QR Code Size and Viewing Distance Guide
Choose a practical QR code size for business cards, labels, posters and signage. Includes minimum sizes, viewing-distance rules and print-proof advice.
Start with the scanning distance
A QR code does not need to be large to work, but it must be large enough for the camera to resolve the modules. The simplest planning rule is to make the code at least one tenth of the expected scanning distance. A code scanned from 20 cm away should be about 2 cm wide; a code scanned from 2 metres away should be about 20 cm wide.
That rule is a starting point, not a guarantee. Camera quality, lighting, print sharpness and the density of the code all change the result. Dense codes with long URLs or high error correction need more space than short, simple codes.
- Business cards and shelf labels: 2 cm to 2.5 cm minimum.
- Table tents and menus: 3 cm to 5 cm.
- Posters viewed from 1 metre: 10 cm or more.
- Signage viewed from 3 metres: 30 cm or more.
Protect the quiet zone
The white border around a QR code is not decorative. Scanners use it to find the edges of the symbol. Cropping, framing or placing graphics against the code can make a perfectly good pattern unreadable.
Keep at least four modules of clear space on every side. If you add a printed border or place the code on a coloured background, make sure the border colour does not reduce the contrast between the modules and the background.
Test the exact printed piece
Screen previews are useful, but they are not proof. A code that scans on a bright monitor may fail on matt paper, textured card or a curved bottle. Print one proof at 100% scale, scan it with at least two phones, and check the exact destination or action.
If the proof fails, increase the size, simplify the content, reduce the logo, or move the code to a plainer surface before printing the full run.
Sources and methodology
This guide is based on QRKit's practical testing, public platform documentation, and common failure modes reported by users. Recommendations are conservative and should be tested on the exact devices, materials and print conditions you plan to use.