The 10:1 rule for QR code size
Divide the expected scanning distance by 10. The result is the minimum width of the code. Someone holding a flyer 30 cm from their face needs a code of about 3 cm. Someone reading a poster from 2 m away needs a code of about 20 cm.
The rule assumes good conditions: a short link, dark modules on a light background, matte paper and normal indoor light. If any of those is missing, go one size up. And whatever the distance, don't print a code smaller than about 2 × 2 cm, because many phone cameras struggle to focus on anything tinier.
The sizes in this guide refer to the code itself, without the quiet zone around it or any frame and call-to-action text you add.
QR code size chart by print medium
| Medium | Typical scanning distance | Recommended code size |
|---|---|---|
| Business card (85 × 55 mm) | 15–25 cm | 2–2.5 cm |
| Product packaging or label | 15–30 cm | 2–3 cm |
| Flyer or brochure (A5 / A4) | 20–40 cm | 3–4 cm |
| Table tent or menu card | 40–60 cm | 4–6 cm |
| Window or door sticker | 0.5–1 m | 5–10 cm |
| Poster (A3 / A2) | 1–2 m | 10–20 cm |
| Roll-up banner | 2–3 m | 20–30 cm |
| Large banner or billboard | 5–10 m | 50 cm–1 m |
Think about where the reader actually stands. A table tent in a café is read from the chair, not from the edge of the table. A poster in a clinic waiting room is read from the seats along the opposite wall. Measure that distance and use the rule.
Leave a quiet zone around the code
A phone finds a QR code by spotting the empty border around it. The QR standard asks for a quiet zone of 4 modules on every side, where a module is one of the small squares that make up the pattern. Text, images, a card edge or a busy background inside that border can stop the code from scanning.
QRaft adds a margin of 3 modules by default, and you can change it in the design settings. On a white card with plenty of space around the code, 3 modules is enough, because the blank paper adds to the margin. If the code sits close to photos, other text, the edge of a sticker or a colored background, raise the margin to 4 modules or more. The scannability score warns you if you make the margin too small.
Why content length changes the minimum size
The more data a code holds, the more modules it needs, and the smaller each module becomes at the same printed size. A short link gives a simple pattern of around 30 modules across. A long web address stored in a static code can push the pattern past 50 modules, so at 2 cm wide each module would be only about 0.4 mm.
That's why dynamic codes print better at small sizes. They only hold a short link such as qr.linkom.app/AB3DE9K, so the pattern stays open and clean however long your real destination is. Higher error correction also adds modules, so a code with a logo needs a little extra size.
If a code must be printed small, such as on a label, a pen or a business card, use a dynamic code and keep the pattern simple. A cleaner pattern at 2 cm scans better than a crowded one at 3 cm.
Contrast, colors and printing surfaces
- Print a dark code on a light background. Light codes on dark backgrounds fail on some scanner apps and older phones.
- Avoid light colors for the code, such as yellow, pastel pink or light grey. If you use a gradient, make sure its lightest part is still clearly dark.
- Prefer matte paper and lamination. Gloss and foil reflect light and can hide parts of the pattern.
- On cups, bottles and tubes, place the code on the flattest area and go one size up, because the curve distorts the grid.
- Never stretch the code to fit a space. Keep it square.
Choose the right file format: SVG, PDF or PNG
For print, download SVG or the print-ready PDF. Both are vector formats, so the code stays sharp at any size, from a business card to a building banner. Send these to your designer or print shop.
PNG is fine for small prints and office printers. QRaft exports PNG up to 4000 px. At 300 dpi, the usual print resolution, that covers a code up to about 33 cm wide. For anything bigger, use SVG or PDF. Keep JPG for screens and messaging, not for print.
QR code size when you add a logo
A logo in the middle covers part of the pattern, and error correction rebuilds the missing data. Use error correction Q or H when you add a logo, keep the logo to about 20–30% of the code width, and add around 10–20% to the sizes in the chart above. QRaft clears the space behind the logo so no module is half covered.
Test before you print the whole run
- Print one copy at the real size on an ordinary printer.
- Scan it from the real distance with at least one iPhone and one Android phone.
- Test in the real light: a dim restaurant, a bright shop window or a glass door.
- Check that the destination opens correctly and loads quickly on mobile data.
- Only then send the file to the print shop.
With a dynamic code, a wrong link found after printing is easy to fix: change the destination and the printed code keeps working. A code that's too small, though, can't be fixed without a reprint, so test the size first.
Questions
What is the minimum size for a QR code?+
About 2 × 2 cm for a code scanned at close range, with a short link and strong contrast. For anything read from farther away, use the 10:1 rule: the code width should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance.
How big should a QR code be on a poster?+
Measure where people will stand. For a poster read from 1–2 m away, make the code 10–20 cm wide. For a banner seen from 3 m away, aim for about 30 cm.
Does the quiet zone count in the size?+
No. The sizes in this guide are for the code itself. Leave a blank border of about 4 modules around it as well, plus any frame or text you add.
Which file should I send to the print shop?+
SVG or PDF. They are vector files, so the code prints sharp at any size. PNG works for small prints up to about 33 cm at 300 dpi.