Reference guide · 12 use cases

QR Code Size Guide — Perfect Dimensions for Every Use Case

How big should a QR code be? Exact pixels, centimeters, inches and DPI for business cards, flyers, posters, billboards, product packaging, restaurant menus and more.

10:1

The 10:1 distance-to-size rule

A QR code should be at least 1/10 the size of the farthest expected scanning distance. Example: if people will scan from 2 meters away, the QR must be at least 20 cm wide. From 50 m (billboard), at least 5 m.

12 common use cases & their ideal QR size

1

Business cards

Distance:
Few inches (close-up)
Size:
2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8")
Pixels:
240 × 240 px @ 300 DPI
Tips
  • Ensure clear space around the code
  • Maintain high contrast
  • Avoid overcrowding the code with data
2

Product packaging & labels

Distance:
Few inches to arm’s length
Size:
1 × 1 cm to 2 × 2 cm (0.4 – 0.8")
Pixels:
120 × 120 to 240 × 240 px @ 300 DPI
Tips
  • Avoid reflective or curved surfaces
  • Use high print quality
  • Preserve a proper quiet zone around the code
3

Flyers, brochures & magazines

Distance:
Arm’s length (30–70 cm / 1–2.5 ft)
Size:
2 × 2 cm to 3 × 3 cm (0.8–1.2")
Pixels:
240 × 240 to 360 × 360 px @ 300 DPI
Tips
  • Avoid placing QR codes near folds or edges
  • Use high-resolution images for print
  • Include a clear call to action next to the code
4

Posters & indoor signage

Distance:
1 – 3 meters (3 – 10 ft)
Size:
10 × 10 cm to 30 × 30 cm (4 – 12")
Pixels:
1200 × 1200 to 3600 × 3600 px @ 300 DPI
Tips
  • Place in visible, high-traffic areas
  • Maximize color contrast
  • Keep a wide quiet zone
5

Digital signage & presentations

Distance:
1 – 6 meters (3 – 20 ft)
Size:
5 × 5 cm to 60 × 60 cm on screen
Pixels:
At least 300 × 300 px for presentations
Tips
  • Use high pixel-density images
  • Ensure good contrast against background
  • Avoid cluttered or busy backgrounds
6

Billboards & outdoor advertising

Distance:
10 – 50 meters (30 – 160 ft)
Size:
1 × 1 m to 5 × 5 m (3.2 – 16 ft)
Pixels:
500 × 500 px minimum (use SVG for print)
Tips
  • Follow the 10:1 distance-to-size rule
  • Use vector SVG format for print clarity
  • Mount signage at an accessible height
7

Event tickets

Distance:
Few inches (close-up)
Size:
Small to medium, depends on format
Pixels:
256, 512, 1024, 2048 or 4K options
Tips
  • Ensure readability despite logos or custom color
  • Test thoroughly before deployment
  • Use error correction level H if adding a logo
8

Restaurant menus

Distance:
Few inches
Size:
2 × 2 cm to 5 × 5 cm (0.8 – 2")
Pixels:
240 × 240 px minimum @ 300 DPI
Tips
  • Use laminated cards sized 3.5" × 5" or 5" × 7"
  • Make sure guests can scan quickly and easily
  • Keep the destination URL short
9

Manufacturing labels

Distance:
Few inches
Size:
Varies — minimum 12 mm for simple codes
Pixels:
Varies — 150 px minimum
Tips
  • Support large data capacities (up to 3,000 characters)
  • Avoid blurry prints
  • Prioritize contrast for quick scanning
10

Educational materials

Distance:
Close-up to arm’s length
Size:
Varies by placement (handout vs wall poster)
Pixels:
240 × 240 px @ 300 DPI for handouts
Tips
  • Use URL shorteners to reduce data complexity
  • Design for visibility based on environment
  • Pair with a short caption or CTA
11

Real estate signs

Distance:
Medium to long distance
Size:
4.75" × 4.75" to 7.75" × 7.75"
Pixels:
1425 × 1425 to 2325 × 2325 px @ 300 DPI
Tips
  • Apply decals to existing signage
  • Test for scannability at typical viewing distances
  • Ensure landing pages are mobile-optimized
12

Hospital patient wristbands

Distance:
Close-up
Size:
Small to medium, at least 2 cm wide
Pixels:
240 × 240 px minimum @ 300 DPI
Tips
  • Ensure clear readability at all times
  • Prioritize patient safety and scanning reliability
  • Use high error correction level

DPI reference

Dots-Per-Inch controls how sharp your QR looks when printed. Convert from physical size to pixels: pixels = inches × DPI

72–96 DPI
Digital screens
Websites, emails, app screens, social media
300 DPI
Standard print
Business cards, flyers, menus, product labels
600 DPI
High-end print
Magazines, premium brochures, luxury packaging

8 common mistakes to avoid

Making the QR too small — stays under the 10:1 rule (scanning distance ÷ 10) means your 20 cm QR works up to 2 m away, not 20 m
Using low contrast — light-gray on white, or pale colors on busy photos won’t scan reliably
Removing the quiet zone — QR codes need ~2 modules of blank space around them (about 10% of the code width)
Inverting dark/light — most scanners expect dark modules on a light background; inverted codes can fail on older phones
Printing on reflective or curved surfaces without testing — glossy stickers, aluminum cans, and spherical packaging distort the pattern
Compressing or resizing the final image after export — always generate at the exact pixel size you need, or export as SVG for perfect scaling
Overcrowding with data — the more characters you encode, the denser the QR becomes and the larger it needs to be printed to scan
Skipping real-world testing — always scan from the actual intended distance with multiple phones before mass-printing

Ready to make a correctly-sized QR?

QR Sizer has print presets from 0.5" to 5 cm plus digital sizes up to 2048 px — pre-calculated at 300 DPI so you can skip the math.