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TalentraSolutions

Free tool

QR code generator

Turn a link, phone number, email address or Wi-Fi network into a scannable code. Set the colours and error-correction level, then download a high-resolution PNG for screens or a vector SVG for print.

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Code colour
Background

The blank border scanners use to find the code. Below 2 modules, scanning gets unreliable on busy backgrounds.

Preview

Fill in the field above to generate a code

Always test the printed code with two different phones before you order a hundred copies.

Static codes, and why that matters

There are two kinds of QR code. A dynamic code encodes a short redirect URL owned by whoever generated it; scanning it hits their server, which forwards you to the real destination and counts the scan. A static code encodes the destination itself, with nothing in between.

This tool makes static codes, deliberately. A dynamic code is convenient right up until the service that owns the redirect changes its pricing, sunsets the free tier, or shuts down — at which point every sticker, menu and business card you printed points at a dead link or a paywall. Static codes cannot be edited, but they also cannot be taken away from you.

Getting a code that reliably scans

  • Keep it dark on light. Scanners look for a dark pattern on a light field. Inverting that works on some phones and fails on others.
  • Keep real contrast. A pale grey code on a cream background may look tasteful on screen and be unreadable on paper. Aim for a strong difference in lightness, not just in hue.
  • Leave the quiet zone. The blank border is part of the specification, not decoration. Two modules is the practical minimum; four is safer on a busy design.
  • Size for the scanning distance. Roughly one tenth of the distance the code will be read from.
  • Shorten the URL first. Fewer characters means fewer modules, which means a code that stays readable when printed small.
  • Test before you commit. Print one, scan it with an iPhone and an Android device, in the lighting where it will actually live.

What people actually use them for

The genuinely useful cases are the ones that remove typing from a moment where typing is awkward: a menu on a café table, a review link on a receipt, a Wi-Fi password on a guest room card, a booking form on a shop window, a payment link on an invoice. The cases that disappoint are the ones that ask someone to scan when a tap would do — a QR code on a website, or one in an email that the reader is already holding their phone to read.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Do these QR codes expire?
No. This generator produces static codes — the destination is encoded directly in the pattern, so there is no redirect service that can be switched off or start charging. The trade-off is that you cannot change where a printed code points without reprinting it.
Can I track how many people scanned my code?
Not directly, because there is no intermediary to count scans. The usual workaround is to encode a URL with campaign parameters — for example ?utm_source=table-card — and read the numbers in your own analytics.
What error-correction level should I choose?
M (15%) is the right default for anything shown on a screen. Move to Q or H for codes that will be printed on packaging, stuck to a window, or otherwise likely to get scuffed, curved or partly covered. Higher levels make the pattern denser, so print them larger.
How small can I print a QR code?
As a rule of thumb, the code should be at least a tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. A code read at arm's length (about 30 cm) needs roughly 3 cm per side; one read across a room needs to be far bigger. Add a clear margin around it and never print it smaller than 2 cm.
Why does my code not scan?
The usual culprits are too little contrast between the code and its background, an inverted colour scheme (light code on dark background confuses some readers), a quiet zone that is too small, or printing at a size where the individual modules blur together. Keep the code dark on light, keep the border, and test on two phones.
Is the Wi-Fi password I type here sent anywhere?
No — the code is generated in your browser and the password never leaves your device. Be aware, though, that anyone who scans or photographs the finished code can read the password out of it. Use a guest network.