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Join thousands of businesses using QRTRAC for their QR code needs
The complete reference for QR code dimensions across every print medium — from business cards to billboards. Get the numbers right the first time.
Join thousands of businesses using QRTRAC for their QR code needs
The Universal QR Code Size Rule
10:1 Ratio. Your QR code should be at least 1/10th the distance from which it will be scanned. Scanning from 30 cm away? Your minimum size is 3 cm × 3 cm. This single rule covers 95% of sizing decisions.
Complete Size Reference
Recommended sizes based on typical viewing distance and real-world scan success rates.
| Print Format | Minimum Size | Recommended Size | Scan Distance | Export Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Card | 2 cm / 0.8" | 2.5 cm / 1" | 20–30 cm | PNG 300 DPI |
| Flyer (A5/A4) | 2.5 cm / 1" | 4 cm / 1.5" | 30–50 cm | PNG 300 DPI |
| Poster (A3/A2) | 4 cm / 1.5" | 7 cm / 2.75" | 50 cm–1 m | SVG or 600 DPI |
| Brochure / Mailer | 2 cm / 0.8" | 3 cm / 1.2" | 25–40 cm | PNG 300 DPI |
| Product Label | 1.5 cm / 0.6" | 2.5 cm / 1" | 10–20 cm | SVG |
| Retail Shelf Tag | 3 cm / 1.2" | 5 cm / 2" | 40–60 cm | PNG 300 DPI |
| Window Cling | 6 cm / 2.4" | 10 cm / 4" | 50 cm–1 m | SVG or 600 DPI |
| Table Tent / Menu | 3 cm / 1.2" | 5 cm / 2" | 30–50 cm | PNG 300 DPI |
| Roll-up Banner | 15 cm / 6" | 20 cm / 8" | 1.5–3 m | SVG |
| Trade Show Display | 20 cm / 8" | 30 cm / 12" | 2–5 m | SVG |
| Billboard | Not recommended | — | >10 m | — |
* Billboard distances make real-time scanning impractical. Use short URLs or NFC for outdoor advertising at scale.
The right file type prevents blurry, unscannable prints.
Scales to any size without quality loss. Use for large-format: banners, signs, packaging. QRTRAC exports SVG on all plans.
Best for
Banners, signs, packaging, embroidery
High-resolution raster. Suitable for most professional print up to A3. Export at 300 DPI minimum from QRTRAC dashboard.
Best for
Business cards, flyers, posters, brochures
Screen resolution only — never use for print. Will appear pixelated and may fail to scan when printed. Digital email/social use only.
Best for
Email, websites, social media posts
QR codes use error correction to remain scannable even when partially damaged or obscured. Higher correction = larger, denser code at the same version. Choose based on how the code will be used.
L (Low) — 7%
Smallest file size. Use only in controlled environments (digital screens, clean print).
M (Medium) — 15%
Good balance for most commercial print. Default in most generators.
Q (Quartile) — 25%
Recommended when adding a logo to the center — the logo obscures data the error correction recovers.
H (High) — 30%
Maximum redundancy. Use for industrial labels, outdoor signage, products subject to wear.
Every QR code requires a quiet zone — a clear border of white space on all four sides. Without it, scanners struggle to locate the code edges and fail to decode.
Minimum Quiet Zone
4 modules (the size of the smallest square in the pattern). In practice: at least 3–4mm at any print size.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
QRTRAC automatically generates codes with proper quiet zones baked in. Download and place as-is — don't crop or scale below the recommended minimums.
5 Rules That Prevent Scan Failures
Never go below 2 cm × 2 cm
Always use 300 DPI+ for print
Keep a 4mm quiet zone on all sides
Use H error correction with a logo
Export SVG for large-format
Every QR code exported from QRTRAC includes SVG, PNG 300 DPI, and PNG 72 DPI formats — correctly sized quiet zones, your choice of error correction level, and print-ready downloads on every plan.
On all plans. Scales to any size for banners, signage, packaging without quality loss.
Print-ready high-resolution exports for professional print on every paid plan.
Choose L, M, Q, or H — automatically recommend H when you add a logo.
Answers to the most common sizing questions from print designers and marketing teams.
The absolute minimum recommended size for a QR code is 2 cm × 2 cm (0.8 in × 0.8 in) when scanned at close range (20-30 cm). For business cards or materials scanned at arm's length, 3 cm × 3 cm is safer. Smaller QR codes increase scan failure rates significantly, especially in low-light or low-resolution print environments.
On a standard business card (3.5 × 2 in), a QR code of 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm (1 inch square) works well. Position it in a corner with at least 3mm of white space (quiet zone) around it. Avoid printing smaller than 2 cm as it becomes unreliable to scan with standard phone cameras.
For professional print, export your QR code at minimum 300 DPI. For large-format printing (banners, posters), use 600 DPI or export as an SVG vector file so it scales without quality loss. Low-resolution QR codes (72 DPI web exports) will look pixelated when printed and may fail to scan.
For materials viewed from a distance, apply the 10:1 rule: the QR code should be 1/10th the distance from which it will be scanned. A banner scanned from 3 meters needs a 30 cm (12 inch) QR code minimum. Billboards generally aren't suitable for QR codes due to scanning distance constraints.
Yes. Larger QR codes are detected faster by phone cameras because they occupy more pixels in the viewfinder. A QR code that is too small forces the camera to work harder to resolve the pattern, increasing scan time or causing scan failure on older devices or in poor lighting.
The quiet zone is the white border of empty space surrounding the QR code pattern. QR code standards require a quiet zone of at least 4 modules (the smallest square unit in the code) on all sides. In practice, maintain a minimum of 3–4mm of white space around your QR code at any printed size.
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