QR Code Size Calculator — Find the Right Size for Any Scan Distance
The size of your QR code determines how far away it can be scanned. Use the 10:1 rule: a QR code can be reliably scanned from 10 times its width. Enter your scan distance to find the minimum QR code size, or enter your QR code size to find the maximum scan distance.
Scan Distance → QR Code Size
For high-density codes (Version 10+), increase result by 2x.
QR Code Size → Scan Distance
For high-density codes (Version 10+), reduce distance by 50%.
The 10:1 Scan Rule
The 10:1 rule is the industry standard for QR code sizing: for every 1 unit of QR code width, the code can be reliably scanned from up to 10 units of distance. A 3 cm QR code scans from 30 cm. A 10 cm QR code scans from 1 meter. A 50 cm outdoor QR code scans from 5 meters. This ratio accounts for typical smartphone camera quality and ambient lighting conditions.
The rule assumes a standard-density QR code (Version 1-5, under 100 characters). Higher-density codes with more data require a tighter ratio — typically 5:1 or even 3:1 for maximum-density Version 40 codes. If your QR code contains a long URL or a large text payload, increase the recommended size or reduce the expected scan distance accordingly.
Scan Distance Reference Table
| Use Case | Typical Scan Distance | Minimum QR Code Size | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 20-30 cm | 2-3 cm | 3 cm |
| Table tent (restaurant) | 30-50 cm | 3-5 cm | 4 cm |
| Flyer / brochure | 30-50 cm | 3-5 cm | 4 cm |
| Product packaging | 15-30 cm | 2-3 cm | 3 cm |
| Poster (A3 / A2) | 1-2 m | 10-20 cm | 15 cm |
| Billboard / large sign | 3-10 m | 30-100 cm | 50 cm |
| Window decal | 1-3 m | 10-30 cm | 20 cm |
| Event badge | 15-25 cm | 2-3 cm | 2.5 cm |
Resolution vs Print Size
When printing your QR code, match the resolution to the physical size. A 512px QR code is crisp up to about 4 cm (1.6 in) print width at 300 DPI. A 1024px QR code is sharp up to about 8 cm (3.2 in). A 2048px QR code handles up to 16 cm (6.4 in) at print resolution. SVG (vector) format has no resolution limit and is infinitely scalable — use SVG for any QR code larger than 8 cm to ensure maximum sharpness.
Density Considerations
QR codes with more data have denser patterns (smaller modules), which means they need to be physically larger for the same scan distance. A short URL (30 characters) at Level M generates a Version 2 QR code — about 25×25 modules. A long URL (300 characters) at Level H generates a Version 8 or higher — about 49×49 modules, nearly twice as dense. If your QR code contains a lot of data, use the calculator above and multiply the result by 1.5 or 2 to get a conservative safe size.
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