How to print a QR code that scans
Most QR codes that fail in print are too small, too pale or the wrong file. These rules keep yours readable.
Size
- At least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide for anything held in the hand, like business cards.
- About a tenth of the scanning distance: a code read from 2 metres away should be about 20 cm wide.
- Long content makes a denser code, which needs to be printed bigger.
Contrast and colour
- Use a dark code on a light background. Light on dark doesn't scan on some phones.
- Keep strong contrast between the code and the background, so it also scans in dim light.
- Leave a clear margin around the code, about four dots wide.
- Avoid shiny laminate and curved surfaces, where reflections hide the pattern.
Logos and frames
A small logo in the middle is fine: codes carry spare data to cover it, but too big a logo leaves too little to read. A frame with a short call to action, like SCAN FOR THE MENU, tells people what they'll get.
Which file to use
- PNG for screens, slides and the web.
- A larger PNG for small print like cards, flyers and table tents.
- SVG for posters and signs: it stays sharp at any size.
- A CMYK PDF with bleed and crop marks when you send it to a print shop.
Test before you print a lot
Print one copy at the real size and scan it with two or three different phones, from where people will actually stand. QR Never Expires checks every design before download and suggests the right print size.