The best QR code size for print
Print a QR code too small and it won’t scan; too big and it wastes space. The rule of thumb is simple — and it’s all about how far away people will scan from.
The 10:1 scan-distance rule
The most reliable guideline is the 10:1 ratio: a QR code should be about one-tenth as wide as the distance people scan it from. Scanning from 1 metre? Print it around 10 cm. From 3 metres? Around 30 cm. It’s approximate, but it prevents the most common failure — a code that’s simply too small for where it lives.
Practical minimum sizes
- Business cards & labels — at least 2×2 cm, scanned from ~20 cm.
- Flyers & menus — 2.5–3 cm, scanned from arm’s length.
- Posters & window displays — 8–15 cm, scanned from 1–1.5 m.
- Yard signs & banners — 20–30 cm+, scanned from across a room or street.
- Billboards — use the 10:1 rule from the realistic viewing distance.
Leave a quiet zone
Always keep a clear margin (the “quiet zone”) of at least four modules around the code. Text or graphics crowding the edge confuse scanners. Our exports include a sensible quiet zone by default.
Always export vector for print
A raster PNG can look fuzzy or pixelated when scaled up for a poster. A vector file — SVG, PDF or EPS — stays perfectly crisp at any size, which is exactly why we offer all three free. Set your foreground dark, background light, and you’re ready for the printer. New to this? Start with how to make a QR code.
Export a crisp, print-ready vector QR code free.