What the code should point at
For a progressive web app the answer is usually your own site, because that is where installation happens - but pick the page deliberately:
- A dedicated install page (e.g.
/app) that explains the one-tap install on Android and the share-sheet steps on iPhone. This converts far better than the homepage, where the install prompt competes with everything else. The iPhone guide has copy you can reuse. - The Play listing, if you publish a Trusted Web Activity and the code will be scanned mainly by Android users. Use the
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=…form. - A short redirect URL you control (
yoursite.com/get) that you can repoint later without reprinting anything. Strongly recommended for anything printed.
Add UTM parameters - ?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=poster - so Analytics tells you which placement actually gets scanned. Longer URLs make denser codes, which is why the short redirect matters for print.
Making it scan reliably
- Contrast. Dark modules on a light background. A light code on a dark background scans on most phones but not all; if your brand demands it, test with an older Android camera app.
- Quiet zone. The tool keeps a clear margin around the code. Don't crop it away when placing the export in a layout - that margin is part of the standard.
- Logo size. With medium (M) error correction, up to about 15% of the modules can be obscured. Keep the centre logo inside the marked area; if you need a bigger logo, shorten the URL to get a sparser code.
- Dark on light. Keep a dark code on a light background with strong contrast; inverted (light-on-dark) codes fail on many phone scanners. The tool warns you when the colours are risky.
Print sizes
| Placement | Minimum code size | Export |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, receipt | 20 mm | 1080 px |
| Table tent, flyer, menu | 30-40 mm | 1080 px |
| Poster, shop window (scanned from 1-2 m) | 10 cm+ | 4K |
| Slide deck | 1/8 of slide width | 1080 px |
Rule of thumb: the code should be at least one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. Always print a test copy and scan it with two different phones before ordering a run.
Caption copy
Nobody scans a bare code. The caption next to the code is where you say what happens: "Scan to install the app", "Scan for today's menu", "Scan - no app store needed". The last one is worth using for web apps precisely because people expect a store detour and are pleasantly surprised.
Earlier versions of this tool drew a decorative pattern that only resembled a QR code. It now uses a standards-compliant encoder; codes generated before September 2026 should be regenerated.