vCard QR codes: what goes inside and how it saves
A vCard QR code stores contact details such as your name, phone and email as vCard text inside the image. When someone scans it, the phone shows an "Add contact" screen and they tap Save. Every field you add makes the code denser, so for a business card, stick to the essentials: name, phone and email.
What exactly is stored?
These are the lines the vCard QR code generator produces for Alex Kim with a company, job title, mobile number and email. Lines are separated by CRLF.
| Stored line | Meaning |
|---|---|
BEGIN:VCARD · VERSION:3.0 | Start of a vCard 3.0 |
N:Kim;Alex;;; | Last name; first name |
FN:Alex Kim | Display name |
ORG:Staycode Studio · TITLE:Owner | Company and job title |
TEL;TYPE=CELL,VOICE:+15551234567 | Mobile; spaces and dashes are removed |
EMAIL;TYPE=INTERNET:alex@example.com | |
END:VCARD | End |
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Add more and you get URL: (website), ADR;TYPE=WORK: (address) and NOTE: lines. "Add another phone" adds work, home or fax numbers as separate lines such as TEL;TYPE=WORK. Commas and semicolons in your text are escaped with a backslash, lines longer than 75 bytes are folded as vCard requires, and accented or non-Latin names are stored as UTF-8.
How much denser does each field make it?
Module count grows with the byte count. Same person, more fields, error correction level M, generated with this site's encoder:
| Fields | Bytes | Modules | One module at 2 cm (0.8 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name and mobile | 97 | 41×41 | about 0.49 mm |
| + company, title, email | 169 | 53×53 | about 0.38 mm |
| + work phone, website, address, note | 305 | 69×69 | about 0.29 mm |
| For comparison: a link to your contact page (URL code) | 22 | 25×25 | about 0.8 mm |
Swipe the table sideways
The full card is version 13, so the generator shows its "dense code" warning (it appears from version 10). For a small card, leave out the address and note, or build a contact page and put its link in a URL code. The trade-off with a URL code: the person has to open the page, and the "Add contact" screen does not appear by itself.
What happens on the phone?
When the phone recognizes a vCard, it opens an "Add contact" screen with name, phones, email, company, title, address and note filled into their own fields. Nothing is saved until the person scanning taps Save. The screen can look different depending on the phone and camera app, so scan your own code before printing to check every field lands in the right place. The QR code scanner also shows the fields a code contains.
Printing it on a business card
- Size: a common rule of thumb is at least 2 cm (0.8 in) for close-up scans. Go bigger for a dense card, or cut fields. The full table is in QR code print size.
- Files: give your printer SVG or PDF so it stays sharp at any size. PDF sizes refer to the pattern itself, without the quiet zone or frame.
- Color: to match your card, change the dot color and keep the background light. Check that the stamp says it scans.
- Trademark line: according to DENSO WAVE's FAQ (checked October 14, 2026), you do not need a trademark notice when you only print the code image on a business card, and commercial use needs no fee or license. The notice is only asked for when you use the words "QR Code".
Contact details are processed in your browser only and are never kept in "Recent QR codes".
vCard or a link?
A vCard code works offline and saves the contact in one tap, which suits trade shows and printed cards. A link code stays small and lets you update details later on your own page, but needs a connection and an extra step to save. One option is to put the vCard on the printed card and the link on your website or email signature.
Sources
- DENSO WAVE: QR Code FAQ (trademark and fees) (Last checked October 14, 2026)
- QR Code Generator blog: Minimum QR code size (rule of thumb) (Last checked October 14, 2026)