QR code print sizes
Too small is the number-one reason printed codes fail. This page gives working sizes — experience-based guidance, not a specification, so treat the test-scan step as part of the recipe.
The rule of thumb: make the printed code (including its quiet white border) at least 1/10 of the distance people will scan from. Arm's length is about 30 cm, so a code for a table or a hand-held card starts at 3 cm. A poster scanned from 2 metres needs 20 cm or more. Camera quality, lighting and print sharpness all move the real number, which is why the last step below is not optional.
Sizes by situation
| Situation | Typical scan distance | Suggested code size |
|---|---|---|
| Business card / vCard | 15–25 cm | 2.5–3 cm (about 1 in) minimum |
| Table tent, menu, Wi-Fi sign | 25–40 cm | 3–5 cm |
| Product packaging | 20–35 cm | 3–4 cm |
| Counter sign / flyer in hand | 30–50 cm | 4–6 cm |
| Wall poster indoors | 0.5–1.5 m | 8–15 cm |
| Window poster / outdoor sign | 1–3 m | 15–30 cm |
| Billboard / vehicle | 5 m and beyond | 50 cm and up — and keep the URL very short |
Content changes the minimum
A code holding a 20-character URL might have a grid of about 25×25 modules; a full vCard can be 50×50 or more. More modules in the same printed area means each module is smaller and harder for a camera to resolve. Rough adjustments on top of the table: add about a third for a vCard or a long URL, and prefer error correction M for print (Q or H if the surface gets scuffed, weathered or dirty). When in doubt, simplify the content before shrinking the code.
The quiet zone is part of the code
Every QR code needs a blank border of at least 4 modules on all sides — the downloads from this site already include it. Don't crop it, don't let text or a logo lean into it, and don't place the code so close to the edge of a label that the border effectively disappears.
Before any print run
Print one copy at the final size, on the final material, and scan it with two different phones (ideally one older) in the lighting where it will live. Glossy lamination glare and curved surfaces (bottles, poles) cause more failures than size does. Thirty seconds of testing beats reprinting five hundred copies.
Ready? Generate the code and download the SVG for print — it scales without getting blurry — or a 2048 px PNG.
Frequently asked questions
What is the absolute minimum size for a QR code?
About 2×2 cm for a short URL in good print conditions is a common floor, but it's a floor, not a recommendation. If people will scan it in the real world — glare, motion, cheap phones — go bigger.
Does the download size (pixels) matter for print?
It decides sharpness. For anything larger than a business card, use the SVG, or the 2048 px PNG, so module edges stay crisp. A 256 px PNG stretched across a poster will look soft and can fail to scan.