Testing Your QR Codes

The most expensive QR code mistake? Printing 10,000 flyers with a code that doesn't scan. Testing takes two minutes and prevents a disaster.

What to Test

Multiple devices — Your new iPhone scans everything perfectly. Your customer's five-year-old Android might struggle. Test on at least two different phones if you can, ideally one iOS and one Android.

Actual print size — A code that scans on your laptop screen might fail when printed small on a business card. Print a test at the real size before ordering bulk prints.

The destination — Scan and follow the link. Is the page right? Does it load quickly on mobile? You'd be surprised how often people link to the wrong URL or a page that looks terrible on phones.

Minimum Sizes

Dynamic codes have shorter URLs encoded, so they can be smaller. Static codes need more space.

• Dynamic: 2cm × 2cm (about 0.8 inches) minimum, but 3cm+ is safer
• Static: 3cm × 3cm minimum for simple content, larger for longer URLs

When in doubt, go bigger. There's no downside to a larger code except using more space.

Contrast Matters

QR codes need visual contrast to scan. The classic black-on-white works reliably everywhere. If you're using custom colors:

• Dark foreground + light background works best
• Avoid similar shades (dark blue on black, light gray on white)
• Test in different lighting—what looks fine indoors might wash out in sunlight

See our full colors and contrast guide for more on choosing scannable colors. We'll warn you in the customizer if your contrast looks risky, but the real test is scanning the actual code.

Common Mistakes

• Testing only on your own phone (try someone else's)
• Testing on-screen but not at print size
• Assuming it works because "the same design worked last time"
• Adding a logo that covers too much of the code (keep it under 30% of the area)
• Using a glossy material that creates glare

If It Won't Scan

Before panicking: try scanning with a different app or phone. Some camera apps are finicky.

If it consistently fails:

1. Make it bigger
2. Increase the contrast (try black and white)
3. Shrink or remove the logo
4. Simplify the design (remove fancy patterns)

More detailed troubleshooting: Why won't my QR code scan?

The Safety Net

Here's why we recommend dynamic codes for anything you're printing: if you discover an error after the flyers are already at the conference, you can log in and change where the code points. The physical code stays the same, but the destination updates instantly.

Can't do that with static codes—what's encoded is encoded forever.