QR code size for printing
By Prabhneet Singh Narula, founder of RelyQr · Updated
Short answer
A printed QR code should be at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in) for scanning at arm's length. For anything farther away, use the 10:1 rule: make the code about a tenth of the scanning distance, so a code scanned from 2 m should be about 20 cm wide. Leave a clear margin four modules wide on every side.
The minimum size
2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in) is the smallest size that scans reliably at arm's length on most phones. Codes with very little data can scan smaller in good light, but that leaves no room for older cameras, glare or a slightly blurry print. On a business card, 2 to 2.5 cm is the sweet spot.
The 10:1 distance rule
For codes people scan from farther away, divide the scanning distance by 10. A poster scanned from 1.5 m needs a code about 15 cm wide; a shop window read from 5 m needs about 50 cm. It's a rule of thumb, not a law: dense codes, low light and angled viewing all call for a bit more.
Width of the code ≈ scanning distance ÷ 10. Never go below 2 cm.
Size chart by placement
| Placement | Typical distance | Code width |
|---|---|---|
| Business card | 20-30 cm | 2-2.5 cm (0.8-1 in) |
| Product packaging, labels | 20-30 cm | 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) |
| Flyer or brochure | 30-50 cm | 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6 in) |
| Table tent or sticker | 40-60 cm | 4-6 cm (1.6-2.4 in) |
| Poster | 1-2 m | 10-20 cm (4-8 in) |
| Shop window or storefront | 3-5 m | 30-50 cm (12-20 in) |
| Vehicle | 3-5 m | 30-50 cm (12-20 in) |
| Banner | 5-10 m | 50-100 cm (20-40 in) |
Why more data needs a bigger code
A QR code is a grid of squares called modules. The smallest version is 21 × 21 modules and the largest is 177 × 177; the more content, the more modules, and the smaller each one is at a given print size. A long web address can need a much denser code than a short one.
That's one reason dynamic codes print well small: they hold a short link, like go.relyqr.com/k7m2p9qa, whatever the length of the real destination.
The quiet zone
The QR standard (ISO/IEC 18004) asks for a clear margin, the quiet zone, four modules wide on every side. Without it, cameras can't tell where the code starts. Don't let text, borders or a background image touch the code.
Resolution and file format
For print, use a vector file (SVG, EPS or PDF), which stays sharp at any size. For a PNG, export at 300 dpi at the final print size: a 3 cm code needs about 350 pixels across. RelyQr exports PNG up to 4096 px, SVG, EPS and print-ready PDF with bleed, sticker sheets and table tents.
Questions people also ask
What is the smallest QR code that will scan?
About 1 to 1.5 cm can work for very short content in good light, but 2 × 2 cm (0.8 in) is the reliable minimum for print.
Does a bigger QR code always scan better?
Up to a point. The whole code, with its margin, has to fit in the camera's view from where people stand, so a code that's too big for close scanning is a problem too.
How big should a QR code be on a poster?
About a tenth of the distance people scan from: 10 cm for 1 m, 20 cm for 2 m.
What size should a QR code be in pixels?
For print, size it in centimetres or inches and export at 300 dpi or as a vector file. For screens, at least 150 to 200 pixels across.
Make a QR code that lasts forever
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