Guide
How to create a QR code
Making a QR code takes seconds. Making one that scans on every phone, from the right distance, for as long as it is printed, takes a few decisions more. Here they are.
Steps
- Choose what the code should do: open a link, WhatsApp, Wi-Fi, a contact card, an email, a call or a text.
- Enter the content and keep it as short as it can be.
- Check the preview for contrast: dark code on a light background.
- Download PNG for screens and SVG for print.
- Scan the final version with two different phones before printing it in bulk.
Pick the type by what should happen
A link code opens a page. A WhatsApp code opens a chat with your number and an optional message. A Wi-Fi code joins the network without typing the password. A contact card saves your name, phone and email in one tap; email, phone and SMS codes open a message or a call already filled in.
The shorter the content, the fewer squares in the code and the easier it scans. A long URL full of tracking parameters makes a dense code that struggles on small prints.
Size, contrast and margin
Make each side at least one tenth of the scanning distance: about 3 cm for a code read at 30 cm, about 20 cm for a poster read from 2 metres. Keep a blank margin around it, at least as wide as four of its small squares.
Use a dark code on a light background. Light codes on dark backgrounds and low-contrast brand colours fail on many phones. A logo in the middle works thanks to error correction, as long as it stays small.
Static codes do not expire
The codes made here are static: the content is inside the code itself, so it works forever, for free, with no account behind it. "Dynamic" codes from paid platforms point to a redirect on their server — convenient for changing the destination later, but the printed code stops working if the subscription ends.
If you may need to change the destination, point a static code at a page you control and change that page instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a QR code for free?
Yes. A static QR code costs nothing to make or use, and it does not depend on any account or subscription.
Does a QR code expire?
A static code never expires. It stops working only if what it points to disappears, such as a website that goes offline. Paid dynamic codes can stop when the subscription ends.
How big should a printed QR code be?
At least one tenth of the scanning distance on each side, with a blank margin around it. For a table card read up close, 3 cm is enough.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
PNG for screens, messages and documents. SVG for print shops and large formats, because it scales to any size without blurring.
Use the tool
Apply these steps directly in the browser.
QR Code Generator →