How big should a QR code be? Sizes for cards, flyers, posters and signs

6 min read · Updated 5 November 2026

There is no single minimum size for a QR code. There is a minimum size for a given scanning distance, and that is what this guide gives you.

The 10 to 1 rule

Width of the code ≈ scanning distance ÷ 10. Someone holding a flyer scans from about 20 cm, so 2 cm works. A table tent is read from 50 cm, so 5 cm. A shop window poster is read from 1 to 2 metres, so 10 to 20 cm. For a very dense code (a long vCard, say) add 50%.

Sizes that work in practice

Resolution and file format

For anything up to A5, a PNG at 1024 px is plenty. For posters, use SVG, PDF or EPS: vectors stay sharp at any size and printers prefer them. If you must send a bitmap, aim for 300 dots per inch at the printed size, which for a 10 cm code is about 1200 px.

Leave the quiet zone alone

Add a margin of at least four modules (about 10% of the code's width) on every side and keep other graphics out of it. Our downloads include it; don't crop it.

Dense codes need more room

The more content in a code, the smaller its modules. A short link makes a 25×25 or 29×29 pattern; a full contact card can be 57×57. If you're printing small, keep the content short or use a dynamic code, which always makes a small pattern.

1. Decide where people will stand. Measure or estimate the distance from the eye to the code.
2. Divide by ten. That's the minimum width. Round up to the next comfortable size in the table.
3. Export the right file. PNG at 1024 px for small prints, SVG or PDF for anything bigger than a flyer.
4. Print a proof and scan it. Use a phone, at the real distance, in the real light.