Printing

QR code size for printing: minimum sizes and scanning distance

Updated October 29, 2026 · 2 min read

The 10:1 rule

Phones can read a QR code when it fills enough of the camera view. In practice that works out to roughly 1 cm of code for every 10 cm of distance. It’s a rule of thumb, not a law — good light and a simple code do better, small dense codes do worse — but it’s a safe starting point.

Size chart

Where	Scanning distance	Minimum code width
Business card, packaging, label	15–25 cm	2–2.5 cm (0.8–1 in)
Table tent, menu, flyer	30–40 cm	3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in)
Counter sign, A4 poster	1 m	10 cm (4 in)
Shop window	1.5–2 m	15–20 cm (6–8 in)
Large poster, banner	3 m	30 cm (12 in)
Billboard, building	10 m	1 m (40 in)

What else decides whether it scans

• How much data is inside. A long link needs more squares, so each square gets smaller at the same print size. Dynamic codes encode a short link and stay readable at smaller sizes.
• The quiet zone. Leave an empty margin around the code at least four squares wide. Text or artwork touching the code is a common reason for failures.
• Contrast. Dark code on a light background. Avoid light-on-dark, gradients that fade out, and busy photos behind the code.
• The surface. Gloss and lamination reflect store lights. Curved bottles and cans distort the pattern — go bigger on curves.
• File quality. Send an SVG (vector) file to the printer. A small PNG stretched to poster size turns blurry.

Before you print 1,000 copies

1. Print one proof at the final size.
2. Scan it from the real distance with two different phones, in the real light.
3. Use a dynamic code, so a broken or outdated link is a quick fix rather than a reprint.

myQR exports SVG on every plan and checks each design with a QR reader before you download, so you start from a file that scans.

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