Free QR Code Generator

Generate a QR code for any text, URL, Wi-Fi credential, or contact card. Choose size and error-correction level, then download as PNG. Free, no signup, no watermark.

Enter your details
Result
Enter your details on the left, then press Calculate.

More Everyday Tools tools

See all →

What is this calculator for?

You're handing out business cards but want to make WiFi info easy to share. Or you're putting up restaurant menus and want diners to scan to view. Or you're sending wedding invitations and want guests to RSVP via a QR code. The QR code generator creates scannable 2D barcodes that encode URLs, text, contact info, WiFi credentials, payment links — anything fits in a few hundred characters.

QR (Quick Response) codes were invented by Denso Wave in 1994 for tracking automotive parts. The modern wave of adoption came with smartphone cameras in the 2010s — every modern phone scans QR codes natively without needing a special app. Use cases exploded: restaurant menus during COVID, contactless payments (especially in Asia), event tickets, marketing campaigns, contact sharing, WiFi network sharing. In the United States, QR-code adoption surged after 2020 — Square reports that roughly half of US-based restaurants now use them for menus and checkout, and the IRS even prints QR codes on certain tax notices that link to taxpayer guidance.

This generator creates QR codes from URLs, plain text, contact (vCard), WiFi credentials, email links, phone numbers, and more. The result is a PNG or SVG image that you can save, print, or display on screens. The tool is free, runs entirely in your browser, and is popular with American small-business owners, event organizers, and educators.

How to use this calculator

Pick the content type: URL (most common), plain text, contact card (vCard), WiFi network, email link, phone number, SMS template, calendar event.

Enter your content. For URLs: include the full URL including https://. For WiFi: network name (SSID) + password + encryption type (WPA, WPA2, WEP, none). For vCard: name, organization, phone, email.

Optionally customize: size (200-1000 px typical), error correction level (L/M/Q/H — higher tolerates more damage but produces denser QR), color (some scanners require high contrast; black on white is safest).

Download the generated QR code as PNG (for web use) or SVG (for print, scales to any size).

Understanding your results

The tool outputs a scannable QR code image containing your specified content.

QR code reliability factors. Size: minimum 1×1 inch for casual scanning; 2×2 inch for reliable far-distance scanning; 4×4 inch+ for posters and signage. Contrast: black on white scans best; colored QR codes work but only with high contrast. Damage tolerance: error correction levels L (7%), M (15%), Q (25%), H (30%) — higher levels still scan even when partially damaged or obscured. For outdoor advertising or printed at small sizes, use error correction Q or H.

Maximum content size. QR codes can hold up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 7,089 numeric digits in maximum-density mode. Practical limit: URLs under 100 characters scan reliably at any size; longer URLs require larger QR codes. For long URLs: use a URL shortener (bit.ly, Mubboo's link shortener) — shorter URL = simpler QR code = better scannability.

Tracking and analytics. Direct QR codes don't track scans. To measure usage: encode a URL with UTM parameters (utm_source=qr&utm_medium=poster&utm_campaign=spring_2025). When scanned, your analytics see the UTM tags. Alternative: use a QR code platform that provides built-in analytics (Beaconstac, Flowcode, QR Code Generator Pro) — your URL is a tracker URL that redirects to destination while logging the scan.

Common QR code use cases:

Restaurant menus: link to the menu page (with mobile-optimized layout).

Business cards: vCard format auto-adds contact to phone address book.

WiFi sharing: guests scan, phone connects automatically (Android and iOS both support).

Event tickets: encoded ticket ID for fast entry scanning.

Product packaging: link to instructions, warranty, or product video.

Marketing campaigns: link to landing page (always with UTM parameters for tracking).

Payment: payment provider's QR contains the payee info (Square, PayPal, Venmo, etc. all support QR-based payment).

A worked example

A small restaurant owner wants to put QR-code menus on each table. She wants the menu to auto-display when guests scan.

Step 1: she creates a mobile-optimized menu page at her domain: https://restaurant.com/menu. Page is responsive, designed for smartphone viewing.

Step 2: she adds UTM parameters for tracking: https://restaurant.com/menu?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=table&utm_campaign=may2025.

Step 3: generates QR codes from this URL. Each table has a small printed sign with the QR. Error correction level Q (handles partial damage from spills, fading). Size: 2 inches × 2 inches printed.

Step 4: each Monday she reviews Google Analytics, filtering by utm_source=qr to see how many menu views came from table scans vs other channels. First month: 1,800 scans from 22 tables across the restaurant — averaging 82 scans/table/month. Healthy adoption.

Variation: same restaurant offers WiFi to guests. She creates a WiFi QR code: SSID "RestaurantGuest" + password "DeliciousFood2025" + WPA2 encryption. Prints small QR cards for tables. Guests scan, phone shows "Connect to RestaurantGuest?" — tap yes, connected. No more shouting WiFi password across the dining room.

Variation: vCard contact sharing. A consultant generates a vCard QR with her name, business, phone, email, LinkedIn URL. Prints on business cards (alongside traditional text). Networking event recipients: scan card, contact auto-saves to phone address book. The traditional "type contact info from business card into phone manually" pattern disappears.

Related resources

For URL-related tools, see URL Encoder. For other generation tools, the Password Generator and Lorem Ipsum Generator. For analytics tracking on scanned URLs, set up UTM parameters and Google Analytics. Denso Wave's QR code site is the original inventor's reference page; QR code Wikipedia entry covers technical specifications.

Related calculators

password generatorunit converter

Frequently asked questions

What is a QR code?

A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional barcode that encodes text or URLs. Phones with a camera scan it and either display the text or open the link directly. They were invented in 1994 by Denso Wave for auto-parts tracking and became ubiquitous after iOS 11 added native scanning.

How do I scan it?

Most modern smartphones scan QR codes from the default camera app — point and tap the notification. No separate scanner app is needed on iPhones (iOS 11+) or recent Android devices.

What error correction level should I pick?

M (15%) is the standard default. Pick higher (Q or H) if the QR will be printed and might get scratched, partially obscured, or shrunk for a sticker. Higher error correction increases the density of the QR but lets it survive damage — useful for outdoor signs or product packaging.

Can I edit a QR code after generating it?

No — the QR code's pattern is fixed once generated. To change the destination: regenerate the QR code with new content. Caveat: some QR code services offer 'dynamic QR codes' — the QR code points to a tracker URL on their service, which redirects to your actual destination. You can update the destination without changing the QR code. Useful for printed materials where reprinting QR codes is expensive. Trade-off: requires a third-party service (paid subscription typically) and the link tracker can sometimes be slow.

Do all phones scan QR codes natively?

Yes for modern iOS (iOS 11+, 2017) and Android (Android 8+, 2017) phones. Point the camera at the QR code; the OS recognizes it and shows a notification to open the link or perform the action. No app required. Older phones (pre-2017) may need a QR scanner app. Some camera apps from third parties (especially in China, Russia) have integrated QR scanning. For business communications: assume native phone scanning works; don't ask users to download a special app.

Are QR codes secure?

Mostly, with caveats. QR codes themselves are just encoded text or URLs; the scanner reads the content and performs the action. Risks: malicious URLs that lead to phishing sites (the QR encodes a tracker URL or shortened URL that hides the actual destination — users don't see the URL before tapping). Modern phone scanners show the URL before opening it, allowing you to inspect before tapping. Best practice: don't scan QR codes from unknown sources without inspecting the URL; use a scanner that shows URLs before opening (most modern phones do this by default). For business: don't ask users to scan codes that lead to unrelated URLs (looks like phishing).

What's the longest content I can put in a QR code?

Up to 7,089 numeric digits or 4,296 alphanumeric characters in maximum-density mode. Practical limit much lower — dense QR codes are physically larger and require more pixels to scan reliably. For most use cases: keep content under 100-200 characters. For URLs: use a URL shortener (bit.ly, Mubboo) if your URL is over 100 chars. Long URLs (300+ chars) generate complex QR codes that may not scan reliably at small printed sizes.

Can I customize QR code design with colors or logos?

Yes, with caveats. Colors: change foreground and background colors; high contrast required (black on white is safest; pastel on white may fail). Logos in center: error correction level Q or H allows a small logo (up to ~25% of code area) to be overlaid; the error correction handles the obscured pixels. Custom shapes (rounded corners, decorative borders): supported by many design-focused QR generators. The aesthetic trade-off: heavily customized QR codes can fail to scan if optimized too aggressively for design. For mission-critical scanning (event tickets, payment links): stick with high-contrast black-on-white. For marketing where some scan failure is acceptable: customize freely.

Sources