QR codes for product packaging and labels

Packaging lasts a long time. A box sits on a shelf for months, and a label run can last a year. Put an editable QR code on it, and the page it opens can change long after printing: this season's recipe, an updated manual or a safety notice. The label stays the same.

Why an editable code suits packaging

An editable code holds a short ovbq link. You choose the page it opens, and you can change it at any time from your dashboard. Every printed box opens the new page from the next scan. That's why it works for things printed in bulk:

• Recipes and how-to pages that change with the season.
• Manuals and care guides, when a better version comes out.
• A notice page, if you ever need to reach the people who bought something.
• Your shop or reorder page, when it moves.

Give each product its own code, and you can see which one gets scanned, by day and by hour.

Small sizes

Labels are small, so size matters most here. For a code people hold in their hand, the code itself needs to be at least 1.2 in (3 cm) wide, and never under 0.8 in (2 cm), with every dot at least 0.7 mm. An editable code holds only a short link, so it has fewer, bigger dots, which is what lets it print small. Enter your width in the size checker, and it tells you if it's too small.

On a curved surface, such as a bottle or a can, the code bends away from the camera at its edges. Keep it small against the curve, put it where the surface is flattest, and test it on the real object, not just the flat file.

Colors and finish

Brand colors are fine if the code stands out from its background. Our downloads refuse colors with a contrast under 4.5 to 1, so a pale code never reaches your printer.

• Dark on light is safest. Some scanner apps can't read light-on-dark codes at all.
• Red codes need care. Checkout scanners that use red light may not see them.
• Matte is the safer finish. Gloss and glare lower contrast.
• Keep the plain border clear of text, seams and folds.

Files for your packaging designer

Send your designer the SVG, or the PDF or EPS if their software asks for one. All three are vector files, so the dots stay sharp at any size. Tell them the final width, border included. Ask them not to stretch the code, crop its border or change its colors, and scan the printer's proof before the run.

On Pro and Business, an editable code can carry your logo and colors.

If you stop paying

Boxes on a shelf never send people to a dead page. For 30 days, nothing changes. After that, your 2 oldest website-link codes stay live on the Free plan, and the others show a notice with a button to your page until you pay again. What happens if you stop paying

For retail checkout, confirm the required barcode with your retailer and packaging printer. Making a Product barcode link does not guarantee retailer acceptance. Keep any required existing barcode and test the printed sample before a production run.

Related: How big to print a QR code · Which file to use · Add a logo or icon · Pricing

A general QR link can open product information. If your packaging needs a product identifier in the barcode’s address, read the GS1 Digital Link guide before choosing the code.