QR code print size chart
Recommended QR code sizes for business cards, flyers, posters, packaging, table tents, shop windows, vehicles and billboards, and the distance each needs.
| Medium | Typical distance | Minimum | Comfortable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 20 cm | 2 cm | 2.5 cm | Short link only; keep 3 mm clear of the edge |
| Email signature / screen | 40 cm | 150 px | 200 px | Never below 150 px on screen |
| Product packaging | 30 cm | 2 cm | 3 cm | Flat panel, matte, away from seams and curves |
| Flyer, A5 or A4 | 40 cm | 3 cm | 4 cm | One per page, near the call to action |
| Table tent / menu | 50 cm | 4 cm | 5 cm | Both sides; test under the venue lighting |
| Poster, A3 | 1 m | 8 cm | 10 cm | Eye height, clear margin |
| Poster, A1 / A0 | 2–3 m | 20 cm | 30 cm | Short link keeps modules big |
| Shop window | 1–3 m | 15 cm | 25 cm | Inside the glass reflects; consider a matte decal |
| Vehicle side | 3–5 m | 30 cm | 50 cm | Assumes a stopped vehicle |
| Trade-show banner | 2–4 m | 20 cm | 40 cm | Place at chest height, not the floor |
| Billboard | 20 m | 2 m | 3 m | Distance ÷ 10; the shortest possible link |
Sizes are for the pattern itself, for a code of about 25 to 33 modules. Add a quiet zone of four modules on each side. Denser codes: use the calculator.
Find the medium you are printing on.
Use the minimum size, or the comfortable size if there is room.
Check it against your scanning distance with the calculator.
Questions
What size should a QR code be on a business card?+
At least 2 cm, 2.5 cm if the link is long. Keep a clear margin and do not run it into the card edge.
What size for an A4 flyer or a poster?+
A flyer held in the hand: 3 to 4 cm. An A3 poster on a wall read from a metre: 8 to 10 cm. An A1 poster read from two or three metres: 20 cm and up.
How big must a billboard QR code be?+
Divide the viewing distance by ten. A code read from 20 m across a road needs to be about 2 m wide, and it needs a short link so the modules stay big.
Do these sizes include the quiet zone?+
No. Add a clear margin of at least four modules on every side, roughly 10% of the width.
More free tools
Learn the terms
- ModuleA module is one square cell of a QR code, dark or light. It is the basic unit of the symbol: every size, margin and print rule for a QR code is measured in modules.
- Quiet zoneThe quiet zone is the blank margin around a QR code. The standard asks for four modules of clear space on every side, two for Micro QR, so a scanner can tell where the code begins.
- QR code versionA QR code version is the size of the symbol, numbered 1 to 40. Version 1 is 21 × 21 modules and each version adds 4 modules per side, up to 177 × 177 modules for version 40.
- Swiss QR-billThe Swiss QR-bill is Switzerland’s standard payment slip, with a QR code marked by a Swiss cross that holds the creditor’s account, amount and reference for paying bills by scan.
- Minimum print size and scan distanceA QR code’s minimum size depends on scan distance and module count. A common rule of thumb is a code width of one tenth of the scan distance, and about 2 cm (0.8 in) as a floor for short URLs.
- QR code menuA QR code menu is a restaurant or café menu that guests open by scanning a code at the table or door. It usually links to a PDF or a web page, and a printed menu should stay available for anyone who wants one.
The next step
Make the code the artwork.
These tools make and check classic codes. AriaQR turns your photo, logo or illustration into the code itself, verified on real decoders before you download, with a link you can edit and track.
