QR Code Size Chart: The Right Size for Every Use (2026)

Before the chart, the single rule that generates every number in it, because once you understand it, you can size any code, even uses not in the chart.

The 10:1 ratio. The widely-used rule of thumb is a distance-to-size ratio of about 10:1. That means for every 10 units of scanning distance, the code should be about 1 unit wide. So a code scanned from 1 meter away should be roughly 10 centimeters wide; a code scanned from 10 meters away should be roughly 1 meter wide. This simple ratio is the backbone of all QR sizing.

How to use it for any case: 1. Estimate the realistic distance people will scan from. 2. Divide that distance by 10. 3. That is your minimum code width. Then add a margin for safety, since the 10:1 ratio is a minimum, not a comfortable target.

Always size up, never down. The 10:1 ratio is the smallest the code can be and still scan at that distance. In practice, make it a bit bigger than the minimum, because real-world conditions (poor light, older phones, angled scans) need margin. A slightly-too-large code always scans; a minimum-sized one often struggles. When in doubt, go bigger.

Do not forget the quiet zone. Whatever the code size, it needs a clear margin (quiet zone) around it to scan. The sizes in the chart are for the code itself; always leave clear space around it too. See QR code best practices.

With that rule in hand, the chart below is just the common cases worked out for you.

Here are the recommended minimum sizes for common uses, based on typical scanning distances. These are practical minimums, size up if you can, and always keep a clear quiet zone.

The pattern: each step farther away roughly multiplies the size. Find the row that matches how your code will actually be scanned, take the size (or a bit larger), and you are set.

A few factors shift the numbers up or down from the chart. Account for these when they apply to your situation.

Scanning conditions (make it bigger). If the code will be scanned in poor light, at an angle, by people with older phones, or in a rushed moment (someone walking past), size up from the chart minimums. Difficult conditions need extra margin. See why codes fail to scan.

Code complexity / density (make it bigger). A code holding more data has more, smaller modules (a denser pattern), which needs to be printed larger to stay scannable. If your code encodes a long URL or lots of data, or uses high error correction, bump the size up. The simpler the code, the smaller it can safely be. See error correction levels and maximum data a QR code can hold.

Print quality (print crisp at the size). A code must be printed sharply at its final size. A blurry or low-resolution print fails even at the right dimensions, so print from a high-resolution or vector file. See SVG vs PNG for print.

On a curved or awkward surface (make it bigger / reposition). If the code wraps around a curve (a bottle, a cup) or sits on an uneven surface, give it extra size and keep it on the flattest area, since distortion reduces effective scannability.

The simple adjustment rule: Start from the chart, then size UP (never down) for any difficult factor: hard conditions, dense data, curved surfaces. The cost of a slightly-too-big code is nothing; the cost of a slightly-too-small one is a code that will not scan.

People often search for the "maximum" or "largest" QR code size, which usually means one of two different questions. Here is the quick answer to both.

"How large can I make a QR code?" (physical size): effectively unlimited. There is no real upper limit on how physically large a QR code can be, billboards and building-sized codes exist. As long as you scale it up cleanly (from a vector file) and keep its proportions square, you can make a code as large as you need. Bigger is generally safer for scanning, not worse. So there is no "maximum size" ceiling to worry about; size to your viewing distance and go as large as the space allows.

"How much data can a QR code hold?" (capacity): that is a different question. Often "maximum QR code" really means "how much can it store," which is about data capacity, not physical size. QR codes can hold a surprising amount of data, but more data makes the pattern denser and requires a larger print to stay scannable. For the capacity question, see maximum data a QR code can hold.

The bottom line: QR code sizing is governed by one rule, size follows scanning distance (about 10:1), and the chart above applies it to every common use. Find your use, take that size or a bit larger, keep the quiet zone, print it crisp, and size up for any tricky conditions. Do that and your code will be exactly as big as it needs to be, no more guessing.