QR Code Sizes for Print: The Definitive Chart

The 10:1 rule (and why it works)

The most reliable rule for QR code sizing is that the code should be at least 1/10th the scanning distance. If someone is scanning from 30 centimeters (about a foot) away, the QR needs to be at least 3 centimeters. Scanning from 3 meters? You need 30cm.

The rule comes from how camera autofocus and the QR standard's finder patterns interact. Below the ratio, phones struggle to lock focus and detect the three corner squares that anchor the pattern. Above it, you have margin for shaky hands, low light, and cheap printing.

Minimum sizes by use case

• •Business cards — 1.5cm × 1.5cm (0.6 inch). Scan distance ~15cm.
• •Menus and table tents — 2cm × 2cm (0.8 inch). Scan distance ~20cm.
• •Product packaging — 2cm × 2cm minimum. Bigger if the packaging will be held further away.
• •Flyers and posters (handheld) — 2.5cm × 2.5cm (1 inch).
• •Wall posters (viewed 1–2m away) — 10–20cm (4–8 inches).
• •Yard signs (viewed from car window) — 5cm × 5cm (2 inches) minimum, ideally 10cm.
• •Trade show banners — 20cm+ so passers-by can scan while walking past.
• •Billboards — 30cm+ per meter of viewing distance. For a billboard 30m from the road, aim for 90cm+.

Why bigger is (almost) always better

There's no downside to printing a QR larger than the minimum. Bigger codes tolerate more damage, print imperfections, and low-light scanning. If you're on the fence, go bigger.

The only reason to print small is layout constraint — a business card just doesn't have room for a 3cm code. In that case, use a vector SVG (not PNG) so the pattern stays razor-sharp at small sizes, and use high error correction so a slight misalignment during printing doesn't break the scan.

Print resolution matters as much as size

A 2cm QR printed at 72 DPI will scan worse than a 1.5cm QR printed at 300 DPI. Digital printers handle 300 DPI easily. Offset printers can go higher. If you're exporting to send to a printer, always use SVG — it's resolution-independent and scales sharp at any size.

Avoid JPG for QR codes. JPG compression introduces artifacts around the sharp black-white edges that phones need to detect. PNG is fine for digital use; SVG is required for print.

Contrast, quiet zone, and the details that matter

• •Contrast: dark foreground on light background. Reversed (light on dark) works but is less reliable — especially in low light.
• •Quiet zone: white space around the QR. The standard requires at least 4 modules (~10% of QR width). Don't crop tight.
• •Colored QRs: fine, but keep contrast ratio above 4:1. A pale blue QR on white will fail; a navy blue QR on white will scan.
• •Backgrounds: if you're placing a QR on a photograph, put a solid white or light rectangle behind it. Camera phones need clean edges.