Many businesses design visually appealing QR Codes, but customers rarely give them a second chance if they don’t scan properly. Failed scans hurt your brand’s image and reduce customer trust.
To avoid that, it’s crucial to follow key QR Code design best practices. This guide walks you through the essentials to help you strike the right balance between branding and functionality. You’ll learn what makes a QR Code easy to scan on any device and how to customize it with your brand without affecting its scannability.
Ready to create QR Codes that work? Let’s start with the fundamentals.
But first, if you want to ensure that your existing QR Codes are working properly, grab this free checklist.
👉 Access the complete checklist for free
The brands with the best-performing QR Codes follow clear design rules, especially regarding sizing, contrast, and placement.
To help you get it right, we analyzed data from our top 1,000 customers to find what works best. We turned those insights into a free 34-point QR Code testing checklist to ensure your code works across all devices and delivers high scan rates.
Table of contents
- 8 design tips to help your QR Codes scan fast and work everywhere
- QR Code design best practices by industry
- Your action plan for effective, scannable QR Codes
- Frequently asked questions
8 design tips to help your QR Codes scan fast and work everywhere
Before we get into the design details, it’s important to know that not all QR Codes work the same way.
Static QR Codes store fixed information, which makes their patterns denser and harder to scan.
Dynamic QR Codes, on the other hand, use a short URL that redirects to your content, allowing for updates without reprinting. They generate compact, cleaner, and more scannable designs. For most marketing use cases, dynamic codes are the better choice.
To learn how they differ, check out our guide comparing static and dynamic QR Codes.
With the right type selected, how do you turn a QR Code into a great user experience? Start with these proven best practices.
1. Optimize sizing for reliable scans
Size directly impacts QR Code scannability. If the code is too small, phones may struggle to focus. Too large, and it can waste valuable space. As a rule of thumb, your QR Code should be at least 1 cm wide for every 10 cm of viewing distance.
Minimum dimensions:
- Print materials: 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 inches)
- Posters and signage: 3 × 3 cm minimum
- Business cards: 1.5 × 1.5 cm
💡Pro tip: Always print test versions of the actual size before finalizing any design. This simple step prevents most scanning issues.
2. Use high contrast for instant recognition
QR Codes don’t have to be black and white, but having a strong contrast is non-negotiable for reliable scanning.
Proven color strategies:
- Dark foreground, light background (never reverse this)
- Minimum contrast ratio: 3:1 for accessibility
- Safe color combinations: Dark blue on white, black on light gray, dark green on cream
Colors to avoid:
- Yellow, orange, or light colors for the code pattern
- Red and green combinations (not accessible for colorblind users)
- Busy backgrounds or patterns
💡Pro tip: Use a QR Code generator that automatically checks contrast and scannability as you customize. This helps you avoid manual testing and ensures your colored QR Code remains easy to scan.
👉 Try Now
3. Select error correction to protect performance
QR Codes come with built-in error correction, which helps them scan even if part of the code is damaged or covered. You can adjust the level of error correction based on your use case. Higher levels provide greater damage tolerance but reduce the data storage capacity.
| Level | Damage tolerance | Best use case |
| L (Low) | 7% | Simple, unbranded codes |
| M (Medium) | 15% | Standard marketing uses |
| Q (Quartile) | 25% | Codes with small logos |
| H (High) | 30% | Heavily branded designs |
💡Pro Tip: Always use Q or H-level error correction when adding logos or custom branding. This gives you the buffer needed for visual customization without affecting scan reliability.
4. Maintain quiet zone to prevent scan failures
The quiet zone, a blank margin surrounding your QR Code, is essential for scanners to detect where the pattern begins and ends. Think of it as a no-construction zone: any visual clutter in this space prevents successful scanning.
Keep the following things in mind while creating the quiet zone.
Minimum border width:
- Leave four modules of empty space on all four sides (top, bottom, left, right). Each module = one small black/white square within the QR Code pattern.
→ Example: If your QR Code modules are 1 mm squares, the border must be at least 4 mm wide.
Absolute emptiness:
- No text, logos, icons, patterns, or color bleeds in the quiet zone.
- Even subtle background textures can interfere with scanning. Keep it completely clear.
Full perimeter protection:
- The quiet zone must surround the QR Code on all four sides.
- Partial borders (like missing corners or sides) can cause scan failures.
💡Pro Tip: Missing quiet zones are one of the most common reasons QR Codes fail to scan. Always double-check this area before finalizing your design, or use a QR Code Generator that ensures it’s applied automatically.
5. Add logos without reducing scan accuracy
Creating a QR Code with a logo makes it feel more trustworthy and brand-aligned. However, improper logo placement can disrupt your QR Code’s scan quality.
Logo placement rules:
- Maximum coverage: 30% of the total code area
- Position: Center of the code only
- Shape: Circular or square logos work best
- Background: Solid white or light background behind the logo
💡Pro tip: Use vector logos for crisp scaling and ensure your logo has enough contrast against the background.
6. Place strategically to maximize visibility
Even a perfectly designed QR Code can fail if it’s hard to find or awkward to scan. For best results, place it where people can easily see or reach it while avoiding physical and environmental barriers.
✅ Effective placement examples
(Prioritize these high-visibility, accessible positions)
- Front of product packaging (center position, not side seams)
- Eye-level poster placements (150-170 cm from the floor)
- Restaurant table tents or menu covers
- Clean white space on business cards (avoid edges)
- Point-of-sale displays near checkout counters
🚫 Problematic placement examples
(Avoid these common failure points)
- Under product flaps or inside packaging
- Floor decals (requires bending or awkward angles)
- High store shelves (above 2 m) or low kickplates
- Dimly lit corners of venues
- Moving surfaces (conveyor belts, elevators)
💡Pro tip: Use dynamic QR Codes to track scan performance by location. These codes offer analytics that reveal which placements generate the most engagement (e.g., tabletop scans vs. wall posters), letting you refine your placement strategy based on real user behavior rather than assumptions.
7. Test thoroughly to avoid real-world issues
Never assume your QR Codes will just work, even if you’ve taken care of all the design best practices. Real-world conditions (lighting, device variability, user angles) can break untested QR Codes. Implement this testing protocol:
- Scan with multiple apps (iOS Camera, Google Lens, dedicated scanners)
- Test on different devices and operating systems (old mobile devices, across all platforms, Android/iOS, etc.)
- Simulate low-light conditions and angled scans
💡Pro Tip: Ensure the landing page loads in under three seconds (use Google PageSpeed Insights). Over 50% of users abandon slow pages.
8. Design the experience beyond the code
Your QR Code is a doorway, not the destination. A scannable code leading to a broken page wastes all your design effort. Make sure to optimize the post-scan experience with:
- Mobile-first design: Use thumb-friendly CTAs, 14 px+ fonts, and single-column layouts
- Compressed images (under 100 KB), eliminate redirects, target under 3 secs load time
- Pre-filled forms, where possible; avoid multi-step processes
💡Pro Tip: If you do not have a mobile-optimized page, multi-URL QR Code solutions (such as The QR Code Generator – TQRCG) auto-build mobile-friendly landing pages and let you preview mobile layouts during creation.
👉 Try Now
Too many best practices to remember at once? We’ve created a detailed printing checklist you can refer to every time you create a QR Code for your campaign, making it easy to stay on track and get it right.
QR Code design best practices by industry
1. Retail: Nike integrates branded QR Codes on product tags, linking to styling tips and product information. They use their signature black and white contrast while including subtle brand elements around the quiet zone.
2. Food and beverage (F&B): Chili’s revolutionized their table service with branded QR Codes on table tents. Their QR Codes feature the brand logo in the center with clear quiet zones, making digital menu access smooth for customers.
3. Events: Lollapalooza uses dynamic QR Codes on entry wristbands for ticket validation. The codes include festival branding while maintaining large enough dimensions for reliable scanning in various lighting conditions.
4. Packaging: Coca-Cola incorporates QR Codes into contest promotions, placing them on dedicated white patches to ensure optimal scanning conditions while maintaining brand consistency.
Your action plan for effective, scannable QR Codes
Creating effective QR Codes requires balancing visual appeal with technical functionality. The most successful codes prioritize scannability while incorporating brand elements thoughtfully.
However, it doesn’t stop at thoughtful design. Ensure you:
- Audit your current QR Codes using the guidelines above
- Create branded templates for different use cases
- Implement testing protocols for all new codes
- Set up analytics tracking for dynamic codes
- Train your team on proper QR Code design principles
Ready to create professional QR Codes that actually work? Start with these principles and test thoroughly. Your customers will appreciate QR Codes that scan reliably while reflecting your brand’s attention to detail.
Frequently asked questions
Use a professional QR Code generator that allows color customization and logo integration. Maintain high contrast between the code and background, and keep your logo centered within 30% of the code area.
Use at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 inches) for most print applications. For posters or signage, go larger at 3 × 3 cm minimum.
Yes, but maintain high contrast. Use dark colors for the code pattern on light backgrounds. Avoid light colors such as yellow or orange for the code itself.
Print the QR Code at its actual size and test it with multiple devices, lighting conditions, and scanning apps. Test from different angles and distances to ensure reliability.
Static codes cannot be changed after creation, and information cannot be encoded directly. Dynamic codes redirect through a short URL, allowing you to update the destination and track analytics.
