How to print QR codes that scan
Most scanning trouble starts at the printer, not the phone. Follow these rules, then test one copy before you print a hundred.
Size it for the scan distance
The farther away people stand, the bigger the code has to be. Make the code at least one tenth of the scan distance, and never smaller than 0.8 in (2 cm). These widths are for a code that holds a short link, without its white border:
| Where people scan it | Scan distance | Smallest code |
|---|---|---|
| In the hand | 1 ft (30 cm) | 1.2 in (3 cm) |
| On a table or counter | 1.5 ft (45 cm) | 1.8 in (4.5 cm) |
| On a wall or window | 6 ft (1.8 m) | 7.1 in (18 cm) |
| On a sign from the sidewalk | 16 ft (5 m) | 19.7 in (50 cm) |
The checker in our free maker does the math for you, border included. Work out your exact size with the size chart.
Watch the smallest square
A QR code is built from small squares called modules. Each module should be at least 0.7 mm wide, or printers and phone cameras start to blur them together. The more a code holds, the more modules it has, and the more room it needs. A dense code needs much more: a contact card with every field filled in needs modules of at least 0.9 mm, so it needs at least 2.2 in (5.5 cm), even up close. A short link makes a simpler code, which is one reason an editable code, holding a short ovbq link, can print small.
Dark on light, with strong contrast
Print a dark code on a light background, with a contrast of at least 4.5 to 1. Black on white is the safest choice. Our downloads refuse colors below 4.5 to 1, so a pale code never reaches your printer.
Light-on-dark codes, with light squares on a dark background, are risky: some scanner apps cannot read them at all. If your design needs one, our maker asks you to confirm first, and you should test it on several phones. Red codes have their own problem, because checkout scanners that use red light may not see them. Glossy paper and glare also lower contrast, so a matte finish is the safer bet.
Keep the white border
Every QR code needs a clear border, called the quiet zone, of 4 modules on every side. It tells the scanner where the code begins. Do not let text, lines, photos or the page edge run into it. Every file from ovbq includes the border, so place the whole file and do not trim it.
Logos: small and centered
A logo hides part of the pattern, and the phone rebuilds it from the code's strength (error correction). Our maker never lets a logo cover more than 25 percent of the width, places it on a plain square and raises the strength for you. How to add a logo or icon.
Pick the right file
Send the SVG, PDF or EPS to anyone printing at a large size or on a press: they are vector files, so the edges stay sharp, and they carry the width you entered. Use the PNG for office printers, documents and slides. Which QR code file to use compares all four.
Test before the print run
- Print one copy at the final size, on the paper or material you will really use.
- Open the camera on two or three different phones.
- Stand where people will stand, and try it in bright light and in shade.
- Check that it opens the right page.
- Only then print the rest.
No rule guarantees that every phone reads every code, so a real test matters most. If you use an editable code and spot a wrong link after printing, you can still fix it. Compare static and editable QR codes.
Make a code and check it
The free maker shows the checker next to the preview, so you can fix size and contrast before you download.