MicroURLWhat size should a printed QR code be?
At least 2 x 2 cm (0.8 in) for something held in the hand. For anything farther away, make the code about a tenth of the scanning distance: a code read from 2 metres needs to be about 20 cm wide.
Sizes by where it goes
Business card, takeout menu
2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) wide, scanned from 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in)
Table card, flyer, packaging
3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in) wide, scanned from 30 to 50 cm (1 to 1.5 ft)
Poster, window sticker
10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) wide, scanned from 1 to 2 m (3 to 6 ft)
Yard sign, van, banner
30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) wide, scanned from 3 to 5 m (10 to 16 ft)
Widths use the 10:1 distance rule and the 2 cm minimum from QRPlanet’s sizing guide, checked 23 October 2026. Width means the code itself, not its white border.
Four things that matter as much as size
- A white border. Leave a margin at least four squares wide all the way round. Codes printed right up against a photo or an edge often won’t scan.
- Dark on light. A dark code on a light background, with strong contrast. Light codes on a dark background can fail on some phones.
- A short link. The less a code holds, the simpler its pattern: a short link fits in 21 x 21 squares, a long web address needs about 35 x 35. Fewer, bigger squares scan from farther away and when printed small.
- A test print. Print one copy at the real size and scan it with two different phones from where people will actually stand.
Common questions
What is the smallest QR code that will scan?
About 2 x 2 cm (0.8 in) for most phones, not counting the white border. Recent phones can read 1 cm codes up close, but 2 cm is the size that works for nearly everyone.
How big should a QR code be on a sign?
About a tenth of the distance people will scan it from. A yard sign read from 4 metres (13 ft) needs a code around 40 cm (16 in) wide.
Does a shorter link make the QR code easier to scan?
Yes. The less a code holds, the fewer and bigger its squares. A shortened link fits in a 21 x 21 pattern, while a typical long web address needs about 35 x 35, so the short one stays readable when printed small.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
Yes, if it is small and the code uses high error correction, which lets it be read with part of the pattern covered. MicroURL switches to high error correction automatically when you add a logo.
Which file should I send to the printer?
SVG. It stays sharp at any size. A PNG is fine up to its size: 1024 pixels prints at about 8.5 cm (3.4 in) at print quality, so use SVG for anything larger.
Make one that prints well
Every MicroURL QR code points at a short link, so the pattern stays simple, and you can download it as SVG or a 1024-pixel PNG ready for print. You can also change where it goes after it’s printed.