What size should a QR code be?
For a code people scan up close, print it at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in). Beyond that, the right size depends on how far away people will be standing.
The 10-to-1 rule of thumb
A good starting point is that a code can be scanned from about ten times its width. To find a size, divide the scanning distance by ten. This is an estimate: lighting, the phone and the amount of data in the code all make a difference, so always test.
| Where it is used | Scanning distance | Width, at least |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, label, packaging | 25 cm (10 in) | 2.5 cm (1 in) |
| Table card, flyer, menu | 50 cm (20 in) | 5 cm (2 in) |
| Poster on a wall | 1 m (3 ft) | 10 cm (4 in) |
| Shop window, large sign | 3 m (10 ft) | 30 cm (12 in) |
| Banner across a room or street | 5 m (16 ft) | 50 cm (20 in) |
More data needs more size
A code’s pattern grows finer as it holds more information. A short link makes a simple pattern with large squares. A long link or a full contact card makes a dense one with tiny squares, which needs to be printed larger to scan as reliably. A dense code should be at least 3 cm (1.2 in) wide.
To simplify a code, shorten what is inside it: use a shorter link, or leave out contact fields people don’t need.
Leave white space around it
Phones find a code by its clear border, often called the quiet zone. The QR code standard asks for a border four squares wide. Don’t let text, images or the edge of the paper come any closer, and count this border as extra when you work out how much space you need.
Sizes for screens
On a website or slide, show the code at 200 pixels wide or more, and more on a big screen in a room. Download a larger PNG than you need and let it shrink, because an enlarged small image turns blurry.
Always test the real thing
Print one copy at full size, put it where it will really go, and scan it from where people will really stand. It only takes a minute and can save you a whole print run.
Next steps
Last updated: 4 November 2026