QR code size calculator
Enter how far away people will scan from and what the code holds. You get the smallest width that scans reliably.
Print it at least
10 cm · 3.94 in
- Keep 1.6 cm (0.63 in) of clear space on every side.
- At 300 dpi that is 1182 × 1182 px.
- 25 × 25 modules
A rule of thumb, not a guarantee: print one copy at this size and scan it from the real distance before the full run.
Make a QR codeHow the calculator works
It starts from the common rule that a simple QR code should be about one tenth as wide as the scanning distance. A simple code here means 25 × 25 modules, which is what a short link gives. Longer content makes more modules, so each one gets smaller, and the calculator scales the width up to keep every module the same size.
A logo switches the code to the highest error correction, which adds modules. Photos and AI art lower the contrast, so they get a third more room. No result goes below 2 cm, or 3 cm for picture codes.
What else decides whether it scans
Size is only one part. Keep strong contrast, dark squares on a light background; leave the margin the calculator shows; print vector files (SVG, PDF or EPS) so edges stay sharp; and avoid glossy surfaces and tight curves. Light, camera quality and how steady people hold their phones all vary, so test a real print from the real distance.
Questions
Less data means fewer modules. A dynamic code only holds a short link, so it can be printed smaller than a code holding a long address.
Not for scanning from far away, but the whole code has to fit in the camera view, so a huge code is hard to scan from close by.
For print, 300 pixels per inch at the final size. The calculator shows that number; for print, a vector file avoids the question entirely.