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QR Code Data Capacity Calculator

Calculate how much data a QR code can hold based on version, error correction level, and encoding mode. Based on ISO/IEC 18004:2015.

1Version 1040

Max Characters

213

Byte mode

Max Bytes

213

~0.2 KB

Module Grid

57×57

3,249 modules

Error Correction

M

15% recovery

Understanding the numbers

  • Numeric: digits only (0-9). Most efficient encoding.
  • Alphanumeric: uppercase A-Z, digits 0-9, and symbols $ % * + - . / : space.
  • Byte: any character in ISO 8859-1. Covers standard Latin text, URLs, and most common content.
  • Kanji: double-byte characters from JIS X 0208.

Higher error correction allows more damage recovery but reduces data capacity. For typical use, Medium (M) with Byte encoding is recommended.

Capacity by Version (EC Level: M, Mode: Byte)

VersionModulesCapacity
121×2114
537×3784
1057×57213
1577×77412
2097×97666
25117×117997
30137×1371,370
35157×1571,809
40177×1772,331

How Much Data Can a QR Code Hold?

QR codes are defined by the ISO/IEC 18004:2015 standard. The maximum data capacity depends on three factors: version (size of the code), error correction level (how much damage the code can survive), and encoding mode (type of data stored).

Quick Reference

  • Maximum numeric capacity: 7,089 characters (Version 40, EC Level L)
  • Maximum alphanumeric capacity: 4,296 characters
  • Maximum byte capacity: 2,953 bytes (~2.9 KB)
  • Practical limit for URLs: ~200-300 characters (Version 5-7 with Medium EC)

Version vs. Scannability Trade-off

Higher versions hold more data but produce denser codes that are harder to scan, especially on small prints or at a distance. For most practical applications:

  • Version 1-7: ideal for URLs, short text, and contact info
  • Version 8-15: suitable for longer content, vCards, and structured data
  • Version 16-25: for large text blocks or encoded files (requires good print quality)
  • Version 26-40: maximum capacity, but impractical for most real-world scanning scenarios

Use the QR Size Calculator to determine the minimum physical size needed for reliable scanning.

Error Correction Explained

QR codes use Reed-Solomon error correction. Higher levels can recover from more damage but reduce the available data capacity:

  • Level L (Low): recovers up to 7% damage. Maximum capacity.
  • Level M (Medium): recovers up to 15%. Best general-purpose choice.
  • Level Q (Quartile): recovers up to 25%. Good for industrial or outdoor use.
  • Level H (High): recovers up to 30%. Required when adding logo overlays.

Learn more about error correction in our QR Code Error Correction guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much data can a QR code hold?

At maximum (Version 40, EC Level L), a QR code holds 7,089 numeric characters or 2,953 bytes. In practice, most QR codes are Version 5-10 and hold 100-400 characters — enough for URLs and contact information.

Can a QR code store an image or PDF?

Not practically. Even the largest QR code (Version 40) holds only about 2.9 KB — far too small for images or documents. Instead, use our Photo QR Code Generator or PDF QR Code Generator to link to hosted files.

What version does a typical URL QR code use?

A standard URL (40-80 characters) typically results in a Version 3-5 QR code with Medium error correction — small and easy to scan.

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