How Big Should You Print a QR Code?
The one-tenth-of-distance rule for menus, windows, posters and banners, and tips so it scans.
By the TurantTools Dev team · Updated October 27, 2026 · 2 min read
A common rule of thumb: a QR code should be at least a tenth of the scanning distance wide, and never under about 2 cm. Longer content makes a denser code that needs to be bigger still.
| Scanning distance | Example | Minimum width |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 m | Table tent, menu | 5 cm |
| 1.5 m | Shop window | 15 cm |
| 5 m | Poster across a room | 50 cm |
| 20 m | Billboard or banner | 200 cm |
Make it scan first time
- Keep a quiet zone (blank margin) of at least 4 modules around the code.
- Dark code on a light background, with strong contrast; inverted codes fail on some phones.
- Shorter URLs give fewer, larger modules: use a short path rather than a long tracking link.
- Print a test copy and scan it from the real distance with two different phones.