QR Code Generator

Create free QR codes from any text, URL, or data. Customize colors, size, and error correction level. Download as SVG or PNG.

What is QR Code Generator?

A QR Code Generator creates Quick Response codes—two-dimensional barcodes that encode data as a matrix of black and white squares scannable by any smartphone camera. Invented by Denso Wave in 1994 for tracking automotive parts, QR codes have exploded in mainstream use across virtually every industry. Restaurants display QR codes on tables linking to digital menus. Marketers print them on billboards, product packaging, and business cards to drive traffic to URLs without users typing long addresses. Event organizers use QR codes as digital tickets that gate-scanners validate instantly. Contactless payment systems like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and most banking apps use QR codes to initiate transactions. Healthcare uses them on patient wristbands, medical records, and prescription bottles. Wi-Fi QR codes encode SSID and passwords so guests can connect to a network by scanning instead of manually entering credentials. Contact vCards embedded in QR codes let you share your phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile with a single scan. QR codes can store URLs, plain text, phone numbers, email addresses, SMS messages, Wi-Fi credentials, geographic coordinates, and calendar events. The versatility and zero-cost-to-scan nature (every modern smartphone camera reads QR codes natively) make them one of the most practical tools for bridging physical and digital experiences.

How to Use QR Code Generator

Type or paste your content into the input field—a URL, plain text, phone number (tel:+1234567890), email address (mailto:user@example.com), Wi-Fi credentials (WIFI:S:NetworkName;T:WPA;P:password;;), or any text data. The QR code preview updates automatically as you type, so you can see your changes in real-time. Use the size slider to set the output dimensions—larger sizes are easier to scan from a distance and work better in print. The error correction level dropdown offers four options: Low (7% damage tolerance, smallest code), Medium (15%, recommended default), Quartile (25%), and High (30%—best for logos embedded in the center or printing on curved surfaces). Customize the foreground and background colors using the color pickers. Ensure sufficient contrast—dark foreground on light background—for reliable scanning across different lighting conditions. Click Download SVG for a resolution-independent vector file ideal for print, or Download PNG for a raster image suitable for web use. The SVG format scales perfectly to any print size without pixelation.

FAQ

What error correction level should I use?

Medium (15% correction) is the best default for most use cases—it balances code density with damage tolerance. Use High (30%) when printing on curved surfaces like bottles or cups, when adding a logo or image overlay in the center, or when the code might be partially obscured, dirty, or printed at low resolution. Use Low (7%) only for short URLs on clean digital displays where you want the smallest, simplest code possible.

How much data can a QR code store?

The capacity depends on the data type and error correction level. At Low error correction: up to 7,089 numeric characters, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, 2,953 bytes of binary data, or 1,817 Japanese Kanji characters. At High error correction, capacity drops to about 25% of these maximums. For best scan reliability, keep your URL short—use a URL shortener if needed, since shorter content produces smaller QR codes with fewer squares that are faster and more reliably scanned.

Can I add a logo or image to the center of a QR code?

QR codes have built-in error correction that allows up to 30% of the code to be obscured while still remaining scannable. This is why logos work in the center. Set error correction to High (30%) before adding a logo to maximize tolerance. The logo should cover no more than 20–25% of the total QR code area. After adding a logo in an image editor, always test scanning with multiple devices and apps to confirm it still reads correctly.

Should I download SVG or PNG?

Download SVG for print materials—business cards, posters, packaging, merchandise, and signage. SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without losing sharpness, so your QR code looks crisp whether printed at 1 inch or 10 feet. Download PNG for digital use—websites, social media, email signatures, and presentations. PNG is a raster format best used at the exact size generated or smaller. If you need a very large PNG, increase the size slider before downloading.

Why is my QR code not scanning on some devices?

Common causes: insufficient contrast between foreground and background colors (dark-on-light works best; avoid low-contrast color combinations), the code is too small in print (minimum 2×2 cm recommended for reliable scanning), inverted colors with a dark background (some readers struggle with inverted QR codes), the data is too long making the code too dense, or the error correction level is too low for the print quality or surface. Test scans on multiple devices—iOS Camera app, Android Camera, Google Lens—before mass printing.