QR code print size: how big should it be?
For close-up scans, make the QR pattern at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide, and plan on it scanning from about 10 times its own width. A code read from 1 m (about 3 ft) away should be around 10 cm (4 in); a banner read from 5 m should be around 50 cm. This is a rule of thumb shared on a QR provider's blog, not a formal standard, so go bigger when the code holds a lot of data.
How big for each use?
Divide the scanning distance by 10 to get the width of the pattern. The distances below are typical examples; the sizes are calculated from them.
| Use | Scanning distance (example) | Pattern width (calculated) |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, sticker, packaging | up to 20 cm (8 in) | 2 cm (0.8 in), and not smaller |
| Table menu, WiFi sign | 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) | 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in) |
| Shop wall, poster | 1 to 2 m (3 to 6.5 ft) | 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) |
| Window decal, banner | 3 to 5 m (10 to 16 ft) | 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20 in) |
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The QR Code Generator blog (checked October 14, 2026) puts the minimum for close-up codes at 2×2 cm, readable from about 20 cm, and gives examples of a 2-inch code at about 2 feet and an 8-inch code at about 6 to 7 feet. It presents the 10:1 ratio as a rule of thumb. In dim light or where people scan at an angle, go one size up.
Why does more content need a bigger print?
More data means more modules (the small squares), so at the same printed width each module gets smaller. Generated with this site's encoder at error correction level M:
| Content | Bytes | Modules | One module at 2 cm |
|---|---|---|---|
https://example.com/menu | 24 | 25×25 | about 0.8 mm |
| Same link with UTM tags | 84 | 37×37 | about 0.54 mm |
| Contact card with two phones, email, website, address and note | 305 | 69×69 | about 0.29 mm |
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Module size is 2 cm divided by the module count. At the same 2 cm, the last code has modules about a third the size of the first, which is much harder for a camera. The generator flags a code as dense from version 10 (57×57 modules) up. To slim it down, use a shorter link, lower error correction one step, or cut the text.
Why leave a 4-module quiet zone?
A phone needs an empty border to find where the pattern begins. This generator uses a 4-module quiet zone by default and shows a warning in the scan check if you go below 4, because artwork or text touching the pattern can stop it from scanning. With a frame, the quiet zone never drops below 2 modules, so the frame never touches the pattern.
Sizes in this generator always mean the pattern itself, without the quiet zone or frame. The sticker is larger by the quiet zone. A 25×25 pattern plus 4 modules on each side is 33 modules across, so a 2 cm pattern makes a sticker about 2.64 cm wide.
How many stickers fit on an A4 sheet?
"Print a sticker sheet" lays out the same code on A4 with a 10 mm page margin, 6 mm between stickers and cut marks. Counts for https://example.com/menu (25×25 modules, 4-module quiet zone, no frame):
| Pattern width | Each sticker | Per A4 sheet |
|---|---|---|
| 2 cm | 26.4 mm | 48 (6×8) |
| 2.5 cm | 33.0 mm | 35 (5×7) |
| 3 cm | 39.6 mm | 24 (4×6) |
| 4 cm | 52.8 mm | 12 (3×4) |
| 5 cm | 66.0 mm | 6 (2×3) |
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A different module count or frame changes the sticker size and count. The screen shows "each sticker … mm" as you choose, and "Download sheet PDF" and "Print now" give the same layout.
Before you print
- Give your printer SVG, PDF or EPS so the code stays sharp at any size.
- Check that the stamp says it scans, then scan a test print with your phone from the real distance. The scan check reads the on-screen image, so print quality, light and camera can still change the result.
- For contact details on a small card, see the vCard QR code guide for ways to keep the code simple.
Sources
- QR Code Generator blog: Minimum QR code size (rule of thumb) (Last checked October 14, 2026)