What is the minimum QR code size for printing?

The minimum recommended size is 2×2cm (about 0.8×0.8 inches) for handheld scanning at 30cm distance. Use the 10:1 rule: QR size should be at least 1/10th of the expected scanning distance.

What DPI should I use for printing QR codes?

Use 300 DPI for standard printing like business cards and flyers. For large format printing like banners and billboards, 72-150 DPI is sufficient. Screen display typically uses 72-96 DPI.

What is the quiet zone in a QR code?

The quiet zone is the white border around a QR code. ISO standard requires at least 4 modules of quiet zone. Without adequate quiet zone, scanners may fail to detect the QR code boundaries.

How does scanning distance affect QR code size?

The 10:1 rule states that a QR code should be at least 1/10th of the scanning distance. For example, if people will scan from 1 meter away, the QR code should be at least 10cm wide.

What size should my QR code be?

The minimum size depends on scanning distance. Use the 10:1 rule: divide the expected scanning distance by 10. For a 30 cm (1 ft) distance, the QR code should be at least 3 cm. For a poster scanned from 3 meters, at least 30 cm.

What DPI should I use for printing QR codes?

Use at least 300 DPI for standard printing. For large-format printing like banners and posters, 150 DPI is often sufficient since they are viewed from a distance.

Size Calculator

Calculate perfect QR size for reliable scanning at any distance

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10:1 Rule — Interactive

Minimum QR size = Scan distance ÷ 10. Slide to see the relationship.

Scan Distance: 1 m

10cm5m10m

10.0cm

Min QR Size

15.0cm

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Calculate Pixels from Print Size

Target Print Size

Print Resolution (DPI)

💡 300 DPI is standard for print. Use 72-96 for screens.

Preview (not to scale)

Results

591px

Required Size

33×33

14.41px

Per Module

100%

Scan Success

Estimated Scan Success Rate100%

Excellent module size (14.41px). QR code will scan reliably.

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Quick Reference

Use Case	Size	Distance	300 DPI
Business Card	20mm	30cm	236px
Product Label	25mm	40cm	295px
Flyer/Menu	30mm	50cm	354px
Small Poster	50mm	1m	591px
Large Poster	100mm	2m	1181px
Banner	200mm	5m	2362px

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QR Code Size Calculator

Calculate the ideal QR code size for any use case. Whether you're printing on business cards, posters, or billboards, this tool helps you determine the minimum size needed for reliable scanning at your expected distance.

The 10:1 Rule

The standard guideline is to divide the scanning distance by 10. A QR code scanned from 1 meter away should be at least 10 cm wide. This calculator accounts for data density, error correction, and material surface to give precise recommendations.

Material Presets

Business cards -- 2.5 cm minimum, 300+ DPI
Flyers & brochures -- 3 cm minimum, 300 DPI
Posters -- 10-15 cm, 150+ DPI
Banners & signage -- Scaled to viewing distance
Product labels -- 1.5 cm minimum with high error correction

Size Calculator

Quick Presets

Material Presets

10:1 Rule — Interactive

Calculate Pixels from Print Size

Results

Quick Reference

QR Generator

Quality Test

QR Decoder

QR Code Size Calculator

The 10:1 Rule

Material Presets

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