QR Code Size Calculator
Find the smallest QR code size that still scans reliably. Enter how far away people will stand and what the code contains – the calculator suggests a minimum print size in centimeters or inches.
Leave an empty margin (quiet zone) of at least 4 modules around the code.
How to use the QR code size calculator
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Enter the scanning distance
Estimate how far a phone will be from the code: a menu on the table, a poster across the aisle, a banner on a wall. Use centimeters or inches.
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Choose the content type
Pick “short link” for a website address or a dynamic QR code. Pick “long content” for Wi-Fi details, a contact card or a long text, which produce a denser pattern.
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Print at that size or larger
The result is a minimum. A bigger code never hurts scanning; a smaller one often does.
The 10:1 rule behind the calculation
The calculator uses a common rule of thumb: the code should be about one tenth as wide as the scanning distance. A code read from 1 m (40 in) away should be roughly 10 cm (4 in) wide.
Dense codes get a 1.5× allowance. A QR code is a grid of small squares called modules. The more data it stores, the more modules it needs, so each one shrinks at the same print size. A phone camera needs every module to cover enough pixels, which is why long content must be printed larger.
Finally, the calculator never goes below 2 cm (0.8 in). Smaller than that, even a short code becomes hard for many phones to focus on.
Typical QR code sizes by scanning distance
Examples calculated with the same rule. Treat every value as a minimum.
| Where it is scanned | Distance | Short link | Long content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Table tent, flyer | 30 cm (12 in) | 3 cm (1.2 in) | 4.5 cm (1.8 in) |
| Shop window, poster at eye level | 1 m (40 in) | 10 cm (4 in) | 15 cm (6 in) |
| Poster across a room | 2 m (80 in) | 20 cm (8 in) | 30 cm (12 in) |
| Trade-show banner | 5 m (200 in) | 50 cm (20 in) | 75 cm (30 in) |
Beyond size: what makes a QR code scannable
Size is only one part of the picture. These points decide whether a correctly sized code actually works.
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Keep the quiet zone
Leave a blank margin of at least four modules on every side, as the QR code standard requires. Text, frames or images touching the code confuse scanners.
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Use strong contrast
A dark code on a light background works best. Avoid pale colors, inverted light-on-dark codes and busy photo backgrounds.
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Raise error correction for logos
Error correction lets a code survive damage or a covered area. Levels L, M, Q and H can restore roughly 7, 15, 25 and 30 percent of the data. For a QR code with a logo, choose Q or H and keep the logo small.
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Prefer short content
Fewer characters mean fewer, larger modules. A dynamic QR code always stores a short link, however long the real destination is.
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Print from vector files
SVG keeps edges crisp at any size. Scaling a small PNG up makes modules blurry and harder to read.
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Avoid glare and tight curves
Glossy lamination and small curved surfaces such as cups or bottles distort the pattern. Matte, flat areas scan more reliably.
When to go bigger than the minimum
The rule assumes a person facing the code in reasonable light. Add a margin when people scan at an angle, from a moving queue or in dim places like bars and parking garages. Older phones with weaker cameras also benefit from extra size.
Always print a proof at the final size and scan it from the real distance before ordering a full run. Our guide to QR code size for print covers module size, print methods and packaging in more depth.
Keep the pattern small and simple
A dynamic QR code stores a short link, so it stays easy to scan – and you can change the destination after printing.
What is the minimum size for a QR code?
For close-range use such as a table tent or a business card, keep the code at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in), plus the blank margin around it. Long content needs more.
How do I calculate QR code size from distance?
Divide the scanning distance by 10. Multiply the result by 1.5 if the code holds long content, such as a contact card or Wi-Fi details.
What size should a QR code be on a poster?
It depends on where people stand. For a poster read from about 2 m (80 in), print the code at least 20 cm (8 in) wide, and larger if it holds long content.
Does adding a logo mean the code must be bigger?
A small logo barely changes the required size, but it covers some modules. Use a higher error correction level and test the printed code carefully.
What is the quiet zone of a QR code?
It is the blank margin around the code. The standard asks for at least four modules on each side, and scanners use it to find where the code begins.
Can I use inches instead of centimeters?
Yes. Switch the unit and enter the distance in inches; the 10:1 rule works the same way in both units.
Why do dynamic QR codes print smaller?
They store a short link instead of the full content, so the pattern has fewer modules. Each module is larger at the same print size, which helps cameras read it.
Is PNG or SVG better for printing a QR code?
SVG is a vector format, so it stays sharp at any size and is the safer choice for print. If you use PNG, export it at a high resolution for the final size.
Codes that fit any print size.
Design your QR code with your colors and logo, download SVG or PDF and keep the destination editable.