QR Code Generator
Encode text or URLs as downloadable QR images with selectable size and error correction.
The exact string is placed in the symbol. A URL is not shortened, checked, or contacted.
Symbol Settings
Balanced redundancy and capacity for general use.
Generated QR Code
Generate a symbol to preview it here.
The symbol is only as dependable as the payload behind it
A QR code carries the exact string that was encoded. When that string is a URL, the symbol does not verify the domain, judge whether the page is safe, keep the destination available, or make a temporary link permanent. A static symbol also cannot be edited after printing; only a redirect or another destination you control can change what happens after somebody scans it.
For long-lived print, encode an address you expect to keep under your control and test the full journey after scanning. Redirects, login requirements, mobile layout, expired campaign parameters, and certificate problems belong to the destination, not to the QR symbol.
Choosing L, M, Q, or H trades payload room for recovery
Higher error correction adds redundant codewords. That can help a scanner recover data when part of a symbol is damaged, but it can also increase symbol density for the same payload. The percentages below describe approximate codeword restoration capability; they are not permission to cover the same percentage of the visible image with a logo or crop.
| Level | Approx. restoration | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| L | 7% of codewords | Lowest redundancy and the most payload capacity. |
| M | 15% of codewords | A common general-purpose balance. |
| Q | 25% of codewords | More redundancy for harsher physical conditions. |
| H | 30% of codewords | Highest redundancy and the largest capacity trade-off. |
Source: DENSO WAVE QR Code outline specification (QR Code is standardized in ISO/IEC 18004).
Keep the four-module quiet zone clear
QR Code requires a clear margin four modules wide on every side. The generated PNG includes that margin. Cropping it away, placing graphics into it, or letting a busy background run through it can make scanning less reliable even though the encoded data itself is valid.
Reference: DENSO WAVE guidance on QR Code area and margin.
Before a QR code goes into a poster, label, or document
- 1. Scan the exported PNG, not only the preview. Test the actual asset after it has gone through the design or document workflow that will be published.
- 2. Test at the final physical size. Pixel dimensions describe the raster file, not a guaranteed scan distance. Module size, print resolution, camera quality, lighting, surface, and payload density all matter.
- 3. Confirm the decoded value character for character. This matters for URLs with query strings, tokens, Unicode text, phone numbers, or other payloads where a small difference changes meaning.
- 4. Keep contrast and surrounding space simple. Decorative colors, transparency, logos, gradients, or textured backgrounds can reduce readability. Error correction is recovery capability, not a guarantee that every visual customization will scan.
- 5. Re-test destinations that must live for months or years. A perfectly readable QR code can still lead to a retired route, expired redirect, broken certificate, or page that no longer works well on mobile.