How to make a QR code
- Pick a type such as website, Wi-Fi or contact card.
- Enter the link or details you want in the code.
- Choose an error correction level and colors.
- Press Generate and check the preview.
- Download a PNG for screens or an SVG for print.
What this QR code generator gives you
- Standard codes built entirely in your browser.
- Four error correction levels from 7 to 30 percent.
- PNG for screens and SVG for sharp print at any size.
- Custom code and background colors with a live preview.
- Presets for websites and Wi-Fi plus email, phone and contacts.
- No tracking or redirect. No expiry and no account.
Why many free QR code generators are not really free
Many QR services do not put your link in the code. They put a link to their own site. Then they redirect visitors to you. That gives them data about every scan. It also gives you a code that dies when they change prices or close down. Some simply decide your free plan has expired.
Printed codes suffer most. You cannot update a code on a poster, a business card or a menu. A redirect service that vanishes breaks every copy at once. This tool puts your data straight into the code. No service sits between the scanner and your link.
Error correction and why more is not always better
QR codes carry spare data so they still scan when damaged. Each level handles a different amount of damage.
| Level | Damage it survives | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L | About 7 percent | Short links on clean screens |
| M | About 15 percent | Screens and clean print |
| Q | About 25 percent | Flyers and stickers |
| H | About 30 percent | Packaging, outdoor signs and codes with a logo |
Higher levels pack more data into the grid. The squares get smaller at the same image size. So pick M for most uses. Pick H for anything that may suffer scuffs or water. The same goes for codes that something may partly cover. A logo in the center counts as damage on purpose.
The quiet zone matters
The blank border around a QR code is part of the standard. It must be at least four squares wide. Scanners use it to find the edge of the code.
Designers often trim it to fit a layout. The code then scans badly or not at all. It often works on the designer's phone and fails on many others. Short on space? Make the whole code smaller. Keep the border.
Contrast and color
Scanners expect dark squares on a light background. Reversed colors break many readers. Contrast matters more than the exact colors. Dark navy on white works. Mid gray on beige does not.
Avoid red on white. Some laser scanners read red as white and see nothing. Gradients and busy backgrounds also hurt reliability even when they look nice.
How big should a printed code be?
A common rule says the code should be at least a tenth of the scan distance. Read from 12 inches away it needs to be about 1.2 inches wide. On a poster read from 10 feet it needs about 12 inches. Test the printed code with two or three different phones before a big print run.
A quick QR code generator example
Pick the Wi-Fi preset for a guest network. Enter the network name and password. Choose the security type. Press Generate. Print the PNG and tape it near the door. Guests scan it and join without typing a long password.
Tips before you print
- Scan the final file with at least two phones.
- Use the SVG file for anything larger than a postcard.
- Add a short line of text that says what the code opens.
- Point the code at a page you control so you can update the content.
That last tip matters a lot. The code itself never changes. The page it opens can change any time. Link to a page on your own site. Then update the page and every printed code stays useful for years.
Who uses a QR code generator?
Restaurants share menus. Small businesses print codes on cards and flyers. Teachers link to class pages. Event hosts share schedules. Landlords share Wi-Fi with tenants.
Your data stays private
Your browser builds every code. No server sees your links or Wi-Fi passwords. Need a strong Wi-Fi password first? Use the password generator. Want to check a link before you encode it? The URL parser helps. Want a smaller image for a website? Try the image compressor.