What size should a QR code be?
Short answer: at least 2 cm (0.8 in) for codes scanned up close, and about one tenth of the scanning distance for anything farther away. Here are examples and what else affects the size.
Updated October 8, 2026
The quick rule
Minimum: around 2 cm (0.8 in) wide for codes scanned from a few centimeters, like business cards or labels.
Distance rule: the code should be about 1/10 of the distance from which people will scan it. Read from 1 meter (3 ft), print it about 10 cm (4 in) wide; from 3 meters, about 30 cm.
Typical sizes
Business card or label: 2–2.5 cm (0.8–1 in). Flyer, invitation or table tent: 3–6 cm (1.2–2.4 in). Window or counter sign read from 1 m: about 10 cm (4 in). Poster read from 2 m: about 20 cm (8 in). Banner read from 5 m: about 50 cm (20 in).
What else affects the size
Content length: longer links and texts create denser codes with smaller squares, which need more size. Keep links short when you can.
Logo and style: a logo uses error correction and rounded or dotted styles reduce the solid area; print a bit larger if you use them. QRmora warns you when a design is risky.
Contrast and margin: dark code on a light background, and keep the white margin (quiet zone) around the code. Without it, phones may not detect the code.
Which file to use
SVG is a vector: it can be enlarged to any size without losing quality, which makes it the best choice for print shops, banners and signs.
PNG is an image: at 300 DPI, a 2048 px PNG prints sharp up to about 17 cm (6.8 in) wide. For bigger prints, use the SVG.
Test before printing
Print one copy at the final size, scan it from the real distance and in the real light, with an iPhone and an Android phone. It costs minutes and avoids reprinting a whole batch.