How to make a QR code for a poster, flyer, or product label
Need one now? Generate a QR code. It's free, needs no signup, and you can style it however you like.
A QR code on a screen is forgiving. A QR code on a poster, a flyer, or a product label is not. It has to scan the first time, from a distance, in bad lighting, and keep working for years. Here's how to get it right.
Point it at a short link, not the raw URL
This is the most important rule. A QR encoding a long URL becomes a dense, fragile grid. A QR encoding a short link stays sparse and easy to scan. You can also change where it points later without reprinting, and track every scan. Make that short link in a free account: links made on the home page without an account expire after 30 days, and a printed code that points at one stops working with it (more on why QR codes stop working).
Size and quiet zone
- Minimum size: around 2 × 2 cm (0.8") for something scanned up close; bigger for posters and event signage. A rough rule: scanning distance ÷ 10 = minimum width.
- Keep the quiet zone: the empty margin around the code. Keep text and artwork out of it.
- File format: the PNG download is on every plan. The SVG file, which scales to any size without going blurry, is on Pro and up.
Contrast and colour
Dark modules on a light background scan best. If you brand the colours, keep strong contrast, since pale codes on busy backgrounds fail. Never invert (light modules on dark) unless you've tested it on real phones.
Logos and error correction
A centre logo (Team plan and up) covers part of the code. That's fine if error-correction is high enough to compensate. Urlicer automatically raises it to level H whenever a logo is present, so a branded code still scans.
Always test before you print
Print a proof (or view it at final size) and scan it with a few different phones, since iPhone and Android cameras behave slightly differently.
Make it permanent
Once it's printed, it's out of your hands. Links in a Urlicer workspace never expire unless you set an expiry, so a QR on last season's packaging still resolves today. The other risk is the short domain itself, so read why short domains get blocklisted before a long print run.
Ready to make a print-ready QR? Start with a free account. Links in your workspace never expire, and every one gets a QR code and click analytics.