL | Contact card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 15 cm | 2 cm | 2 cm | 3 cm |
| Packaging & labels | 25 cm | 2.5 cm | 3.5 cm | 5 cm |
| Table tent or menu | 40 cm | 4 cm | 5.5 cm | 7.5 cm |
| Flyer or brochure | 50 cm | 5 cm | 6.5 cm | 9.5 cm |
| Poster | 1.5 m | 15 cm | 19.5 cm | 27.5 cm |
| Shop window or door | 3 m | 30 cm | 38.5 cm | — |
| Banner or billboard | 8 m | 80 cm | 1 m | — |
Large formats are where dynamic codes pay off: a short link needs about 20–25% less width than a long URL at the same distance, and you can change where it points after printing.
Why the content changes the size
A QR code is a grid of black and white squares called modules. The more data you store, the more modules the code needs — from 21 × 21 for the smallest codes up to 177 × 177. At the same printed width, a denser code has smaller modules, and the phone’s camera needs to see every one of them clearly.
Short link
29 × 29 modules
Full contact card
53 × 53 modules
Three things add modules:
- Long content — long web addresses with tracking parameters, full contact cards, long texts.
- Higher error correction. Levels L, M, Q and H let a code survive more damage (about 7%, 15%, 25% and 30%), but each step stores extra recovery data. M is a good default; use H when you add a logo.
- A logo in the middle, because it usually goes with error correction H.
Keep codes small with a short link
Don’t forget the quiet zone
Scanners find a QR code by its edges, so it needs an empty border called the quiet zone. The QR standard asks for 4 modules of blank space on every side, in the same color as the code’s background. The sizes above are for the code itself; add the margin on top — the calculator shows the total.
The most common printing mistake
Printing it sharply
- Use the SVG for print. Vector files stay sharp at any size, from a sticker to a billboard. The free QR code generator offers SVG and PNG downloads.
- Know your PNG’s limit. A 1024 × 1024 px PNG prints sharply up to about 8.5 cm (3.4 in) wide at 300 dpi. For anything bigger, use the SVG.
- Keep strong contrast. Dark code on a light background, ideally black or a very dark brand color on white.
- Choose matte finishes. Glossy lamination and shiny surfaces reflect light into the camera.
- Avoid tight curves. On bottles and cans, keep the code small relative to the curve or place it on a flat part of the label.
Test before you print
- 1Print one copy at the final size on the real material — not just on your office printer.
- 2Scan it from the real distance, in the real light, with at least one iPhone and one Android phone.
- 3Try a slightly older or cheaper phone too; their cameras are less forgiving.
- 4Check that the destination opens quickly and looks right on a phone.
If a test copy struggles, make the code bigger, shorten its content (or switch to a dynamic code), increase the contrast or remove the logo. For more, see our QR code best practices.