QR Code Size for Printing
Most failed scans in the wild come down to size and contrast, not the code itself. These are the rules of thumb that keep printed codes reliable.
The 10:1 distance rule
A QR code should be roughly one tenth as wide as the distance it will be scanned from. Read from 30 cm (a table card) it needs about 3 cm. From 2 m (a window poster) about 20 cm. From 10 m (a billboard) about 1 m.
Minimum practical size
Do not go below about 2 cm square for print, even for short links. Denser content — vCards, long URLs, paragraphs of text — needs more room because each module gets smaller at a fixed overall size.
Resolution and file format
- Aim for about 300 dpi at the final size: 3 cm ≈ 350 px, 10 cm ≈ 1200 px
- Export SVG or PDF when the printer can take vectors — no resolution limit at all
- Never upscale a small PNG; regenerate at a higher resolution instead
Quiet zone and contrast
Keep a clear margin of at least four modules around the code — that empty border is what lets scanners find the pattern. Keep the code clearly darker than its background, and avoid printing it across a fold, a seam or a glossy curve.
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