QR Code Size and Print Guide: What Actually Scans

Most failed QR codes are not broken. They are too small, too low in contrast or too crowded. Use this checklist before you print.

Minimum size

A reliable rule is distance divided by 10. A code read from 1 meter away should be about 10 cm wide. For handheld uses such as business cards or packaging, 2 cm is a practical minimum for short links; longer content needs more space because the pattern gets denser.

Keep the quiet zone

Leave an empty margin around the code of at least four modules (the small squares). Text, borders or photos that touch the code can stop it scanning.

Contrast and colors

Use a dark code on a light background. Inverted (light on dark) works on many phones but not all scanners.
Avoid low-contrast pairs such as yellow on white or light gray on white.
Keep the foreground clearly darker than the background, and test colored codes in black and white mode on your phone.

Error correction and logos

Higher error correction lets a code survive damage or a logo in the center, but it also makes the pattern denser. Use level M for ordinary use and H if you add a logo. Keep the logo small, around a fifth of the code width or less.

Shorter content scans better

Every extra character adds modules. A short link makes a simpler, easier-to-scan code than a long URL with tracking parameters.

Print formats

For print, download SVG: it stays sharp at any size. For screens, a PNG at 1000 px or more is plenty. Avoid stretching a small PNG.

Test before you commit

Scan the final print, not just the screen.
Try at least one iPhone and one Android phone.
Scan from the real distance and in real lighting.
Check the glossy-surface glare risk if the code will be laminated.