QR code size calculator
Enter how far away people will scan from and how much the code holds. You get the smallest width that scans reliably, the size with its quiet zone, and the pixels to export for print.
How the size is worked out
The 10 to 1 rule
A code should be at least a tenth of the scanning distance wide. From 50 cm that's 5 cm; from 2 m it's 20 cm. This holds for a short link of about 29 modules across.
Dense codes grow
More content means more, smaller modules. The calculator keeps each module the same size as in a 29-module code, so a code with twice the modules across needs twice the width.
The quiet zone
Leave an empty margin of four modules on every side, in the background colour. Scanners use it to find the code. Our downloads include it; don't crop it or print text inside it.
Pixels for print
Printers work in dots per inch. 300 DPI suits most print. The bitmap size is rounded up to whole pixels per module, so edges stay sharp. SVG, PDF or EPS files avoid the question entirely.
Check it in the real world
Print a proof at full size
Use the same material and finish. Glossy and curved surfaces make scanning harder.
Scan from the real distance
Use two different phones, in the light where the code will hang.
Size up if in doubt
A code larger than the minimum costs nothing and scans faster. Below 2 cm, test it with several phones.
Want the full background, with a size table for business cards, menus, posters and signs? Read the QR code size guide
Questions people ask
QR code size
What is the minimum size of a QR code?
It depends on the scanning distance. Divide the distance by ten for a short link. Codes under 2 cm, such as on business cards, work at close range, but test them with several phones first.
Does a logo change the size I need?
A logo covers modules, so use error correction H. That makes the code denser for the same content, which the calculator accounts for when you choose H.
Why does a dynamic code allow smaller prints?
A dynamic code holds a short link of about 30 characters, whatever the destination. Fewer characters mean fewer, bigger modules at the same width.
What resolution should a QR code be for print?
300 DPI at the printed size is enough for most jobs. For anything larger than a flyer, use SVG, PDF or EPS, which stay sharp at any size.
Make a code at the right size
Open the generator, design your code and download PNG, SVG or PDF.