A QR code only works if it stays readable once printed or shown on
screen: this generator produces the code then immediately re-scans it to
make sure, rather than letting you discover a problem after printing.
URL, plain text, email, SMS, geographic location, or calendar event: each
content type follows a standardised encoding, recognised by nearly every
QR code reader on the market.
Content, encoded to recognised standards
Plain free text is enough for many uses, but some content types benefit
from a standardised encoding that most phones can interpret
automatically: an "email" QR code opens the mail app directly with the
recipient and subject already filled in, a "location" QR code opens the
phone's map app at the right spot, an "event" QR code offers to add the
appointment straight to the calendar. This tool applies these
standardised formats for each content type it offers, rather than making
you guess the exact syntax readers expect.
Logo, colours, and the verification that comes with them
A customised QR code — a logo in the centre, brand colours — looks more
appealing, but every customisation reduces its tolerance for reading
errors. Error correction automatically switches to the maximum level as
soon as a logo is added, its size stays capped at 20% of the code's
surface, and the chosen colours must meet a minimum contrast. Even within
these limits, the only reliable proof that a customised code stays
scannable is to actually re-decode it: that's exactly what this tool does
before offering you the download, with a clear message if the result
turns out not to be readable enough.
Export format by use case
SVG suits any professional printing job, at any size, with no loss of
sharpness — the default choice for a printer. PNG, available from 256 to
4096 pixels per side, covers digital uses and everyday office printing.
PDF and EPS are mainly useful for placing the code into an existing
layout or handing it as-is to a print professional.
Print size and scanning distance
A QR code too small for the distance it'll be scanned from will
consistently fail, however well it was generated. The general rule — a
comfortable scanning distance of about 10 times the code's width — gives
a simple reference: a built-in calculator converts an expected scanning
distance directly into a recommended minimum print size.
Frequently asked questions
What is QR code error correction?
+
A QR code embeds redundant data that lets it stay readable even when partly damaged (dirt, a fold, a logo placed over it). Four levels exist, from the lightest (L, about 7% damage tolerated) to the most robust (H, about 30%): the higher the correction, the more redundant data the code contains, so the denser it looks visually for the same information.
Why can a QR code with a logo become unreadable?
+
A central logo hides part of the QR's modules, which error correction has to compensate for. Past a certain threshold — depending on both the logo's size and how much information is already encoded — the code loses too much data to stay decodable. That's why correction automatically switches to the maximum level (H) as soon as a logo is added, and why every generation is systematically re-checked: a logo within the allowed size can still make the code unreadable in practice, and the tool flags that instead of letting you find out once it's printed.
What print size should I choose?
+
A widely used rule of thumb: comfortable scanning distance is about 10 times the code's width. A QR code meant to be scanned at 30 cm (a handheld flyer, say) should measure at least 3 cm wide; a QR code on a poster read from 2 metres needs at least 20 cm.
Can I change a QR code's destination after printing it?
+
No: this generator produces static QR codes, which contain the final information directly rather than a redirect link going through a server. That's what guarantees they'll keep working indefinitely, but it also means you have to reprint a new code to change its destination.
Why are some colours rejected?
+
Insufficient contrast between the module colour and the background, or a background darker than the modules ("inverted" colours), make many smartphone scanners fail to read the code, even when the human eye can still make out the pattern. Both cases are rejected before the code is even generated, to avoid producing a result that looks fine on screen but doesn't scan.
Which export format should I choose?
+
SVG (vector) is ideal for professional printing at any size, with no loss of sharpness. PNG suits digital use (a website, social media) or ordinary office printing. PDF and EPS are mainly useful for sending the code to a printer or placing it into an existing layout.
Is my QR code's content sent or stored anywhere?
+
The content only passes through for as long as it takes to generate the code then verify it: nothing is logged or kept after the response is sent to your browser.