How to create a QR code

Creating a QR code with this free QR code generator takes under a minute. Follow these five steps:

Select QR type — choose from URL, Wi-Fi, vCard, email, SMS, or location depending on what you want to share.
Enter your data — paste a URL, fill in Wi-Fi credentials (SSID, password, encryption), contact info, or whatever the selected type requires.
Customize size and error correction — set the output pixel size, quiet-zone margin, foreground and background colors, and the error correction level (L / M / Q / H).
Generate and preview — the QR code updates live as you type. Scan the preview with your phone to confirm it works before downloading.
Download as PNG or copy to clipboard — PNG works for web and email; SVG is infinitely scalable and ideal for print. Both are generated locally in your browser.

QR code types and when to use each

Different QR types encode data in different formats. Modern smartphone cameras recognize all of them natively on iOS 11+ and Android 10+. Here is a quick reference for choosing the right type:

Type	Use case	What gets encoded
URL	Website links, marketing campaigns, product labels	Raw URL string — make sure URLs are properly encoded (use our URL encoder if needed)
Wi-Fi	Guest network sharing, cafes, hotels, homes	SSID + password + encryption type (WPA/WEP/nopass) — keep passwords secure with a strong password generator
vCard	Contact sharing at events, on business cards	Name, phone, email, address — scanner offers "Add to Contacts"
Email	Pre-filled email compose, support forms	To address, subject line, and body text (mailto: URI)
SMS	Pre-filled text message, opt-in campaigns	Phone number + message body (sms: URI)
Location	Maps pins, venue directions, field markers	Latitude + longitude (geo: URI — opens default map app)
Plain text	Notes, voucher codes, instructions	Any text string up to ~2.5 KB (at error correction L)

For a deep dive into Wi-Fi QR codes specifically, see our guide: How to create a Wi-Fi QR code.

QR code size guide

Scanning reliability depends heavily on printed size. Too small and the camera cannot resolve the individual modules (the black-and-white squares). Use this table as your minimum — bigger is always better for scan reliability:

Use case	Minimum print size	Typical scan distance
Business card	1.5 × 1.5 cm	Close range (~20 cm)
Flyer / handout	2.5 × 2.5 cm	30–40 cm
Poster A4	4 × 4 cm	Up to 60 cm
Storefront sign	8 × 8 cm	1–2 meters
Billboard	20 × 20 cm	3–5 meters

Always download the SVG version for print — it is resolution-independent and can be scaled to any physical size without pixelation. Use PNG only for on-screen display (web, email signatures, social posts).

Error correction levels explained

QR codes include built-in redundancy so they remain scannable even when partially obscured, dirty, or damaged. There are four levels — each trades off code density (more redundancy = larger, denser QR) against resilience:

L — 7% recovery. Produces the smallest, least dense QR code. Use this when the code will be printed cleanly on a flat surface and scanned at close range. It will fail if more than 7% of the QR area is damaged or obscured.
M — 15% recovery (default). A balanced choice that handles minor smudges, low-quality printing, and worn surfaces. Good for most flyers, posters, and business cards.
Q — 25% recovery. Recommended when you are adding a small logo over the center of the QR code. The logo blocks a portion of the code, and Q gives enough redundancy to compensate while keeping the code relatively compact.
H — 30% recovery. Use when overlaying significant artwork, printing on textured or rough surfaces (wood, fabric, embossed paper), or anywhere the code may sustain substantial physical wear. Required if your logo covers more than ~15% of the QR area.

For a technical deep dive into how redundancy works, read QR code error correction explained. To understand the underlying encoding mechanics, see How QR codes work.

Payload size and content limits

QR codes have a maximum data capacity that varies by version (1–40) and error correction level. The longer your content — or the higher the error correction — the larger and denser the QR must be to fit the data. Key limits at error correction M:

Numeric only: up to ~5,500 digits
Alphanumeric (A–Z, 0–9, space, a few symbols): up to ~3,300 characters
ASCII / binary: up to ~2,300 bytes

For typical URLs this is never an issue. For Wi-Fi QR codes with long passwords or full vCards with all fields filled in, keep error correction at M rather than H to stay within limits. If you see a "data too long" error, shorten your content or lower the error correction level.

Generate QR code free — no account, no watermarks

This is a completely free QR code generator with no hidden restrictions. Many online QR tools push users toward paid plans to remove watermarks, increase limits, or enable PNG downloads. Here is what this free QR code maker includes with zero sign-up:

Unlimited QR codes — generate as many as you need, for personal or commercial use
No watermarks — clean PNG and SVG downloads, nothing added to your image
All QR types free — URL, Wi-Fi, vCard, email, SMS, location, plain text
Custom colors and size — foreground color, background color, output pixel dimensions
SVG download free — vector format for print, no resolution limit
No account required — open the page and start generating immediately

To generate a QR code free right now: select a type above, enter your content, and click download. Your QR image is generated locally in the browser — nothing is transmitted to any server.

Privacy

This free QR code generator runs 100% client-side. The qrcode library executes entirely in your browser — the QR image is rendered locally in a canvas element and never transmitted anywhere. Wi-Fi passwords, contact details, and email content never hit any server. Open DevTools → Network tab, generate a QR code, and you will see zero requests. The tool continues to work offline after the page first loads.

Frequently asked questions

Are QR codes free to generate?

Yes — completely free and unlimited. This QR code maker has no sign-up, no watermarks, no daily limits, and no paid tiers. Generate as many QR codes as you need for personal or commercial use.

Do QR codes expire?

Static QR codes — like those generated here — never expire. The encoded data is baked into the image itself, so as long as the destination URL or resource is live, the QR will work indefinitely. Dynamic QR codes (offered by third-party redirect services) can track scans and be retargeted, but they rely on the provider's redirect infrastructure and may require a paid subscription to stay active.

Can I put a logo on a QR code?

Yes. Set the error correction level to Q (25%) or H (30%) before downloading the SVG, then overlay your logo in a design tool such as Figma or Illustrator. Keep the logo under 20% of the total QR area — higher error correction compensates for the obscured modules. Always scan-test the finished design on multiple devices before printing at scale.

What's the maximum amount of data a QR code can hold?

At the highest version (40) and lowest error correction (L), a QR code can hold approximately 7,089 numeric digits or 4,296 ASCII characters. In practice, URLs should be kept short — a typical URL of 50–100 characters fits comfortably in a small, easily scannable code. For long URLs, use a URL shortener before generating the QR.

Why is my QR code scannable on one phone but not another?

Usually the issue is low contrast, too-small print size, or insufficient quiet zone (margin). Print at 2 cm × 2 cm minimum, use solid black on white if possible, and leave at least 4 modules of white margin on all sides — the margin setting in this tool controls that automatically.

Can I scan the QR with the same device that made it?

Phones cannot scan a QR displayed on their own screen. Generate on one device and scan with another.

What's the difference between PNG and SVG download?

PNG is a raster image — pixels at a fixed resolution. Ideal for web display, social posts, and email signatures. SVG is vector — infinitely scalable with no pixelation and a smaller file size, making it the best choice for any print application.

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Pillar

Part of Encoding & Crypto — Base64, URL encoding, JWT, hashes, UUID, QR.

Written by Mian Ali Khalid. Last updated 2026-05-30.

Free QR Code Generator