What Size Should Your QR Code Be?

Print a QR code too small and it won't scan reliably. Too big and it wastes space. The right size comes down to one thing: how far away people will be when they try to scan it.

The distance rule

The general rule: minimum scanning distance is roughly 10 times the code's printed size. A 2cm code can be scanned from about 20cm (8 inches). A 5cm code can be scanned from about 50cm (20 inches). A 10cm code can be scanned from about 1 meter (3 feet).

This isn't a fixed law — phone cameras vary, lighting conditions vary, and the density of the QR code affects it too. But it's a reliable starting point for planning.

Size recommendations by use case

The quiet zone rule

Every QR code needs a "quiet zone" — a clear margin around it with no other graphics or text. The standard quiet zone is 4 times the width of one small square in the code. In practice, leave at least 4-5mm of white space around the code on all sides, more for larger prints. Cutting into the quiet zone is a common cause of scanning failures.

High-density codes need more size

The more data you pack into a QR code, the more squares it uses, and the finer the detail. A dense code (long URL, vCard data) needs to be printed larger to scan reliably than a simple code (short URL). If you're encoding a lot of data and printing at small sizes, use a URL shortener to reduce the code's complexity. Our QR code creation guide covers this too.

Always use SVG for print

PNG is a raster format — it has a fixed pixel size. Scale a PNG up and it blurs. SVG is a vector format — it scales to any size without quality loss. Our QR generator offers SVG downloads. Use that option for anything going to print, especially at large sizes. The difference at poster scale is significant.

Test before you commit

Print a single test copy at final size and scan it with your phone before printing the full run. Do this in lighting conditions similar to where it will actually be used. A code that scans great under bright office light might struggle in a dimly lit restaurant. If it doesn't scan reliably, go bigger or simplify the encoded data.

If you're already having scan problems with printed codes, our troubleshooting guide covers the most common causes.