QR codes for print: size, contrast and error correction that actually work
By Nasir Uddin Shamim ยท Founder, PrintxPDF
Short answer: A printed QR code scans reliably when it is exported as vector, printed at least 2 cm wide, surrounded by a four-module quiet zone, and set in dark ink on a light background. Use the 10:1 rule: the code must be at least one tenth of the scanning distance.
A QR code that works on your screen can fail completely on paper. Ink spreads, laminate reflects, the code gets scaled down to fit a corner of the card, and the quiet zone disappears into a photo. These guides cover the numbers that decide whether a printed code scans: minimum module size, the 10:1 distance rule, error correction levels L through H, contrast, and why you should always export vector rather than a small PNG.
Every guide in this topic
- How to make a QR code that actually scans off paper, Vector export, minimum size, quiet zone, contrast and error correction levels L, M, Q and H explained, plus how to test a QR code before you print 500 copies.
- How to make a WiFi QR code guests can scan, Create a WiFi QR code that joins guests to your network automatically. The WIFI: format explained, iOS and Android support, printing tips and security advice.
- What size should a QR code be? The distance rule, The 10:1 distance rule with a real size table for business cards, flyers, posters and billboards, plus module size, minimum millimetres and pixels at 300 DPI.
- How to put a QR code on a business card or flyer, Add a QR code to a business card or flyer: vCard versus a link, size and placement, bleed and margins, printing at 300 DPI and the mistakes that kill scans.