Tinker Tools

QR Code Generator Instantly

Create QR codes for URLs, text, and more. Download as PNG or SVG—completely free.

QR Code Generator

Enter text or URL above to generate QR code

Understanding QR Codes

QR Code (Quick Response Code) is a two-dimensional barcode invented in 1994 by Denso Wave, a Japanese automotive company. Unlike traditional barcodes that store information horizontally, QR codes store data both horizontally and vertically, allowing them to hold significantly more information—up to 7,089 numeric characters or 4,296 alphanumeric characters.

QR codes work by encoding data into a pattern of black and white squares. When scanned by a camera or QR code reader, the pattern is decoded back into the original information. The three large squares in the corners (position markers) help scanners quickly identify and orient the code, enabling scanning from any angle.

One of the key features of QR codes is built-in error correction using Reed-Solomon error correction. This means QR codes can still be read even if up to 30% of the code is damaged or obscured, making them highly reliable for real-world use in various conditions.

How it works

  • 1

    Enter your URL, phone number, email, or plain text into the input field above. The QR code will update automatically as you type.

  • 2

    Adjust settings like size, color, and error correction level in the sidebar. Higher error correction allows damaged codes to still work.

  • 3

    Download your QR code in high-quality PNG format for printing or SVG for scalable vector graphics. All processing happens in your browser.

What Is QR Code Generation?

A QR code — Quick Response code — is a two-dimensional matrix barcode that stores data in a grid of black and white squares called modules. Invented by Denso Wave in 1994 for tracking automotive parts, QR codes exploded into mainstream use because they can store far more data than traditional one-dimensional barcodes and can be scanned from any angle. A standard barcode holds maybe 20-25 characters. A QR code can hold up to 7,089 numeric characters, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, or 2,953 bytes of binary data — enough for a full URL, a vCard contact, Wi-Fi credentials, or a block of plain text.

QR codes come in 40 versions, where each version adds four modules to the grid dimensions. Version 1 is a tiny 21x21 module grid. Version 40 is a dense 177x177 module grid. The version is selected automatically based on how much data you need to encode and what error correction level you choose. Most QR codes you encounter daily — restaurant menus, payment links, event tickets — are somewhere between version 2 and version 10, keeping the grid small enough to scan reliably from a phone camera at arm's length. Higher versions pack more data but require higher-resolution printing and closer scanning distances.

The real engineering brilliance behind QR codes is Reed-Solomon error correction. Every QR code includes redundant data that allows the scanner to reconstruct the original message even when part of the code is damaged, obscured, or distorted. There are four error correction levels: L (Low) recovers up to 7% of damaged data, M (Medium) recovers up to 15%, Q (Quartile) recovers up to 25%, and H (High) recovers up to 30%. This is why you can put a logo in the center of a QR code and it still scans — the logo covers some modules, but the error correction fills in the gaps. Level H is the obvious choice for branded QR codes, though it increases the total size of the code because more modules are dedicated to redundancy.

Key Features of This QR Code Generator

  • Four Encoding Modes — QR codes support four distinct encoding modes, each optimized for different character sets. Numeric mode encodes digits 0-9 at 3.3 bits per character — the most efficient option for phone numbers or serial numbers. Alphanumeric mode handles 0-9, A-Z, space, and a few symbols at 5.5 bits per character. Byte mode encodes arbitrary data using 8 bits per character, covering the full UTF-8 range. Kanji mode is a specialized encoding for Japanese characters at 13 bits per character. The generator automatically selects the most efficient mode, or mixes modes within a single QR code to minimize size.
  • Adjustable Error Correction Level — You can select from four Reed-Solomon error correction levels: L, M, Q, and H. For a QR code printed on a clean surface and scanned under controlled conditions — like a digital screen or a freshly printed label — Level L keeps the code compact. For QR codes on posters, product packaging, or outdoor signage where physical damage is likely, Level Q or H provides much better reliability. The tradeoff is straightforward: higher correction means a larger QR code for the same data, because up to 30% of the modules carry redundancy information rather than payload.
  • Customizable Size and Margin — The output image size is adjustable in pixels, which matters for print resolution. A QR code displayed on a screen needs maybe 200x200 pixels. One printed on a business card at 300 DPI needs at least 600x600 pixels to stay crisp. The quiet zone — the white margin around the code — is required by the specification to be at least 4 modules wide. The generator enforces this minimum and lets you increase it for better scanning reliability in busy visual environments.
  • SVG and PNG Export — PNG works well for digital use — websites, emails, presentations. SVG is the better choice for print because it scales to any size without pixelation. A vector QR code exported as SVG can be blown up to billboard size and every edge stays sharp. The SVG output is also typically smaller in file size than a high-resolution PNG, since it describes rectangles mathematically rather than storing pixel data.
  • Batch Generation for Multiple Inputs — When you need QR codes for a list of URLs, product IDs, or event tickets, entering them one at a time is tedious. The batch mode accepts a list of inputs — one per line — and generates all QR codes at once with consistent settings. Each code is labeled with its input data for easy identification. This saves significant time for marketing teams, event organizers, and inventory managers dealing with dozens or hundreds of codes.
  • Live Preview as You Type — The QR code renders in real time as you modify the input text, error correction level, or size settings. You can see exactly how your changes affect the density of the code — adding more text makes the grid visibly denser, switching from Level L to Level H adds noticeable redundancy modules. This immediate visual feedback helps you find the right balance between data capacity and scanability before exporting.

How to Generate a QR Code

  1. 1

    Enter Your Data

    Type or paste the content you want to encode. For URLs, include the full address with https:// — most QR scanners will open URLs directly in the browser. For Wi-Fi credentials, the format is WIFI:T:WPA;S:networkname;P:password;; which most phones recognize natively. For plain text, vCards, or email addresses, just enter the raw content. Watch the character count: if you exceed the maximum capacity for your chosen version and error correction level, the generator will automatically bump to a higher version.

  2. 2

    Choose Error Correction Level

    Start with Level M as a sensible default — it recovers up to 15% of damaged data while keeping the code reasonably compact. If you plan to overlay a logo on the center of the QR code, switch to Level H so the code survives the occlusion. If file size and scanning speed are priorities — like encoding a simple URL for a digital screen — Level L is sufficient. The preview updates immediately so you can see the density difference between levels.

  3. 3

    Set Output Size and Format

    For web use, 300x300 pixels at PNG is a solid starting point. For print materials, calculate the needed size based on your target DPI: a 2-inch QR code at 300 DPI needs 600x600 pixels minimum. If you are unsure, export as SVG and let your design software handle the scaling. The quiet zone — that white border — should stay at the default 4-module width. Reducing it below the spec minimum causes scanning failures with some readers.

  4. 4

    Preview and Test the Code

    Before exporting, scan the preview with your phone camera or a dedicated QR reader app. Test from different angles and distances. A good QR code scans in under a second from about 10 times its printed width away — a 2-inch code should scan from 20 inches. If scanning feels sluggish, the code might be too dense for its physical size. Either reduce the data, lower the error correction level, or increase the print size.

  5. 5

    Export and Deploy

    Download the QR code in your chosen format. When placing it in print layouts, do not stretch or skew the image — QR codes must remain square. Do not invert colors unless you are certain your target scanners support it; the spec calls for dark modules on a light background. If you are embedding the code in a website, use the SVG directly in your HTML or convert the PNG to a data URI to avoid an extra HTTP request. Always include a short text label near the QR code telling users what they will get when they scan it — a URL, a Wi-Fi connection, a contact card.

Expert Tips for QR Code Generation

Keep your encoded data as short as possible. Every additional character pushes the QR code to a higher version with more modules, which makes the code denser and harder to scan. For URLs, use a URL shortener to turn a 120-character tracking link into a 25-character redirect. The difference is dramatic: a 25-character URL fits comfortably in a Version 2 code at Level M (25x25 modules), while a 120-character URL needs Version 6 or higher (41x41 modules). Smaller codes print better at small sizes and scan faster from greater distances.

If you are placing a logo in the center of your QR code, do not cover more than the error correction can recover. At Level H, up to 30% of the data can be lost — but the actual safe area for a logo is smaller than 30% of the total code because the error correction codewords are distributed across the entire grid, not concentrated in the center. A safe rule of thumb is to keep the logo within 10-15% of the code's total area at Level H. Test aggressively with multiple scanner apps before printing thousands of copies. Some scanners are more forgiving than others, and the one that works on your phone might fail on a customer's older device.

QR codes support a feature called Structured Append that splits data across up to 16 separate QR codes. The scanner reads all of them and reassembles the original data. This is rarely used in practice because it requires all codes to be scanned in sequence, which is impractical for most consumer scenarios. But it has niche applications in industrial settings where you need to encode more data than a single Version 40 code can hold — say, a full equipment maintenance record — across multiple labels on the same physical asset.

For dynamic QR codes — where the destination can change after printing — the standard approach is to encode a short redirect URL that you control. The QR code itself points to something like https://yourdomain.com/qr/abc123, and your server redirects that to whatever the current destination is. This adds a network dependency (the redirect server must be online) but gives you the ability to update campaigns, fix broken links, or A/B test landing pages without reprinting. Track scan analytics by logging each redirect. Include UTM parameters in the final destination URL so your analytics platform attributes the traffic correctly.

Related Tools

URL Encoder

URLs embedded in QR codes sometimes contain special characters — ampersands in query parameters, spaces in search terms, non-ASCII characters in internationalized domain names. URL encoding converts these to percent-encoded equivalents that every scanner and browser interprets correctly. Encode your URL before pasting it into the QR generator to avoid scanning errors caused by ambiguous characters.

Base64 Converter

When embedding a QR code image directly in HTML or CSS without a separate file, Base64 encoding converts the PNG binary into an ASCII string you can use as a data URI. The format looks like src="data:image/png;base64,iVBOR..." and eliminates an HTTP request. This is practical for small QR codes under 5 KB, though larger ones are better served as regular image files to keep your HTML payload manageable.

URL Shortener

Long URLs are the enemy of clean QR codes. A 150-character marketing URL with UTM parameters forces a high-version, densely packed code that struggles to scan at small print sizes. Shortening the URL to 20-30 characters drops the QR code down to a much simpler version with fewer modules, better scanning performance, and more room for error correction. Always shorten first, then generate the QR code.

QR code generation works best when the input data is clean and compact. URL encoding ensures special characters are handled correctly, Base64 conversion enables inline image embedding for web applications, and URL shortening reduces the data payload so your QR codes stay small and scannable. Use these tools in sequence — shorten the URL, encode it, generate the QR code, then optionally Base64-encode the result for inline use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Popular Use Cases

Marketing Campaigns

Add QR codes to posters, flyers, and business cards to drive traffic to websites, landing pages, or promotional offers.

Contactless Payments

Enable quick payments through payment apps, cryptocurrency wallets, or payment links for businesses and individuals.

Digital Menus

Restaurants can display digital menus accessible via QR codes on tables, eliminating physical menus and enabling easy updates.

WiFi Sharing

Share WiFi credentials instantly without typing passwords. Guests can connect by simply scanning a QR code.

Event Tickets

Digital tickets with unique QR codes enable quick entry verification and prevent counterfeiting at events and venues.

Inventory Management

Track products, assets, and equipment with QR codes for efficient inventory management and asset tracking systems.

Design Best Practices

Ensure Sufficient Contrast

Always use dark colors on light backgrounds. Avoid light-colored QR codes or low-contrast combinations that scanners struggle to read.

Test Before Printing

Always test your QR code with multiple devices and scanning apps before mass printing. Check scannability at the intended viewing distance.

Include a Call-to-Action

Add text like "Scan for menu" or "Scan to visit website" near your QR code so people know what to expect when scanning.

Maintain Quiet Zone

Leave white space (quiet zone) around the QR code equal to 4 times the width of a single module. This helps scanners detect the code boundaries.

Use High Error Correction for Logos

If adding a logo or image to the center, use error correction level H (30%) to ensure the code remains scannable despite the obstruction.

Optimize Content Length

Shorter content creates simpler, easier-to-scan QR codes. Use URL shorteners for long links and keep text concise for optimal scanning reliability.

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