What Size Should a QR Code Be? Print Size Guide
· 6 min read · generate-qr.cc
A QR code that is too small is the most common reason a printed code fails. The right size depends mostly on one thing: how far away people will be when they scan it.
The 10:1 rule
A simple, reliable rule of thumb: the width of the QR code should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance. Someone scanning from 1 metre away needs a code at least 10 cm wide. From 3 metres, 30 cm.
The rule is slightly conservative, which is what you want for print: lighting, older phones and shaky hands all make scanning harder in real life than in your office.
Recommended sizes by use
| Where the code goes | Typical scanning distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, small label | 15–25 cm | 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1 in) |
| Product packaging | 20–30 cm | 2.5–3 cm (1–1.2 in) |
| Table tent, menu, receipt | 30–50 cm | 3–5 cm (1.2–2 in) |
| Flyer, brochure, counter sign | 50 cm–1 m | 5–10 cm (2–4 in) |
| Poster on a wall | 1–2 m | 10–20 cm (4–8 in) |
| Shop window, banner | 3–5 m | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Billboard, large banner | 10 m+ | 1 m+ (40 in+) |
Never go below about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 in), even for things people hold in their hand.
Why the content changes the size you need
A QR code is a grid of small squares called modules. The more data you put in, the more modules the grid needs. At the same print size, more modules means each square is smaller and harder for a camera to see.
- A short link creates a simple, open pattern that scans well even when small.
- A long web address, a full contact card or a long text creates a dense pattern. Print it larger, or reduce the content.
- A dynamic QR code always contains a short link, so the pattern stays simple whatever the destination is.
Leave a white border (quiet zone)
Scanners need empty space around the code to find its edges. The official QR standard asks for a border four modules wide. If the code sits on plain white paper, the paper counts as border. If it sits on a photo, a pattern or a coloured area, add a white margin around it. In our generator you can set this with the Margin slider in the design options.
Colours, logos and frames
- Contrast: dark pattern on a light background. Black on white is the safest. Dark blue, green or burgundy also work well.
- Logos: a logo in the middle is fine thanks to error correction, which can recover about 30% of the code. Keep it small, centred and away from the three corner squares.
- Frames: a frame with a short call to action like “Scan for menu” noticeably increases scans, because people know what they will get.
Which file format to use for print
SVG is a vector format: it stays perfectly sharp at any size, so it is the best choice for printers and designers. PNG works everywhere. For print, use a resolution of at least 300 pixels per inch:
| Printed width | PNG width at 300 dpi |
|---|---|
| 2.5 cm (1 in) | 300 px |
| 5 cm (2 in) | 600 px |
| 10 cm (4 in) | 1200 px |
| 20 cm (8 in) | 2400 px |
Our generator exports PNG up to 4000 px and SVG at any size, with no watermark.
Test before you print hundreds
- Print one copy at the real size, on the real material if possible.
- Scan it with at least two different phones, including an older one.
- Scan from the distance and angle people will actually use, in normal lighting.
- Only then send the full print run.
If a printed code still causes trouble, see why QR codes stop working for the other common causes.
Create a print-ready QR code
Pick colours and a frame, then download SVG or high-resolution PNG. Free, no watermark.