QR code size calculator

For printed codes, about 2 cm (0.8 in) wide is a practical floor for close-range scanning. Beyond that, a rule of thumb is one tenth of the scanning distance: a code scanned from 1 m away should be roughly 10 cm wide. It is a guideline, not a guarantee, so test-scan the printed result.

Most cards are scanned from a hand's length, roughly 25 cm, which gives about 2.5 cm by the distance rule. Treat 2 cm as the smallest width and go larger if the code is dense, for example a vCard with many fields. See our business card QR code page for details.

As a rule of thumb, a code can be scanned from about ten times its width. A 5 cm code works at around 50 cm. Lighting, print quality, contrast, how dense the code is and the phone camera all change this, so it is not a fixed limit.

The quiet zone is the blank margin around the code. The QR specification calls for 4 modules on every side (a module is one small square). Do not crop it or place text or graphics inside it, or scanners may fail to find the code.

Yes. A code holding more data has more, smaller modules, so for the same printed width each module is smaller. Shorter links make simpler codes that can be printed smaller. Higher error correction also adds modules.

PNG up to 1000 px is free, with no signup or watermark. SVG, PDF, PNG up to 4000 px and a logo in the centre need Pro, a one-time $4.99. Large prints such as posters usually look best from the SVG or PDF.