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QR code size calculator: how big to print your QR code

Enter how far away people will scan and what the code holds. Get the minimum size, a comfortable recommended size, and the size with its required white margin.

What the code holds

A dynamic QR code stores only a short link, however long the page behind it is.

Higher correction survives damage and logos but adds modules, so the code needs more room.

Recommended size205 mm (8.1 in)square, plus a white margin, for 245 mm (9.6 in) in total
Smallest that should scan
164 mm (6.5 in)
Size with margin
245 mm (9.6 in)
Modules per side
41 (version 6)
Each module
4 mm

A rule of thumb, not a guarantee: print one sample at this size and scan it from the real distance, in the real light, before printing the rest.

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Good to know

What decides how big a QR code should be

Two things: how far away people stand, and how many squares (modules) the code has. A common rule is that a typical code can be read from about ten times its width. A code with more data or stronger error correction has more, smaller modules, so it needs more room to be read from the same distance.

That is why short links help. A dynamic QR code stores only a short link, so it stays simple even when the page behind it is long. Codes that store a whole contact card or a long web address get dense quickly.

Always leave a blank margin (the quiet zone) of four modules around the code, and test a printed sample at the real distance before a full run.

How it works

Using the qr code size calculator

  1. Step 1 of 3

    Set the scanning distance

    How far away will most people be? A business card is read up close; a poster or a window sign from a few meters.

  2. Step 2 of 3

    Describe the content

    Pick a dynamic short link, or paste the exact text the code will hold, and choose the error correction level.

  3. Step 3 of 3

    Print at the recommended size

    Use the recommended size, keep the white margin, and test one printed copy before printing the rest.

Questions

QR Code Size Calculator FAQ

What is the minimum size for a QR code?
About 2 cm (0.8 in) across for codes scanned up close, such as on a business card. Anything scanned from farther away needs to be larger.
How big should a QR code be on a poster?
It depends on distance and data. For people reading a poster from 2 meters away, plan for roughly 20 to 35 cm across: the simpler the code, the smaller it can be. Enter your distance above for your exact numbers.
Does a logo make the code need to be bigger?
A logo covers part of the code, so it relies on error correction. Use high error correction with a logo, which adds modules, and the calculator accounts for that.
Why is the margin important?
Scanners use the blank border to find the code. Without about four modules of white space around it, many phones fail to read it.
Does a dynamic QR code print smaller?
Usually, yes. It stores a short link instead of the full content, so it has fewer modules and stays readable at a smaller size.

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