Size matters more than most people think
A good rule of thumb: your QR code should be at least 2.5cm (1 inch) per side for close-up scanning (like a business card or table tent), and scale up significantly for distance — roughly 1 inch of code size for every 10 feet of expected scanning distance. A code on a billboard needs to be several feet wide to scan from a car.
Keep a "quiet zone" around it
QR codes need a clear margin of blank space around all four sides — usually equal to about 4 modules (the small squares) of the code itself. Crowding text, logos, or images right up against the edge is one of the most common reasons scans fail, especially on cheaper phone cameras.
Contrast beats color every time
Black on white is the gold standard for a reason — it's the highest-contrast, most universally scannable combination. If you want to add brand color, keep the dark modules significantly darker than the background. Avoid light-on-light or similar-toned combinations (like navy on black) that look sleek but scan poorly.
Test before you commit to print
Before ordering 1,000 flyers or printing packaging, test the code:
- Print a sample at actual size (not just view it on screen)
- Scan it with 2–3 different phones, ideally different brands
- Scan it from the distance and angle it'll realistically be viewed from
- Scan it under the lighting conditions it'll actually be displayed in (glossy paper under bright light can cause glare that blocks scanning)
Avoid these common mistakes
- Stretching the code non-proportionally — always scale width and height together
- Placing it on a curved or wrinkled surface — bottles, crumpled packaging, and folded materials distort the pattern
- Using a low-resolution export — always download SVG for print, PNG only for screen/digital use
- Forgetting a call-to-action — a code with no label ("Scan for menu", "Scan to connect") gets ignored, even by people who would've used it
Building something to print? Download in SVG for the sharpest possible result at any size.
Create Your QR Code →Frequently asked questions
Can I put my logo in the middle of a QR code?
Small logos in the center are generally fine — QR codes have built-in error correction that can tolerate some obstruction. Keep it small (under about 20% of the code's area) and always test-scan afterward.
Why did my QR code scan fine on screen but fail when printed?
Usually resolution or size. A code that looks sharp at screen size can become blurry or too small once scaled to a small printed sticker. Always download SVG for anything going to print, and test the actual printed size before mass-producing.
What's the maximum amount of data a QR code can hold?
Up to about 4,296 alphanumeric characters, though practically you want to keep it much shorter — more data means a denser, harder-to-scan pattern. For long content like a PDF, link to a hosted file rather than embedding the full document.