What is the smallest size a QR code can be printed?

Around 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 in) for a short URL scanned up close. Smaller codes can work with very little data and high-quality printing, but they are less reliable.

How big should a QR code be on a poster?

Use the 10:1 rule. For a poster read from 2 metres away, make the code about 20 cm wide.

Is SVG or PNG better for printing QR codes?

SVG. It is a vector format, so it prints perfectly sharp at any size. Use PNG for websites, email and social media.

What Size Should a QR Code Be? Print Size Guide

Minimum QR code print sizes for business cards, flyers, posters and signs, plus the 10:1 distance rule, quiet zone and best file format.

By the QR Vibe teamUpdated 26 October 2026 5 min read

The quick rule: 10:1

A reliable rule of thumb is that a QR code should be at least one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. If people will scan from 1 metre away, make the code at least 10 cm wide. If they will scan from 30 cm (a menu on a table), 3 cm is enough. In imperial units, a code scanned from 3 feet away should be roughly 3.6 inches wide.

This rule assumes a reasonably simple code. Dense codes with a lot of data need extra size, so keep URLs short where you can.

Recommended minimum sizes

These sizes work well for a short URL with good contrast:

Business card: 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 in) minimum, 2.5 cm is more comfortable.
Flyer or leaflet (A5 / half letter): 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in).
Restaurant table tent or menu: 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in).
Product packaging: at least 2 cm, larger if the surface is curved.
A3 / tabloid poster read from 1 to 2 m: 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in).
Window sign or banner read from across the street: 50 cm or more.

Don't forget the quiet zone

The QR code standard asks for a blank margin, called the quiet zone, around the code. It should be about four modules wide (a module is one of the small squares). Without it, the scanner can confuse the edges of the code with nearby text or graphics.

In practice, leave a white border roughly 10 to 15 percent of the code's width on every side, and do not place the code right against the edge of a card or a busy background photo.

Why data length changes the size you need

QR codes come in versions from 1 (21 x 21 modules) to 40 (177 x 177 modules). The more data you encode, the higher the version and the smaller each module becomes at a given print size. Small modules are harder for a camera to resolve, especially in dim light or from an angle.

A short URL usually fits in version 2 to 4. A full vCard with address, several phone numbers and a long job title can reach version 10 or higher. For business cards, include only the details people actually need.

Best file format for printing

Use SVG (vector) for anything that goes to a professional printer. Vector files stay perfectly sharp at any size, from a business card to a building banner. Most design tools, including Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Affinity, Figma and Canva, accept SVG.

If you must use a raster image, export a large PNG (at least 1000 px wide for small print, 2000 px or more for posters) and never enlarge a small PNG, because the edges will blur.

Print checklist

Before you send a file to print, run through this list:

Dark code on a light background with strong contrast. Avoid light-on-dark unless you have tested it widely.
Quiet zone of white space around the code.
Short URL, ideally with UTM tags for tracking.
Test-scan the final artwork with both an iPhone and an Android phone, at the real distance and lighting.
Avoid glossy laminate in direct light, which can cause glare.
Add a short call to action such as 'Scan to see the menu' so people know what they will get.