THE LITTLE QR PRESS
QR Code Generator
Fill in what the code should open and I'll set the plates.
01Content
What should the code open?
02Style & size
A little help from the press
- 1Enter the content
Pick what the code should open — a link, Wi-Fi, contact card, text — and fill in the fields.
- 2Adjust the style
Size, colours, margin and an optional logo. Every change is scanned back to make sure it still reads.
- 3Download
PNG for documents and social, SVG for print. Nothing is uploaded and the code never expires.
How to make a QR code
- Choose website, Wi-Fi, contact or text first
- PNG for documents and social, SVG for print
- Scan-test with real phones before printing
1. Choose what the code should open: a website, Wi-Fi network, contact, email, phone, SMS or plain text. 2. Fill in the fields — the preview updates as you type. 3. Pick a size and colors, then download PNG for documents and social media or SVG for print and design tools.
Before you print, scan the preview with the phones your audience actually uses — the built-in camera on iPhone and most Android phones reads QR codes without an app.
Static codes never expire — and can't be tracked
- Data is encoded directly, no server, no expiry
- Nobody can count or record your scans
- Dynamic codes stop working if the subscription ends
- Point to a page you control if the target may change
This tool makes static QR codes: the data (your URL, Wi-Fi details, contact) is encoded directly into the pattern. There is no shortlink and no server in between, so the code keeps working for as long as the destination exists, and nobody can count or record your scans.
Dynamic QR codes from paid services encode a redirect link instead. They let you change the destination later and see scan statistics, but the code stops working if you cancel the subscription. If you might need to change the target after printing, point the code at a page you control and edit that page.
Error correction levels explained
- Redundant data lets damaged or dirty codes still scan
- Four levels, L to H; higher tolerates more damage
- M (~15%) is the default; H (~30%) suits a logo
QR codes include redundant data so they still scan when part of the pattern is dirty, scratched or covered by a logo. Higher levels tolerate more damage but produce a denser code that needs to be printed larger.
| Level | Recoverable | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| L | ~7% | Screens, long text, dense vCards |
| M | ~15% | Default for most print and web use |
| Q | ~25% | Outdoor signs, packaging |
| H | ~30% | A logo in the middle, rough surfaces |
How big should a printed QR code be?
- Size should be at least a tenth of scan distance
- Business cards need at least 2 cm
- Posters and banners need 10 cm to 50 cm+
- Dense codes need larger than this minimum
A practical rule: the code should be at least one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. Denser codes (long URLs, vCards, high error correction) need to be larger than this minimum.
| Where | Scan distance | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, label | 10–20 cm | 2 cm (0.8 in) |
| Flyer, menu, packaging | 30–50 cm | 3–5 cm (1.2–2 in) |
| Poster, window | 1–2 m | 10–20 cm (4–8 in) |
| Banner, billboard | 5 m+ | 50 cm+ (20 in+) |
Tips for a code that always scans
- Dark modules on light background; avoid low contrast
- Keep the quiet zone at least four modules wide
- Keep data short; a shortened URL scans faster
- Download SVG for anything printed larger than a few cm
Keep dark modules on a light background; inverted or low-contrast colors fail on many phones. Leave the quiet zone (the blank border) intact — at least four modules wide. Keep the data short: a shortened URL scans faster than a 200-character tracking link. Download SVG for anything that will be printed larger than a few centimeters so it stays sharp at any size.
Frequently asked questions
Is this QR code generator really free?
Yes. There is no account, no watermark, no download limit and no expiry. The codes are yours to use commercially.
Do the QR codes expire?
No. They are static codes with your data encoded directly, so they work as long as the website, network or contact they point to exists.
Can I track how many people scan my code?
Not with a static code. If you need scan counts, point the code at a URL with UTM parameters and read the numbers in your website analytics.
Can I put a logo in the middle?
Yes. Under Style & size, choose Add logo and pick a PNG, JPG or SVG. The logo sits on a small panel covering at most a fifth of the code's width, error correction switches to H automatically, and the page decodes the finished code in your browser to confirm it still scans. The logo file never leaves your device. Still test on a couple of phones before a large print run.
How do I know the code will actually scan?
Every time the preview changes, the page renders the finished code to an image and decodes it with an open-source QR reader (jsQR) right in your browser. The line under the preview shows exactly what a scanner reads back. If your colors or logo break the code, you get a warning before you download anything.
PNG or SVG — which should I download?
PNG for documents, slides, email and social media. SVG for print, signage and design software — it scales to any size without blurring.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The code is generated by JavaScript running in your browser. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it still works.
QR code, 2D barcode, matrix code — are they the same thing?
They refer to the same thing. QR stands for Quick Response, and the format is technically a two-dimensional (matrix) barcode. Whatever it is called, the codes made here follow the same ISO/IEC 18004 standard that every phone camera reads.
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