Static vs dynamic QR codes
A static QR code stores your link in the pattern itself. Nothing sits in between, so it keeps working for as long as the link does, with no subscription and no scan limit. That's what this tool makes.
A dynamic QR code stores a redirect link instead, run by the company that made it. You can change where it points and see scan counts, but if the subscription lapses or the company closes, every printed code stops working. Some free generators make dynamic codes and switch them off after a trial.
There's a middle path: make a static code that points to a page you control, like your own website or link-in-bio page. You can change what's on the page whenever you like, and the code never has to change.
Which error correction level to pick
QR codes repeat some of their data, so they still scan when part of the code is dirty, torn or covered. More repetition means more, smaller squares.
- Low (L): about 7% can be lost. The simplest pattern, fine for screens.
- Medium (M): about 15%. A good default for most print.
- Quartile (Q): about 25%. For stickers, packaging and outdoor signs that get scuffed.
- High (H): about 30%. Use it if you plan to put a small logo over the middle.
Colours that still scan
Phones look for contrast between the squares and the background. Keep the code dark and the background light: navy on white, or black on a pale brand colour, both work well. Avoid light codes on dark backgrounds, because some camera apps can't read inverted codes.
Keep the quiet zone, the blank border around the code, at 2 modules or more. Scanners use it to find the edges, and codes printed hard against a busy background often fail.
How big to print a QR code
A common rule of thumb is to make the code about a tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. A table card read from 30 cm can carry a 3 cm code; a poster read from 3 metres needs one about 30 cm wide.
Shorter content makes a simpler code. Fewer characters mean fewer, larger squares, which scan faster and from further away. If your link is long, strip the tracking tags or use a shorter page address first.
PNG or SVG?
Download a PNG for screens, slides and social posts. It's a picture at a fixed size, so pick the largest size you might need.
Download an SVG for print and design tools like Figma, Canva or Illustrator. It's drawn with shapes rather than pixels, so it stays sharp at any size, from a business card to a banner.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. They're static, so your link is stored in the code itself. As long as the page it points to exists, the code works, with no scan limits.
Can I change the link after printing?
Not in the code itself. If the destination might change, point the code at a page you can edit, like your own site, and update that page instead.
Can I use the codes commercially?
Yes. There's no watermark, no account and no limit, so you can put them on products, menus, flyers and packaging.
Why won't my QR code scan?
Usually it's low contrast, a missing quiet zone, or a code printed too small for the distance. Make the code darker than the background, keep a blank border around it, and print it bigger.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
You can, if you choose High error correction and keep the logo small, well under 30% of the code. Test it with a few different phones before you print.