QR code size calculator
How big to print a QR code depends on two things: how far away people stand and how much data is inside. Enter both and get the minimum size, the quiet zone and the pixel dimensions for print.
Print the code at least
10.0 cm wide
- 0 × 0 modules · each ≈ 100.00 mm
- Plus a quiet zone of Infinity cm on every side
- ∞ px image width at 300 dpi (including margin)
Set by the 10:1 distance rule: 100.0 cm away ÷ 10.
The two limits on size
Distance. A phone camera needs the code to fill enough of the frame. The industry rule of thumb is a 10:1 ratio of scan distance to code width. It's a ratio, so it scales: 30 cm away needs 3 cm, 3 m away needs 30 cm.
Density. The code is a grid of modules, and the grid grows with the data. A 20-character URL at level M makes a 25 × 25 grid; a full vCard can pass 60 × 60. For a camera to resolve each module it needs roughly 0.4 mm or more, so a dense code has a larger minimum even when scanned from close up. Type a longer URL into the calculator and watch the minimum climb.
The cheapest fix for a code that must be small is shorter content: use a short domain or path instead of a long tracking URL. See why in how QR codes work.
Quick reference (short URL, level M)
| Where | Scan distance | Minimum width |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, label | up to 20 cm | 2 cm (0.8 in) |
| Flyer, menu, table tent | 30–50 cm | 3–5 cm |
| Poster on a wall | 1–2 m | 10–20 cm |
| Shop window | 3 m | 30 cm |
| Billboard | 20 m | 2 m |