To make a QR code, enter the link or text you want to share into a QR code generator, download the image, and place it where people can scan it with a phone camera. Most phones read QR codes straight from the built-in camera app, with no extra software.
Our free QR code generator turns any URL or text into a static QR code, lets you set the size and colors, and gives you an SVG file that stays sharp at any print size. The code is built on our server without calling any outside image service, so what you type isn't sent to anyone else.
How QR codes work
QR stands for "quick response". Denso Wave created the format in 1994 to track automotive parts, and it is now defined by the international standard ISO/IEC 18004. A QR code is a square grid of black and white squares called modules. The three large squares in the corners are finder patterns that tell a scanner where the code is and which way up it sits.
Codes come in 40 sizes, called versions. Version 1 is a 21 × 21 grid and version 40 is 177 × 177. The more data you encode, the higher the version and the denser the grid.
Error correction levels
QR codes store extra recovery data so they still scan when part of the code is dirty, scratched or covered. The standard defines four levels:
| Level | Approximate damage it can recover from |
|---|---|
| L (Low) | About 7% of the code |
| M (Medium) | About 15% |
| Q (Quartile) | About 25% |
| H (High) | About 30% |
Our generator uses level M, a common balance between toughness and data capacity.
How much data a QR code can hold
At its largest version and lowest error correction, a QR code holds up to 7,089 numeric digits, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, or 2,953 bytes of other data. Real codes should hold far less. Every extra character adds modules, and dense codes are harder to scan from a screen or at a distance. Our generator accepts up to 2,000 bytes. Accented letters and emoji take several bytes each, so they use up that limit faster than plain letters.
What you can put in a QR code
A QR code stores text. Phones recognize certain text formats and offer an action, such as opening a website or joining a Wi-Fi network.
| Content | What to type | What the phone does |
|---|---|---|
| Website | https://example.com/menu |
Opens the page |
mailto:hello@example.com |
Starts a new email to that address | |
| Phone call | tel:+15551234567 |
Offers to dial the number |
| Text message | sms:+15551234567 |
Opens a new message to the number |
| Wi-Fi network | WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeGuest;P:coffee2go;; |
Offers to join the network |
| Location | geo:40.7128,-74.0060 |
Opens a maps app on many phones |
| Plain text | Table 12 |
Shows the text |
Example: a Wi-Fi QR code for guests
Say your guest network is called CafeGuest, uses WPA2 and has the password coffee2go. Type this into the generator:
WIFI:T:WPA;S:CafeGuest;P:coffee2go;;T is the security type (use WPA for WPA and WPA2 networks), S is the network name and P is the password. If the name or password contains ;, ,, :, " or \, put a backslash in front of that character. Print the code by the counter, and guests join by pointing their camera at it. Anyone who can see the code can read the password, so use a separate guest network. If you need a new guest password, the password generator creates one, and our guide on how to create a strong password explains the length to aim for.
How to use the QR Code Generator
- Open the QR Code Generator.
- Type or paste your link or text into the Content field. It takes several lines, so multi-line payloads such as a vCard contact card can be pasted as they are.
- Enter a Size (px) between 50 and 500.
- Pick a Foreground Color for the modules and a Background Color behind them.
- Check the preview, which updates as you type, and scan it with your own phone.
- Click Download SVG to save the code as
qrcode.svg. SVG is a vector format, so it prints sharply on a business card or a poster.
Tips for QR codes that scan every time
- Keep dark modules on a light background. Some scanners struggle with inverted (light on dark) or low-contrast codes. Check your color pair in the color contrast checker and aim for a strong contrast ratio.
- Leave a clear margin. The standard calls for a quiet zone four modules wide around the code. The downloaded SVG already includes that border in your background color, so do not crop it or place other content inside it.
- Size it for the scanning distance. A common rule of thumb is to make the code at least one tenth as wide as the distance people will scan it from. A poster read from 2 meters away needs a code about 20 cm wide.
- Keep the content short. A short URL makes a simpler, more reliable code. A clean path like
/menubeats a long link full of tracking parameters. Our guide to writing short, readable URL slugs helps here, and the slug generator creates them. - Test before you print. Scan the final file with at least two different phones, in the lighting where it will be used.
- Print a code you can live with. These are static codes: the content is built into the pattern and can't be edited later. If a link might change, point the code at a page on your own site that you can redirect.
- Tell people what they'll get. A short label such as "Scan for the menu" builds trust. Criminals stick fake QR codes over real ones to send people to phishing pages, so check public codes regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes expire?
Static QR codes, like the ones our generator makes, never expire because the content is stored in the code itself. A code only stops working if the page or service it points to goes away.
Can I track how many people scan my QR code?
Not with a static code, because scanning it doesn't contact any server. To count visits, add campaign parameters to the URL and measure them in your website analytics.
Can I change a QR code after printing it?
No. The content is built into the printed pattern. Point the code at a URL you control, then change where that URL redirects if you need to update it later.
How much data can a QR code hold?
The QR standard allows up to 7,089 digits, 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 bytes in the largest code. Our generator accepts up to 2,000 bytes, but codes scan best when they hold a short URL or a line of text.
What size should a printed QR code be?
Make it at least one tenth as wide as the scanning distance, as a rule of thumb. About 2 cm wide works for a business card held in the hand, while a poster read from across a room needs a much larger code.
Why won't my QR code scan?
The usual causes are low contrast between the colors, too little blank margin, a code printed too small, or too much content making the grid dense. Use dark modules on a light background, add space around the code, and shorten the content.