QR codes that scan every time

Most failed QR codes break one of a handful of rules. Check these before you print.

Last reviewed October 14, 2026.

1. Dark on light, with strong contrast

Phones look for dark squares on a light background. Black on white is safest; any dark colour on a light one works if the contrast is strong. Light-on-dark ("inverted") codes are read by newer phones but not by many older scanners and apps. The generator warns you when contrast is too low or the colours are inverted.

2. Keep the quiet zone

The blank border around a code is part of it: scanners use it to find where the code starts. The standard is 4 modules (the code's small squares) on every side. Don't let text, images or the edge of the paper crowd it.

3. Make it big enough

Roughly one tenth of the scanning distance, and bigger for long content. See what size a QR code should be for a table.

4. Keep the content short

Every character adds modules, making each one smaller at the same print size. Link to a short page on your own site rather than a long address with many parameters.

5. Choose error correction for the setting

Medium suits most uses. Choose quartile or high for codes that will get scuffed, wet, dirty or partly covered: outdoors, on floors, on packaging that travels. Higher levels make denser codes, so balance this against size.

6. Go easy with logos and styles

A logo hides part of the code; error correction rebuilds what's missing, but only up to a point. Keep logos modest, and keep them in the middle, away from the three corner squares phones use to find the code. Dots and rounded styles work when done properly. This site keeps the alignment and timing patterns solid whatever the style, because breaking those up stops codes scanning.

7. Mind the surface

• Glossy lamination and screens reflect light and wash out the code. Matte finishes scan better.
• Curved surfaces (bottles, cups) distort the grid. Keep codes small relative to the curve, or put them on a flat label.
• Textured materials like fabric and corrugated card blur edges. Print larger.

8. Never stretch or squash it

A QR code must stay square. Resize it evenly, and use the SVG so edges stay crisp at any size.

9. Tell people what it does

A short label like "Scan for the menu" or "Scan to join our WiFi" makes more people scan, and helps them trust it. The generator's frame option adds one.

10. Test the real print

Print one at final size, put it where it will go, and scan it with a couple of different phones from where people will stand. Then check it now and then: in public places, scammers sometimes stick their own codes over real ones. The QR code scanner shows exactly where a code leads.