What size should a printed QR code be?

Set it up

1. Choose the shortest useful payload and download SVG, not a screenshot.
2. Set a physical code size based on the viewing distance and reserve a white margin outside the pattern.
3. Print at final size and scan with different phones in the light and at the distance people will actually use.

What to encode

Use a short HTTPS destination for a URL code. Wi-Fi credentials and vCards are embedded data and may need a larger print area; shortening text helps more than simply raising error correction.

Print size and contrast

As starting points, try 2.5–3 cm for arm's-length cards and 8–10 cm for about 1 m. These are testing targets, not scan guarantees. Keep the generator's quiet zone visible, use dark modules on a light matte surface, and enlarge dense patterns.

Where to place it

Put the code on a flat, accessible surface away from curved corners, staples and glare. Leave enough room for a phone to frame it without stepping into traffic.

Common mistakes

• Cropping the white border removes the quiet zone.
• High error correction increases density; it cannot rescue tiny low-contrast printing.
• Screen previews do not model reflective laminate, ink bleed or viewing distance.

When to use a dynamic code

Dynamic URL codes carry a short redirect and can be less dense than a static URL with a long query string; they also let you change the destination later. For short permanent links, a free static code is often simplest. Dynamic redirects depend on the service and must not be deleted if printed copies must work.

Make a URL / Link QR code · Compare dynamic plans

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