What Size Should a QR Code Be? A Print Sizing Guide

Updated June 2026 · ~4 min read

A QR code only works if a camera can resolve its squares. Print it too small and phones struggle; size it right and it scans on the first try. The good news is the rule is simple.

The 10:1 distance rule

As a rough guide, a code should be about one-tenth of the scanning distance. If people scan from 30 cm away (a card in the hand), roughly 3 cm is plenty. From 3 metres (a poster), aim for about 30 cm.

Practical minimums

• Business cards: 2–2.5 cm.
• Flyers and menus: 2.5–4 cm.
• Posters: 8–15 cm depending on viewing distance.
• Billboards: scale up with distance — think tens of centimetres or more.

Other things that affect scannability

Keep a clear margin (the ‘quiet zone’) around the code, maintain strong dark-on-light contrast, and avoid stretching it out of square. Download the SVG from any of our tools so the code stays razor-sharp at any size — unlike a small PNG, which can blur when enlarged. See SVG vs PNG vs PDF for which format to pick.

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