QR Code Size Calculator
How QR Code Sizing Works
QR code sizing follows the 10:1 rule: the code should be at least 1/10th of the expected scanning distance. A code scanned from 50 cm away needs to be at least 5 cm across. This ensures the phone camera can reliably detect the finder patterns and decode the data.
Content length matters too. Longer URLs or text require a higher QR version with more modules (the small squares that form the code). Version 1 has 21 x 21 modules; version 40 has 177 x 177. More modules means each one must be physically larger to stay scannable, which can push the minimum size above what scan distance alone would require. Higher error correction levels also increase the version needed, since they use more modules for redundancy.
For print, multiply the physical size by your target DPI to get pixel dimensions. A 3 cm code at 300 DPI needs about 354 pixels. For screens, pixels are what matter directly -- DPI is less relevant since display density varies by device.
QR Code Size Chart
| Use Case | Min Physical Size | Pixel Dimensions (300 DPI) | Pixel Dimensions (72 DPI) | Typical QR Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Card | 3 cm (1.2 in) | 356 px | 86 px | V2-V3 |
| Flyer / Brochure | 5 cm (2.0 in) | 590 px | 142 px | V2-V5 |
| Table Tent / Menu | 6 cm (2.4 in) | 710 px | 170 px | V2-V5 |
| Product Packaging | 8 cm (3.1 in) | 944 px | 226 px | V3-V7 |
| Poster (A2/A1) | 15 cm (5.9 in) | 1772 px | 426 px | V3-V7 |
| Billboard / Banner | 50 cm (19.7 in) | N/A | 1417 px | V3-V10 |
Sizes assume 30-character byte-mode content with M-level error correction. Longer content or higher error correction increases the required size. Derived from ISO/IEC 18004:2015 using the 10:1 scanning distance rule and 0.25 mm minimum module size.