The 10:1 rule
For any QR code, the rough rule is: minimum size = scan distance ÷ 10. A poster on a wall 2 meters from the viewer needs at least a 20 cm QR. A table tent meant to be scanned from arm’s length (~40 cm) is fine at 4 cm. Always round up — there’s no cost to being a little bigger, but every cost to being too small.
Resolution & file format
For print, use SVG whenever possible — it’s vector, so the dots stay perfectly sharp at any size. If SVG isn’t supported by your tool, use PNG at 300 DPI minimum, sized to the final print dimensions. A 5 cm printed QR at 300 DPI = ~590 px. Anything less, and the dots get fuzzy.
- SVG: best for print — vector, infinitely scalable
- PNG @ 300 DPI: safe for posters, brochures, packaging
- PNG @ 150 DPI: ok for newspapers and large signage
- Never resize a PNG up — always re-export from the source
Paper, finish, and surface
Matte paper is the QR-printer’s best friend. Glossy and laminated surfaces produce glare that can defeat camera autofocus. Embossed, textured, or uncoated craft paper can also lower scan reliability. If you have to print on a shiny surface, ask the printer for a satin or soft-touch laminate instead of high gloss.
Quiet zone is non-negotiable
A QR needs a white border around it (4 modules wide minimum). Designers love filling that whitespace, but scanners need it to detect where the code ends. If your QR is 4 cm wide, leave ~0.5–1 cm of clean white space around it.
Always run a press proof
Scan a printed proof from your actual print run before going full production. Ink coverage, paper absorption, and even printer color profiles can shift contrast in ways that look fine on screen but break scanning in real life.
- SVG for print — always when possible
- PNG @ 300 DPI is the safe fallback
- Matte paper scans 2–3× more reliably than glossy
- Keep the white quiet zone — don’t let designers fill it
- Always scan a printed proof before mass production
A QR that survives the print shop has to be designed for paper — not just for screens.