QR Code Sizes: What Resolution Do You Need?

February 9, 2026

You've generated a QR code. Now someone asks: "Can you send that as a high-res file?" What does that actually mean for a QR code? How many pixels do you need? The answer depends entirely on where the code will end up.

The core rule for print

Print resolution is measured in DPI (dots per inch). Professional printing requires a minimum of 300 DPI. To calculate the pixel dimensions you need for a printed QR code, multiply the physical size in inches by 300.

Most business cards print QR codes at roughly 1 inch square. A 300x300 PNG handles that cleanly. A brochure might show the code at 2 inches, so 600x600 or higher. Simple math. For more on getting QR codes print-ready, see our print materials guide.

Screen sizes: simpler than you think

For on-screen display, you don't need to think about DPI. Screen resolution is measured in pixels, and QR scanners work fine with relatively small images. Practical guidelines:

There's no benefit to going larger for screen-only use. A 2000 px QR code on a website just wastes bandwidth. The phone scanning it is working with a camera, not counting pixels -- the code just needs to be large enough on screen that the camera can frame it clearly.

Posters and large-format signage

This is where people undersize their QR codes. A poster on a wall will be scanned from several feet away, and a banner at an event might be scanned from across a room. Two things matter here:

  1. Physical size of the QR code. A general rule: the QR code should be at least 1/10th of the scanning distance. If people will scan from 10 feet away, the code should be at least 1 foot (12 inches) across.
  2. Image resolution. For large-format printing, you can often get away with 150 DPI instead of 300, because viewers are farther away. A 12-inch QR code at 150 DPI needs a 1800 x 1800 px image.

For posters and banners, 1024 to 2048 px covers most scenarios comfortably. Go to the high end if you're printing anything larger than a standard poster (24 x 36 inches).

SVG: the resolution-free option

Here's the real answer for anyone who doesn't want to think about pixels at all: use SVG.

An SVG QR code is a vector file. It has no fixed resolution. Scale it to a postage stamp or a billboard, and every edge stays mathematically sharp. No pixels, no DPI calculations, no guessing.

If your QR code is going into any design tool (Figma, Illustrator, InDesign, Canva), SVG is the format to use. The designer can resize it freely without worrying about quality loss. For direct web embedding, SVG also works -- and the file size is typically smaller than an equivalent PNG.

Quick reference

On qrmake.dev, you can set your exact pixel size and download in both PNG and SVG. Grab what you need, skip what you don't.