QR code for flyers and posters
A flyer or poster QR should offer a clear action: view a programme, open a page or contact your business. Size, distance, contrast and print material affect reading. Create your free QR, discuss SVG or PDF with your printer and scan a proof at its final size. For a link, the destination page must remain available after distribution.
Customize QR
A QR code carries redundancy: the reader rebuilds modules that are stained, creased or hidden. The higher the level, the more damage it takes, but the bigger the code gets. At the same print size, each module therefore becomes smaller.
- L · 7 %
- screen, long content
- M · 15 %
- default, everyday printing
- Q · 25 %
- kitchen, workshop, outdoors
- H · 30 %
- center logo, exposed label
Fill in the form to generate your QR code.
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1. Host the target page and copy the URL
Your QR encodes a URL: it must be stable and under your control. Avoid linking to Facebook events or Instagram posts that may disappear. Prefer a page on your own website, a Google Business profile, or a PDF on your own hosting.
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2. Size the QR for the reading distance
A practical rule: the minimum printed QR size should be 1/10th of the maximum reading distance. For a hand-held flyer (distance ≈ 12 inches), 1.2×1.2 inches is enough. For a wall poster read from 3 feet, aim for at least 4×4 inches. For a window display seen from 6 feet, at least 8×8 inches.
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3. Download as SVG or PDF
Never export as PNG for print: pixels show at high resolution. SVG or vector PDF stays sharp at any size. Leave a quiet zone (white margin) of at least 4 modules around the QR. Without it, scanners struggle to locate the boundaries of the code.
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4. Test under real conditions
Print a test copy and scan from the intended distance with both an iPhone and an Android. Check that contrast holds on paper (colors often darken slightly in offset print). If the scan fails, increase the size or improve the contrast.
Can this QR code expire after the event date shown on the flyer?
The QR itself never expires: it encodes the URL directly with no middleman server. However, if the web page you linked is deleted or moved after the event, the link will break. That's why it's better to point to a URL you control rather than a social media post.
What minimum size do I need for a standard letter-size flyer?
For a hand-held letter-size flyer, 1.2×1.2 inches is a minimum. Below that, scanning becomes unreliable on older phones. Aim for 1.6–2 inches square to ensure fast scanning in all conditions.
Can I print a QR on a colored or dark background?
Technically yes, but contrast between the background and the modules must remain strong. Dark modules on a light background is the most reliable combination. Inverting (light modules on a dark background) causes some scanners to fail. Use the contrast checker in the generator.
Why did the QR codes on my old flyers stop working?
You likely generated dynamic QRs through a free-trial service: the QR pointed to their redirect server, and they disabled the service after 30 or 90 days. The static QRs generated here point directly to your URL: no redirect, no third-party service.