Quick Answer
Printing a QR code correctly requires the right file format (SVG for print, PNG for digital), the right minimum size (2cm × 2cm minimum), and sufficient contrast (dark code on light background). A poorly printed QR code will fail to scan — this guide covers every factor to ensure reliable scanning.
SVG — for all professional printing: business cards, posters, signage, packaging, large-format. SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without pixelation. PNG — for home/office printing where small size is not critical. Never use JPEG for QR codes — compression artifacts cause scan failures.
Indoor table tents & menus: 3cm × 3cm minimum. Business cards: 1.5cm × 1.5cm minimum. Window stickers: 5cm × 5cm. Outdoor signage: 8cm × 8cm. Large-format/billboard: 15cm × 15cm. Smaller than these minimums risks scan failure on older or lower-resolution phone cameras.
Dark QR code on a light (white or near-white) background. Avoid: light-coloured QR codes on any background; placing QR codes on photos or complex backgrounds; insufficient contrast between code and background. Dark blue, dark green, and dark grey on white all work reliably.
Leave a white margin (quiet zone) around the QR code of at least 4 modules (the small squares). Never clip or crop the QR code right to its edge — the quiet zone is part of the code's readability.
Print one test copy at the exact final size. Scan with: iPhone Camera (iOS 11+), Google Lens (Android), and one third-party QR scanner app. If any fail, increase the size or increase contrast. Commit to mass printing only after all three pass.
Enter any website URL to generate a QR code
For reliable scanning by all modern smartphones: 2cm × 2cm (0.8in × 0.8in) is the absolute minimum. For typical use cases: 3cm × 3cm for table cards and receipts, 5cm × 5cm for window stickers, 8cm+ for outdoor signage. The minimum depends on QR code density — codes with shorter URLs or less data can be printed smaller than those encoding long URLs.
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) for all professional printing. SVG scales to any size without quality loss — the same file works on a 1.5cm business card or a 1-metre banner. Download PNG only for home printing at smaller sizes or digital use (screens, email, social media).
Common causes: too small (increase to at least 3cm × 3cm), insufficient contrast (dark code on white background is most reliable), glossy materials causing glare (use matte finish), image compression (JPEG format degrades QR code modules — use SVG or PNG), or damage to the QR code modules from cutting/folding.