Short answer: make the QR code at least 2 cm square (2.5 cm is safer on paper), keep a blank margin around it, use dark code on a light background, and link to one clear page such as your profile or WhatsApp chat. Print a test and scan it with two different phones before ordering the full run. These size figures come from printing guidance by vendors; there is no single rule, so test.
Should your card have a QR code?
Yes if you want people to reach a website, profile or location without typing. A QR code works on any phone with a camera, with no NFC needed. If your card is an NFC card, add a QR code too: a tap works on NFC phones, the QR code covers the rest. See how to tap an NFC card.
What to link to
- Your digital profile (phone, WhatsApp, email, location, social links in one place).
- A WhatsApp chat link.
- A Google Maps location for a shop or clinic.
- Your portfolio or menu.
Pick one. A QR code that links to a page with several buttons is better than one that links to a single social profile.
Size and placement
- Minimum about 2 cm; 2.5 cm on paper is comfortable; larger if it will be scanned from a distance.
- Keep a clear margin (the “quiet zone”) around the code, about the width of four of its small squares.
- Put it on the back, or on the front if there is room, never over a photograph or pattern.
- Use dark code on a light background. Inverted or low-contrast codes fail on many scanners.
- On metal, wood or other non-paper materials, test before printing; engraving or one-colour printing can change how well it scans.
Static or dynamic codes
A static code holds the link itself and never changes. If the link changes, the printed code is useless. A dynamic code points to a short link you control, so you can change the destination later and see scan counts. For printed cards, dynamic or a permanent page on your own domain is safer. To track visits, add UTM tags to the link; see tracking card taps with UTM and GA4.
Test before printing
- Print the proof at actual size.
- Scan with two phones, one Android and one iPhone.
- Scan in poor light and at a slight angle.
- Check the page opens quickly on mobile data.
Where NFC fits
A QR code is a fallback; an NFC card opens the profile with one tap and the same link can sit behind the QR code. Our cards are programmed and tested before dispatch, and the PVC card can carry a QR code for phones without NFC. See NFC visiting cards and the PVC NFC card.
Sources
- Denso Wave (inventor of the QR code), QR Code: how to generate, on the quiet zone and size guidance.
- Minimum sizes quoted (2 cm / 2.5 cm) are vendor printing guidance, not a standard.
Talk to us
Questions, or want a free mockup of your card? Message us on WhatsApp on +92 335 6656657, or see our NFC product range.
