What size should a QR code be printed?

Roughly one centimetre of code for every ten centimetres of scanning distance, so a poster read from two metres needs about twenty centimetres. Leave a clear margin of at least four modules around it as well.

Can I put a logo in the middle of a QR code?

Yes, thanks to the built-in error correction. Use the high correction level and keep the logo under about 25 percent of the area — beyond that you are eating into the data the correction is meant to protect.

The code itself never expires — it is a static encoding of whatever you put in it. What expires is the destination: if it points at a URL you later remove, the code breaks. Point it at a URL you control and can redirect.

How much data can a QR code hold?

Up to about 4,300 alphanumeric characters in theory, but a dense code is hard to scan. For URLs, shorter is better — a long URL produces a fine grid that struggles on a phone camera at any distance.

Is the QR code generated on a server?

No, it is encoded in your browser. That matters when the code contains a WiFi password, a private URL or contact details, none of which are transmitted.

QR Code Generator

Create QR codes for links, text, Wi-Fi and contacts, then download as PNG or SVG.

GeneratorRuns in your browserFree, no signup

About the QR Code Generator

QR codes encode data in a two-dimensional grid with built-in Reed-Solomon error correction, which is why a code still scans with a logo over the middle or a corner scuffed. Four correction levels are available, recovering roughly 7, 15, 25 and 30 percent of the code.

Higher correction means a denser grid for the same data, so it is a trade rather than a free upgrade. Use low correction for a clean screen or a flat printed page, and high correction only when you are covering part of the code or printing on something that will be handled.

The commonest practical failure is size. A QR code needs roughly one centimetre of width for every ten centimetres of scanning distance, plus a clear quiet zone around it of at least four modules. A code printed small on a poster read from across a room will not scan no matter how good the phone is.

How it works

Pick what the code should contain — a URL, plain text, Wi-Fi credentials or a contact card.
Adjust size, colours and error-correction level. The preview redraws as you type.
Download a PNG for print or an SVG that stays sharp at any size.

Frequently asked questions

What size should a QR code be printed?: Roughly one centimetre of code for every ten centimetres of scanning distance, so a poster read from two metres needs about twenty centimetres. Leave a clear margin of at least four modules around it as well.
Can I put a logo in the middle of a QR code?: Yes, thanks to the built-in error correction. Use the high correction level and keep the logo under about 25 percent of the area — beyond that you are eating into the data the correction is meant to protect.
Do QR codes expire?: The code itself never expires — it is a static encoding of whatever you put in it. What expires is the destination: if it points at a URL you later remove, the code breaks. Point it at a URL you control and can redirect.
How much data can a QR code hold?: Up to about 4,300 alphanumeric characters in theory, but a dense code is hard to scan. For URLs, shorter is better — a long URL produces a fine grid that struggles on a phone camera at any distance.
Is the QR code generated on a server?: No, it is encoded in your browser. That matters when the code contains a WiFi password, a private URL or contact details, none of which are transmitted.

Privacy

Everything happens locally. Your files are read by your own browser, processed on your device, and never uploaded — closing the tab is all it takes to erase them.

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