Business card
Scanned from ~10 cm — aim for a code around 1.5–2 cm wide.
Size calculator · Free
QR code size calculator
Print a QR code too small and it won't scan; too big and it wastes space. Tell us how far people will scan from and we'll give you the right size — or work it the other way around.
Your scenario
The typical distance between the code
and a phone camera when scanning.
Longer content packs in more modules and needs a bigger code
to stay readable.
Rule of thumb: a QR code scans reliably up to about 10× its own width. A 3 cm code reads
from roughly 30 cm away.
Recommended print size
3.0cm
≈ 1.2 in · scans from ~30 cm
Always add a
clear quiet zone (≈4 modules) around the code and test before printing.
Quick reference
Common placements at a glance
Starting points for typical scan distances — always round up for busy or moving environments.
Flyer & menu
Scanned from ~30 cm — around 3 cm is comfortable.
Product packaging
Held at ~20 cm — about 2–2.5 cm works well.
Poster on a wall
Scanned from ~2 m — go for 20 cm or more.
Shop window
Read from ~1–1.5 m — around 12–15 cm.
Billboard
Scanned from ~5 m+ — 50 cm and up, larger for traffic.
FAQ
QR sizing, explained
What's the minimum size for a QR code?
For close scanning, around 2 cm (0.8 in) is a safe minimum. Below that, dense codes become unreliable. This calculator gives a size tuned to your exact distance.
Where does the 10:1 rule come from?
Most phone cameras can resolve a QR code from about ten times its width. It's a practical guideline — round up for movement, poor light or dense codes.
Does more data change the size?
Yes. More data means more, smaller modules, so a denser code needs to be printed larger. Use the density option to account for it.
Why the quiet zone?
QR codes need a blank margin (about four modules) around them so scanners can find the edges. Never crop right up to the pattern.
Sized it? Check the colors
Make sure your foreground and background have enough contrast to scan every time.
Open the color checker