What Size Should a QR Code Be? Minimum Print Sizes, the Distance Rule and a Test Checklist

For close-range scanning, such as a business card or a table menu, a QR code should be at least about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 in). For anything scanned from further away, use the common rule of thumb that the code should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance: about 10 cm for a poster read from 1 metre and 30 cm for a window read from 3 metres.

The real minimum also depends on how much data is in the code, error correction, the white border, colours, print quality and the surface. Here is how each one changes the size, how to work it out, and a checklist to run before you print.

What is the minimum size for a QR code?

The QR code standard, ISO/IEC 18004, does not set a fixed minimum print size. It describes the code in modules, the small black and white squares the code is made of. In theory a code can be tiny, but real scanning suffers from older cameras, shaky hands, dim light and small printing flaws. That is why around 2 cm is the usual practical floor for a simple code, such as a short web link.

If the code holds more data or a logo, or will be scanned in a dim restaurant, go bigger. For table tents and menus, 3–4 cm is a comfortable size that almost every phone reads instantly.

The distance rule: one tenth of the scanning distance

The most widely quoted rule of thumb in the print and packaging world is a 10:1 distance-to-size ratio. Divide the distance between the person and the code by ten to get the minimum width of the code.

• Scanned from 50 cm → at least 5 cm wide.
• Scanned from 2 m → at least 20 cm wide.
• Scanned from 10 m → at least 1 m wide.

The rule assumes a fairly simple code (a short link), good contrast and decent light. If your code is dense or the conditions are poor, add 20–50% on top. Below about 20 cm of distance, stick to the 2 cm minimum even if the rule gives a smaller number.

Recommended QR code sizes by use

These sizes come from the 10:1 rule plus the 2 cm floor. They are guidelines for a simple code with good contrast. Always confirm them with a printed test.

What changes the size you need?

1. The amount of data (the QR version)

A QR code grows a grid of modules to fit its data. The smallest, version 1, is 21 × 21 modules, and each version adds 4 modules per side, up to version 40 at 177 × 177. More data means more modules. At the same printed size, more modules means smaller modules, and those are harder to read from a distance.

This is why short links help. A link such as yourrestaurant.com/menu makes a simple, open code. A 120-character link full of tracking tags makes a dense one. If your link is long, set up a short permanent address on your own website. Our guide to static vs dynamic QR codes explains how to keep the link short and still change where it goes.

2. The error correction level

Error correction is extra data that lets a phone read the code even if part of it is dirty, scratched or covered by a logo. There are four levels: Low (about 7% can be restored), Medium (15%), Quartile (25%) and High (30%). A higher level is more robust, but it adds modules. Here is how the same 40-character link grows:

For a clean indoor print, Medium is usually enough. Choose Quartile or High for codes with a logo or codes that will get dirty, such as tables, outdoor signs and stickers people touch.

3. Logos

A logo in the middle covers modules, and error correction has to rebuild them. Keep logos small, roughly 20–25% of the code’s width or less, raise the error correction level, and make the code a little bigger to make up for it.

4. The quiet zone

The quiet zone is the empty margin around the code. It tells the camera where the code starts and stops. ISO/IEC 18004 specifies a quiet zone of 4 modules on every side for standard QR codes. Many phones cope with less, but text, borders or a busy photo right against the code are a common reason it won’t scan. Remember to include the quiet zone when you plan the space on your design.

5. Contrast and colours

Always use dark modules on a light background. Black on white is safest. Navy, dark green, burgundy or dark brown on white or cream also work well. Avoid light grey, yellow or pastel codes and inverted codes (light on dark), which some phones fail to read.

6. Print resolution and file format

A sharp edge on every module matters more than you might think. A blurry, upscaled image makes the modules bleed into each other.

• SVG is a vector format. It stays perfectly sharp at any size, so it is the best choice for printers and designers, and for anything larger than A4.
• PNG at 2048 px is fine for table cards, flyers and A4 posters. 4096 px is better for large prints when SVG is not an option.

7. The surface and the light

• Glossy lamination reflects ceiling lights and windows, and the glare can hide part of the code. A matte or soft-touch finish is safer.
• Curved surfaces such as bottles, cups and jars bend the code. Keep it small relative to the curve, or place it on the flattest part.
• Fabric and textured paper blur the edges. Go bigger and use high contrast.
• Lighting: a candle-lit dining room or a terrace in the evening is hard on phone cameras. Add size and test in the real conditions.

How to calculate the right size

1. Measure the scanning distance: where does the person actually stand or sit?
2. Divide by 10. That gives the base size.
3. Adjust: add 20–50% for a long link, a logo, high error correction, glossy material or poor light.
4. Apply the floor: never go below about 2 cm.
5. Add the quiet zone around it in your layout.

Example: a café wants a code in its window that people on the pavement can scan from about 2.5 m. 250 cm ÷ 10 = 25 cm. The code has a logo and will sit behind glass that reflects the street, so they add about 20% and print it at 30 × 30 cm, with a 4-module white border on top of that.

You can also check the module size. A version 3 code (29 modules) printed at 2 cm has modules of about 0.7 mm. At 4 cm they are about 1.4 mm, which most phones read easily from table distance.

Set it up in the free generator

Our free QR code generator has the settings you need to make a code that scans well at its printed size:

• Under Advanced, set the Error correction: Auto picks a sensible level (and raises it when you add a logo), or choose Low 7%, Medium 15%, Quartile 25% or High 30% yourself.
• Also under Advanced, set the Quiet zone (white border). Use 4 modules if your design places the code near other elements.
• After every change, the built-in scan test checks the code. Look for Scan test passed. If you get a warning, follow its tips (for example more contrast or a smaller logo).
• When you download, choose SVG for print, or PNG with the Image size set to 2048 (print) or 4096 px (large print).

Pre-print test checklist

The screen preview is not enough. Before you order a full print run:

1. Print one proof at the real size on the real material (or as close as you can get).
2. Test with several phones, at least one iPhone and one Android, including an older phone with a weaker camera.
3. Scan from the real distance and angle: seated at the table, standing at the counter, walking past the window.
4. Test in the real light: evening service, sunlight on the window, the lights over the bar.
5. Check the link on mobile data with Wi-Fi turned off. It should open quickly and look right on a phone.
6. Check the quiet zone survived the layout, and that trimming or a frame hasn’t cut into it.
7. Add a call to action such as “Scan for our menu” so people know what they will get.

QR codes for restaurant tables

For table tents, menus and table stickers, aim for 3–4 cm with a short link, matte finish and dark-on-light colours. If you are putting an existing PDF menu online, our step-by-step guide on how to put your restaurant menu PDF online and make a QR code covers hosting it and keeping the link permanent.

If you would rather skip the sizing and printing work, QR Dining gives you a mobile menu with a short, permanent link, and printed stickers with your personalised QR code for the tables are included. The QR code never changes, even when you update dishes and prices.

Frequently asked questions

What is the smallest a QR code can be?

For reliable everyday scanning, about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 in) for a simple code such as a short link. Smaller codes can work with very short data and high-quality printing, but always test them first.

How big should a QR code be on a poster?

Use the distance rule: about one tenth of the scanning distance. An A4 poster scanned from 1–1.5 m needs a code of roughly 10–15 cm. A poster read from across a room needs a larger one.

What size QR code for a table tent or restaurant menu?

3–4 cm is a comfortable size for codes scanned from a seated position, around 30–50 cm away. Go up to 5 cm if the code has a logo or the room is dimly lit.

Does a QR code need a white border?

Yes. The quiet zone, an empty margin of 4 modules on every side according to ISO/IEC 18004, helps the camera find the code. Without it, nearby text or graphics can stop it from scanning.

Should I download PNG or SVG for printing?

SVG is best for print because it stays sharp at any size. If you need PNG, choose 2048 px for normal print or 4096 px for large formats.