The Golden Rule
Scannability comes first. Every design decision — color, size, shape, logo — must be tested for scannability before going to print.
A QR code that looks great but fails to scan is worse than no QR code at all.
Color and Contrast
QR scanners rely on the contrast between dark modules (foreground) and light modules (background) to detect the code.
Do
- ✓Dark foreground on light background
- ✓Minimum 40% contrast difference
- ✓Black on white (safest choice)
- ✓Dark blue, dark green, or dark red on white
- ✓Test on multiple devices after coloring
Don't
- ✗Light foreground on dark background (inverted)
- ✗Yellow on white or light on light
- ✗Gradient colors across modules
- ✗Red on green (colorblind-unfriendly)
- ✗Transparent backgrounds on busy surfaces
Inverted QR codes are risky
Size and Print Guidelines
The minimum size depends on the scanning distance. Use the 10:1 rule as a starting point: for every 10 units of scanning distance, the QR code should be at least 1 unit in size.
| Use Case | Scan Distance | Min QR Size | Recommended DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 15–30 cm | 2 × 2 cm | 300+ |
| Product label | 15–30 cm | 2.5 × 2.5 cm | 300+ |
| Flyer / A4 poster | 30–60 cm | 3 × 3 cm | 300 |
| Table tent / menu | 30–50 cm | 3 × 3 cm | 300 |
| A3 poster | 1–2 m | 10 × 10 cm | 150–300 |
| Banner / sign | 3–5 m | 30 × 30 cm | 72–150 |
| Billboard | 10+ m | 1 × 1 m+ | 72 |
Quiet Zone
The quiet zone is the mandatory blank margin surrounding the QR code. Per the ISO 18004 standard, it must be at least 4 modules wide on all sides.
Without an adequate quiet zone, scanners may fail to detect where the QR code ends and the background begins.
Key Insight
Logo Placement
Adding a logo to the center of a QR code is popular for branding, but it must be done carefully. The logo physically obscures data modules, so the QR code relies on error correction to remain readable.
Logo best practices
Dot Styles
Modern QR generators (including ours) offer alternative module shapes: rounded squares, circles, and other patterns. These can make a QR code more visually appealing, but keep these rules in mind:
- Finder patterns should remain square — altering them can prevent detection.
- Rounded modules are safe — small border-radius values do not affect scannability.
- Circular dots work well — but test at your target print size, as very small circles may blur together.
- Avoid extreme styling — modules shaped as stars, hearts, or complex shapes reduce reliability.
Export Format
| Format | Best For | Scalable? |
|---|---|---|
| SVG | Print (any size), professional design | Infinitely |
| PNG | Web, email, social media | No (raster) |
| Print documents, professional materials | Yes (vector) |
Always use SVG for print
Design Checklist
- Dark foreground on light background with 40%+ contrast
- Quiet zone of at least 4 modules on all sides
- Minimum 2 cm for close-range, 10:1 ratio for distance
- Logo covers no more than 30% with error correction H
- Finder patterns are unmodified squares
- Exported in SVG for print, PNG for digital
- Tested on 3+ devices at the target distance and angle
- Includes a clear call-to-action text near the QR code
Design your QR code
Custom colors, logo upload, dot styles, and SVG/PNG/PDF export — all free.