How to print QR codes that scan
Size, contrast and paper decide whether a printed code works. Here is what to check before you print.
Size calculator
Rule of thumb: the code should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance, and never smaller than 2 cm (0.8 in). Long links make denser codes, so go bigger for them.
Typical sizes
| Where | Code width |
|---|---|
| Business card | 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1 in) |
| Flyer or product label | 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) |
| Table tent or menu | 5–7 cm (2–2.8 in) |
| A4 or Letter poster | 10–15 cm (4–6 in) |
| Shop window, seen from 2–3 m | 20–30 cm (8–12 in) |
Before you print
- Keep the white border
- Leave a light margin around the code at least as wide as four of its small squares. Trimming it off is the most common reason printed codes fail.
- Dark on light
- Use a dark code on a light background with strong contrast. Inverted codes (light on dark) and pastel colours scan poorly on many phones.
- Print at actual size
- Choose 100% or “Actual size” in the print dialog, not “Fit to page”, so sizes and cut lines stay true.
- Matte beats glossy
- Glossy paper and laminate reflect light and can hide parts of the code. Matte paper scans more reliably.
- Use SVG for print shops
- SVG stays sharp at any size. If you must use PNG, download it at 2048 px or more for posters.
- Test before printing many
- Print one copy, scan it with two or three phones from the real distance and light, then print the rest.