URL
Text
WiFi
vCard
Email
Recommended QR code size
4.8
inches
12.2
centimeters
1440
pixels at 300 DPI
Q
error correction
The widely-used 10:1 rule of thumb says that a QR code should be at least one-tenth the scan distance. So a code scanned from 10 feet away needs to be at least 1 foot (about 30 cm) wide. This calculator applies that rule, then adjusts up for one of three use cases:
Pixel sizes assume 300 DPI for print. Download SVG from Link2QR when possible so the image scales perfectly to any final print size.
| Use case | Scan distance | Recommended size | Error correction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 6 to 12 inches | 0.8 to 1 inch (2 to 2.5 cm) | M or H (with logo) |
| Restaurant menu / table tent | 12 to 24 inches | 1.2 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) | M |
| Product packaging | 6 to 18 inches | 1 inch (2.5 cm) | M or Q |
| Real estate yard sign | 3 to 5 feet | 3.6 to 6 inches (9 to 15 cm) | Q |
| Retail poster | 5 to 10 feet | 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) | Q |
| Trade-show booth banner | 10 to 20 feet | 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) | Q or H |
| Highway billboard | 50 to 100 feet | 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 m) | H |
Once you have a final design, run it through the QR reliability audit to simulate tilt, blur, contrast loss, and partial occlusion before you go to print.
The 10:1 rule says your QR code should be at least 1/10th the distance from which you want it scanned. A code scanned from 10 feet away should be at least 1 foot wide. This is a conservative rule of thumb that accounts for older phone cameras, glare, and tilt.
The absolute minimum for a close-range scan (under 12 inches, such as a business card) is about 0.8 inches (2 cm) per side. Anything smaller risks failed scans on lower-end phones or in dim light. Most printers also struggle with module sizes below 0.4 mm.
Yes. The more data you encode, the denser the QR code becomes (more modules per side). Dense codes need to be physically larger to scan reliably. Keep encoded URLs short, or use a Link2QR static code that points to a short URL you control.
Use 300 DPI for offset or laser print, 600 DPI for very small codes (under 1 inch), and 150 DPI is acceptable for large-format signage or billboards. Always download from Link2QR as SVG when possible, since SVG is vector and scales to any DPI without quality loss.
For a billboard viewed from a car at 30 to 50 feet, the QR code should be 3 to 5 feet wide using the 10:1 rule, and you should use error correction level Q or H to survive distance, motion, and partial occlusion. Test from the actual viewing distance before printing.
Size is only one factor. Check contrast (dark code on light background, minimum 50% difference), the quiet zone (white margin around the code, at least 4 modules wide), error correction level (use H if you have a logo overlay), and module sharpness (avoid blur, fading, or low-DPI prints).
Link2QR · Free static QR code generator · Static vs dynamic · QR code expired? · Español