QR Code Size Guide
The right QR size depends on scan distance, print quality, contrast, and how much data is inside the code. Larger is safer, especially for posters and table signs.
Written and reviewed by LaunchLab · Updated September 13, 2026
| Print use | Starting size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business card | 0.8 in / 20 mm | Use a short URL and keep margin around the code. |
| Flyer | 1.2 in / 30 mm | Good for hand-held scanning. |
| Restaurant table sign | 1.6 in / 40 mm | Test under room lighting and avoid glare. |
| Poster | 4 in / 100 mm | Increase size as viewing distance grows. |
Size is a system, not a single measurement
The printed width must work together with scan distance, module density, contrast, surface, lighting, and camera angle. A short URL produces a simpler pattern than a long tracking URL. If both are printed at the same width, the simpler pattern gives each module more physical space.
Quick rule
Start with a QR width around one-tenth of the expected scanning distance, then test the final printed material.
Treat the one-to-ten relationship as a starting estimate, not a production guarantee. A code intended for a 2 meter scan might begin around 20 centimeters wide, then increase if the destination is dense, the sign is glossy, the viewer approaches at an angle, or the lighting is inconsistent.
Measure the complete code
Include the quiet zone when reserving layout space. Do not crop the light margin or let text, borders, photography, or folds enter it. If a printer asks for only the black patterned area, clarify that the surrounding clear zone is functional, not decorative.
| Condition | Why it matters | Safer response |
|---|---|---|
| Long URL or vCard | Creates more modules | Shorten content or print larger |
| Center logo | Covers recoverable data | Use high correction and increase size |
| Gloss or glass | Reflections hide modules | Use matte treatment or test multiple angles |
| Curved container | Distorts the square grid | Use the flattest area and increase size |
| Distant poster | Camera receives fewer pixels per module | Calculate from realistic viewing distance |
What changes the safe size?
Long URLs, low contrast, glossy paper, curved surfaces, and logos inside the code all make scanning harder. When any of those apply, print larger than the starting size and test the final material with more than one phone.
Proof at actual size
Disable “fit to page” when printing a proof. Measure the result with a ruler, then scan it from the expected position using more than one phone. For a large sign, tile a draft or print a representative code section at production scale before approving expensive output.
Related QR guides
See material-specific risks in the print materials guide, then use the testing checklist. For branded designs, read the error correction guide.