QR code size guide: how big should your QR code be?
The minimum scannable QR code size is about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 inches) for close-range scanning. For posters and signage, you'll need larger — roughly 1 cm of QR code width for every 15 cm (6 inches) of scanning distance. This guide covers the exact sizes you need for every common use case.
Why size matters
A QR code that's too small won't scan. A QR code that's too large wastes space on your design. Getting the size right means your code scans reliably every time while fitting naturally into your layout.
Three factors determine the right size:
- Scanning distance — how far away will people hold their phone?
- Data density — how much information is encoded in the QR code?
- Print quality — how crisp is the printing?
Let's break each of these down.
The scanning distance rule
The most important factor is how far away the scanner will be. Here's the general rule:
For every 15 cm (6 inches) of scanning distance, you need about 1 cm (0.4 inches) of QR code width.
This is sometimes called the 10:1 rule (scanning distance to QR code size ratio). Some sources say 10:1, others say 15:1. The truth is it depends on the phone camera, lighting, and print quality. Using 15:1 gives you a comfortable safety margin.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
| Scanning distance | Minimum QR code size | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|
| 15 cm (6 in) | 1 × 1 cm | Phone held very close |
| 30 cm (12 in) | 2 × 2 cm | Business cards, product labels |
| 60 cm (2 ft) | 4 × 4 cm | Flyers, brochures, table tents |
| 1 m (3.3 ft) | 6.5 × 6.5 cm | Posters, window signs |
| 2 m (6.6 ft) | 13 × 13 cm | Banners, trade show displays |
| 5 m (16 ft) | 33 × 33 cm | Large outdoor signage |
| 10 m (33 ft) | 66 × 66 cm | Billboards |
These are minimums. Going larger never hurts scannability — it only makes scanning easier and faster.
Data density and QR code complexity
Not all QR codes contain the same amount of data, and that affects the minimum workable size.
A QR code encoding a short URL like https://example.com has far fewer dots than one encoding a full vCard contact card with name, phone, email, and company. More data means more dots packed into the same space, which means each dot is smaller, which means you need a larger print size to keep things scannable.
Here's a rough guide:
| QR code content | Data complexity | Minimum recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Short URL (under 30 characters) | Low | 1.5 × 1.5 cm |
| Long URL (50-100 characters) | Medium | 2 × 2 cm |
| Plain text (under 100 characters) | Medium | 2 × 2 cm |
| Wi-Fi credentials | Medium | 2 × 2 cm |
| Email with subject and body | Medium-High | 2.5 × 2.5 cm |
| vCard (name, phone, email, company) | High | 2.5 × 2.5 cm |
| Long text (200-300 characters) | High | 3 × 3 cm |
When you create a QR code at oneclickqrcode.com, you can see the complexity visually — a more data-dense QR code will have more and smaller dots in the preview.
Tip: If you're worried about size constraints, use a URL shortener to reduce the URL length before generating the QR code. Fewer characters = simpler code = smaller viable print size.
Error correction and size
QR codes have built-in error correction — redundant data that allows the code to be read even when partially damaged or obscured. The higher the error correction level, the more dots are needed, which increases the code's complexity.
| Error correction level | Recovery rate | Impact on size |
|---|---|---|
| L (Low) | 7% | Smallest QR code |
| M (Medium) | 15% | Default — good balance |
| Q (Quartile) | 25% | Larger QR code |
| H (High) | 30% | Largest QR code |
At oneclickqrcode.com, the default error correction is Medium (M). When you add a center logo, the tool automatically switches to High (H) to compensate for the logo covering part of the code.
What this means for sizing: a QR code with a center logo needs to be printed slightly larger than the same QR code without one. The High error correction adds more dots, making each individual dot smaller. If you're adding a logo to a business card QR code, aim for 2.5 × 2.5 cm minimum instead of 2 × 2 cm.
Size recommendations by use case
Business cards
- Recommended size: 2 × 2 cm to 2.5 × 2.5 cm
- Scanning distance: 15-30 cm (the person holds the card near their phone)
- Placement: back of the card, centered or in a corner with adequate quiet zone
- Format tip: download as SVG for crisp printing at any scale, or PNG at 1024px minimum
Business cards are the most size-constrained use case. Keep the QR code content short — a URL or vCard — and avoid adding too much data. If you're using a vCard with all four fields (name, phone, email, company), go with 2.5 cm to be safe. For a full walkthrough, see our guide on how to make a QR code for your business card.
Flyers and brochures
- Recommended size: 3 × 3 cm to 5 × 5 cm
- Scanning distance: 30-60 cm (held at arm's length)
- Placement: bottom corner or alongside the CTA text
- Format tip: PNG at 2048px or SVG
You have more room on a flyer, so don't make the QR code tiny. A 4 × 4 cm QR code is easy to spot and easy to scan. Place it near the call-to-action text (e.g. "Scan for details" or "Scan to visit our website").
Restaurant menus and table tents
- Recommended size: 3 × 3 cm to 4 × 4 cm
- Scanning distance: 30-50 cm (arm's length across a table)
- Placement: prominently on the table tent, or in the corner/footer of a menu page
- Consider: Wi-Fi QR codes for table tents (so guests can connect to your network), Link QR codes for digital menu access
Posters
- Recommended size: 6 × 6 cm to 10 × 10 cm
- Scanning distance: 0.5-2 m (across a hallway, on a wall)
- Placement: lower portion of the poster where people can easily reach with their phone
- Important: people need to be close enough to scan, so place QR codes at eye level, not at the top of a high-mounted poster
Banners and trade show displays
- Recommended size: 15 × 15 cm to 25 × 25 cm
- Scanning distance: 1-3 m
- Placement: centered or at eye level on the banner
- Format tip: SVG is essential here — raster images can look pixelated at large print sizes
Product packaging
- Recommended size: 1.5 × 1.5 cm to 3 × 3 cm (depends on package size)
- Scanning distance: 15-30 cm (product in hand)
- Keep it simple: short URLs work best on small packages. The less data in the QR code, the smaller it can be while remaining scannable
- Watch the surface: curved surfaces (bottles, cans) distort the QR code. Make it slightly larger to compensate, and avoid wrapping it around a curve
Digital screens and presentations
- Recommended size: at least 15% of screen height
- Scanning distance: 1-3 m (across a room)
- Important: display time matters — keep the QR code on screen long enough for people to pull out their phones, open the camera, and scan. At least 15-20 seconds
- Contrast: make sure the screen brightness is high enough and the room isn't too bright. Screens can be harder to scan than printed codes
Choosing the right download size
When you download a QR code from oneclickqrcode.com, you choose both a format and a pixel size. Here's how to pick:
Pixel sizes (for PNG and JPG)
| Download size | Print size at 300 DPI | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 256px | 2.2 × 2.2 cm | Digital use only, email signatures |
| 512px | 4.3 × 4.3 cm | Small print, social media |
| 1024px | 8.7 × 8.7 cm | Business cards, flyers |
| 2048px | 17.3 × 17.3 cm | Posters, large print |
300 DPI (dots per inch) is the standard for high-quality printing. The table above shows the maximum print size at 300 DPI for each download option.
In practice, QR codes are more forgiving than photos. You can print a 1024px QR code at sizes larger than 8.7 cm and it'll still look fine because QR codes are made of simple geometric shapes, not complex gradients. But for professional results, stick to these guidelines.
SVG vs. PNG vs. JPG
| Format | Type | Scales? | Transparency? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVG | Vector | Yes, infinitely | Yes | Print (any size), design files |
| PNG | Raster | No (fixed pixels) | Yes | Digital use, moderate print |
| JPG | Raster | No (fixed pixels) | No | Digital sharing (not recommended for print) |
SVG is the clear winner for print. It's a vector format, meaning it defines the QR code as shapes rather than pixels. You can scale it to a billboard size and every edge stays perfectly sharp.
PNG is the versatile option. It supports transparent backgrounds and looks great on screens. For print, use 1024px or 2048px.
JPG should be avoided for print. JPEG compression can blur the precise edges of QR code dots, especially at smaller sizes or higher compression levels. It also doesn't support transparency.
The quiet zone: don't forget the margin
Every QR code needs a quiet zone — a border of blank space around it. This helps scanners identify where the QR code starts and ends.
The standard recommendation is a quiet zone of at least 4 modules wide (a "module" is one dot/unit of the QR code). In practical terms:
- For a 2 × 2 cm QR code, leave about 2-3 mm of blank space on each side
- For a 5 × 5 cm QR code, leave about 4-5 mm
- For a 10 × 10 cm QR code, leave about 8-10 mm
Don't butt the QR code right up against text, images, or the edge of your design. If another design element encroaches on the quiet zone, scanners may not detect the code.
Common sizing mistakes
Too small on a poster
A 2 × 2 cm QR code on an A2 poster (42 × 59 cm) looks tiny and forces people to walk right up to the poster to scan it. For a poster, go 6 cm minimum — ideally 8-10 cm.
Too big on a business card
A QR code that takes up half the back of a business card (4 × 4 cm on a 5.5 × 8.5 cm card) looks overwhelming. For business cards, 2-2.5 cm is the sweet spot — prominent enough to scan, small enough to leave room for other elements.
No quiet zone
Placing the QR code inside a busy design with text and graphics right up against it will cause scanning failures. Always maintain that margin of blank space.
Wrong format for the size
Downloading a 256px PNG and printing it at 10 cm will result in a pixelated, blurry QR code. Match your download size to your print size — or just use SVG and never worry about it.
Forgetting about the logo
Adding a center logo increases the QR code's complexity (more error correction data). This means you need a slightly larger print size for the same scannability. Budget an extra 0.5-1 cm compared to a logo-free code. See our guide on adding a logo to a QR code for best practices.
Quick reference chart
Here's a single table with all the recommendations:
| Use case | QR code size | Download format | Download size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email signature | 1.5 × 1.5 cm | PNG | 256px |
| Product label (small) | 2 × 2 cm | PNG | 512px |
| Business card | 2-2.5 × 2-2.5 cm | SVG or PNG | SVG or 1024px |
| Table tent / menu | 3-4 × 3-4 cm | PNG | 1024px |
| Flyer / brochure | 3-5 × 3-5 cm | PNG or SVG | 1024px+ or SVG |
| Poster (A3-A2) | 6-10 × 6-10 cm | SVG or PNG | SVG or 2048px |
| Banner / display | 15-25 × 15-25 cm | SVG | SVG |
| Billboard / signage | 30+ × 30+ cm | SVG | SVG |
FAQ
What's the absolute smallest a QR code can be?
About 1 × 1 cm for a simple URL QR code scanned from very close range (under 15 cm). However, this is the bare minimum — many phones will struggle at this size. For reliable scanning, go with at least 2 × 2 cm.
Does the dot style affect minimum size?
Slightly. The "dots" style (circular dots) can be a bit harder to scan at very small sizes compared to "square" (the classic style), because the circular dots have small gaps between them. At normal sizes (2 cm+), all three styles — square, dots, and rounded — scan equally well.
Should I use SVG or PNG for printing?
SVG whenever possible. It scales to any size without quality loss. If your printer or software doesn't accept SVG, use PNG at the highest available resolution (2048px from oneclickqrcode.com).
Can I make a QR code that scans from across a room?
Yes, but it needs to be large. For a 3-meter scanning distance, the QR code should be at least 20 × 20 cm. For 5 meters, at least 33 × 33 cm. Use the 15:1 rule: divide the scanning distance by 15 to get the minimum QR code width in the same unit.
Does the background color affect scannability?
Yes. Dark foreground on light background is always most reliable. Inverted codes (light dots on dark background) work on modern phones but can fail on older devices. If you're not sure about your audience's devices, stick with dark-on-light.
What DPI should I use for printing QR codes?
300 DPI is the standard for professional printing. At 300 DPI, a 1024px image prints at about 8.7 cm, and a 2048px image prints at about 17.3 cm. For QR codes, you can sometimes get away with lower DPI (150-200) since the shapes are simple, but 300 DPI guarantees sharp results.
Create your QR code in any size at oneclickqrcode.com. Download as SVG for infinite scaling, or PNG up to 2048px. Free, no sign-up needed.
Founder of oneclickqrcode.com