QR Code Generator

A QR code generator turns a web address, a message or contact details into a square barcode that anyone can scan with a phone camera. Our free tool creates QR codes for URLs, plain text, Wi-Fi networks, email, phone calls, SMS messages and vCard contacts. You can choose the foreground and background colours, size, margin and error-correction level, then download the code as a PNG or SVG. The codes are static: the information is stored inside the code itself, so they never expire, never stop working if a subscription lapses, and do not track the people who scan them.

How to use the QR code generator

1. 1 Choose what the code should doPick URL, plain text, Wi-Fi, email, phone, SMS or vCard contact. Each type has its own simple form.
2. 2 Fill in the detailsEnter the web address, network name and password, phone number or contact details. For UK numbers, the international format such as +44 20 7946 0000 works for callers anywhere.
3. 3 Adjust the designSet the foreground and background colours, the size and the margin. Keep a dark code on a light background with strong contrast so every phone can read it.
4. 4 Pick an error-correction levelChoose L, M, Q or H. Higher levels make the code more tolerant of damage or dirt, at the cost of a denser pattern. M suits most uses.
5. 5 Test, then downloadScan the preview with at least two different phones, then download a PNG for screens and documents or an SVG for print and design work.

Static QR codes: no expiry, no tracking

There are two kinds of QR code. A static code stores your content directly in the pattern: scanning it opens your URL or adds your Wi-Fi network straight away. A dynamic code stores a short link to a third-party service, which then redirects the visitor to your real destination.

Dynamic codes let a provider count scans and change the destination later, but they come with strings attached. If you stop paying, or the provider closes down, every printed menu, flyer, van livery or business card carrying that code can stop working. Some free generators create dynamic codes without making that clear and later ask for payment to reactivate them.

Our generator only makes static codes. They work for as long as the destination exists, there is no account to keep active and no middleman logging who scanned what. The code is generated in your browser, so your Wi-Fi password or contact details are not sent to our servers either.

The QR code types you can create

Each type uses a standard format that the built-in camera apps on iPhone and Android recognise, so people do not need a special app.

• URL: opens a web page. The most common choice for menus, posters, product packaging and leaflets.
• Plain text: shows a short message on the phone screen, for example a reference number or instructions.
• Wi-Fi: lets guests join your network without typing the password. Ideal for cafés, holiday lets, offices and waiting rooms.
• Email: opens a new email addressed to you, ready for the scanner to write and send.
• Phone: offers to call your number with one tap.
• SMS: opens a new text message to your number.
• vCard contact: offers to save your contact details straight into the scanner's address book. Perfect for business cards and exhibition stands.

Error correction, size and margin explained

QR codes include redundant data so they can still be read when part of the code is scratched, smudged or covered. The error-correction level sets how much: L can recover from roughly 7% damage, M about 15%, Q about 25% and H about 30%. More redundancy means more squares, so the code gets denser and needs to be printed larger. Use M for most things, Q or H for codes that will be handled, laminated, used outdoors or printed on curved surfaces.

Size depends on scanning distance. A common rule of thumb is that the code should be at least a tenth of the distance it will be scanned from, so a code read from 1 metre away should be about 10 cm across. For business cards and leaflets read at arm's length, 2 to 3 cm is usually the practical minimum. Window posters and A-boards need much larger codes.

The margin, or quiet zone, is the blank border around the code. The QR specification calls for four modules (the small squares) of clear space on every side. Cropping it off or placing the code against a busy background is one of the most common reasons codes fail to scan.

Colours and design without breaking the scan

You can change the colours to match your brand, but scanners rely on contrast. Keep the foreground clearly darker than the background, such as navy, dark green or charcoal on white or cream. Pale colours, low-contrast pairs like red on orange, and inverted codes (light on dark) can fail on some phones, especially in dim light.

Choose SVG for print. It is a vector file, so it stays perfectly sharp at any size, from a business card to a banner, and printers and designers can place it straight into artwork. PNG is best for websites, emails, presentations and documents. Download a large PNG if it might be scaled up later.

Measuring scans without a tracking service

Because static codes do not pass through a redirect, scans are not counted by the generator. You can still measure them in your own analytics. Add UTM parameters to the URL before you generate the code, for example ?utm_source=flyer&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=spring-offer, and visits from the code will appear as a separate source in Google Analytics.

Use a different campaign value for each placement, such as the shop window, the van and the leaflet, and you will see which one works best. If the long URL makes the code too dense, create a short, memorable page on your own domain, such as yoursite.co.uk/menu, and point the code there. You stay in control of the destination and can update that page whenever you like.

QR code safety and good practice

QR codes are increasingly used in scams, with fake codes stuck over genuine ones on parking meters and posters to send people to phishing pages. Help your customers trust yours: print your domain name next to the code so people can see where it leads, use a URL on your own website rather than an unfamiliar short link, and check public codes regularly to make sure nobody has covered them.

Make sure the page the code opens works well on a phone and loads quickly, since every scan is a mobile visit. Our free website audit checks speed, SEO and security, so you can confirm the landing page is ready before thousands of leaflets go to print.

Testing a QR code before you print it

Always scan the finished code with at least two phones, ideally one iPhone and one Android, before it goes on a menu, flyer or shop window. Open the camera app, point it at the screen or a test print, and check that the link, Wi-Fi details or contact card come up exactly as you intended.

Then test it the way customers will see it: printed at the real size, in the real light and from the real distance. A code that scans from a laptop screen can fail on a glossy poster or a small sticker, so print one copy first.

• Keep printed codes at least 2 cm wide, and larger for posters read from a distance.
• Leave the quiet zone around the code clear of text and graphics.
• Point the code at a page you control, so you can change where it leads without reprinting.

Examples you can copy

Business card          vCard, level M, 2.5-3 cm, SVG for the printer
Restaurant table card  URL, level Q, 3-4 cm, SVG
Shop window poster     URL, level M, 10 cm or larger, SVG
Guest Wi-Fi sign       Wi-Fi, level M, 5 cm or larger, PNG or SVG
Website or email       URL, level M, PNG at 300 px or larger

WIFI:T:WPA;S:Cafe Guest;P:your-password-here;;

https://example.co.uk/menu?utm_source=table-card&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=autumn-menu

qrencode -o menu.png -s 10 -m 4 -l M "https://example.co.uk/menu"
qrencode -t SVG -o menu.svg -m 4 -l M "https://example.co.uk/menu"

Common mistakes to avoid

Frequently asked questions