QRTRAC is a QR code generator and content creation, engagement platform which allow you to create, manage and add custom branded QR codes in your campaigns or create touch points with your customers to drive offline to online traffic.
We believe QR codes should be equally accessible to all individuals and companies, no matter the size. QRTRAC is the only platform which provides unlimited free users, teams and unlimited QR code scans at no additional cost with any plans.
Static QR codes need to be reprinted when you require an update to the content. Static QR codes are also called permanent QR codes that never expires.
Dynamic QR codes are the future of interactive customer engagement. It's a two-way dialogue: customers use your QR code to connect with your business and you use the experience to gather valuable insights. Dynamic QR codes are more than just a link to your website, they're a direct line to customer feedback, sales leads, and marketing insights
Content behind the dynamic QR code can be changed and tracked at any point of time, even after a QR code is printed. However, static QR codes are need to be reprinted should you require an update.When using a single dynamic QR code for multiple marketing campaigns, we can track the performance of each campaign (using different URLs in each campaign and setting an expiry date for each campaign)
Steps to create Dynamic QR codeWith our paid plan "Business", bring your own branded domain to the platform! Set up your domain as your QR code domain and the redirect link that appears when your QRTRAC QR code is scanned.
Dynamic QR Codes have a short link embedded in them, which can redirect the user to the destination website URL. The QR code can be changed after it has been generated or printed, but the short URL embedded in the code remains the same. This makes QR codes super-efficient and valuable for money since you do not need to print codes again. You can simply reuse the same QR Code and manage destination content without changing the QR Code picture.
A short URL in dynamic code is a permanent QR code link that is visible to the end-user when they scan your QR code before it gets redirected to the destination content. Having this URL to show your brand is very important when it comes to building trust in your brand since this is the first touchpoint when somebody scans your QR code.
Brand identity:
Your brand is your most valuable asset and the best way to build trust in your brand is with a custom branded domain. However, purchasing a domain can be expensive. With our company, you can build trust in your brand with a customized branded domain at reasonable prices.
When a QR code is scanned by your customer, it is very important to point your QR codes to your domain identity via QR code domain URL, your brand logo, etc. Your brand’s reputation, values, and all the other parts of how your brand is displayed across marketing channels are all part of your brand identity. It frequently serves as a company’s “personality,” defining how items or services are advertised and encouraging specific consumer interactions.
Create your own custom domains for your business at a fraction of the cost. QR codes are the future of marketing: Activate your QR code to send customers to a customized landing page that displays relevant information about your products and services - all with just one scan. We provide both Dynamic QR Codes and Premium Custom Domains that make it easy to create and manage content on the go.
Utilizing a custom domain, your branded QR codes will always be available to your customers. Customers will know they are clicking on a branded link and can trust that they will be directed to the appropriate landing page. This will help you build your brand and increase customer
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Getting your QR code minimum size right is the difference between successfully rolling out an incredibly convenient touchless technology and failure. Remember, there are also different QR code types so choose wisely.
In this post we’ll cover:
Ideal QR code scanning distance
QR code minimum size
How big your QR code needs to be
QR code resolution requirements
How big micro QR codes are
QR codes were designed for a 10:1 distance-to-size ratio. That means the optimal distance of a QR code scanner from a QR code is 10 times the width of the QR code. In other words, if a QR code is 2" wide, scan it from 20” away. When making sure your QR code works with a QR code test, scan with this QR code distance to size ratio in mind.
The minimum size of a QR code is 2 x 2 cm, or roughly 0.8 x 0.8”. There is no standardized QR code size, and QR codes can actually be smaller than 2 x 2 centimeters. But to make sure the majority of current smartphones can scan it, a QR should be at least 2 centimeters wide by 2 centimeters long.
And to engage in QR code marketing and QR code tracking sufficiently, you typically need a QR code larger than the minimum.
We know a QR code should be a minimum of 2 x 2 cm, in general. But that may not be the ideal size for your use case. Here’s how to determine the minimum size for your QR code.
How big your QR code needs to be is a function of scanning distance, for the most part. You know a QR code needs a 10:1 distance-to-size ratio. So think about where you’ll place your QR code and what physical constraints that placement may have for the people scanning it. The key is predicting the natural, comfortable scanning distance based on the physical environment.
Let’s use a restaurant as an example. If you place a QR code menu or QR-based digital wine list facing up on a table, people will likely be scanning it from a few inches away. They won’t naturally hold their phone up high off the table surface. On the flip side, place a digital menu QR code template or a QR code on the table or the wall of a 4-6 person booth and it’ll need to be bigger to account for everyone at the table.
Sometimes data amount affects the size of your QR code. Especially when you have a lot of data and you're attempting to print the code at a lower resolution.
At present, there are 40 versions of the QR code. Version 1 is 21 data modules wide x 21 data modules high. Data modules are the little black and white squares that make up QR codes. Version 2 is 25 x 25. And on until version 40, which is 177 x 177. Each version has a higher information capacity than the previous version. When you create a QR code, the version used is based on the amount of characters (AKA data) you encode. It can be a lot, which is one of the most defining things about the QR code vs the barcode. The more data, the more rows and columns the QR code has.
For example, let's say you're creating a QR code for a digital menu that's published on the following URL:
That's 56 alphanumeric characters. It would require a version 3 QR code with 29 x 29 data modules. That's not enough data to warrant straying from the 10:1 QR code distance to size ratio. Read more about QR code versions.
But to ensure scannability with more complex QR codes, they can be made a bit larger. See the "Minimum Size for QR Code Print" section below.
To reduce the size of your QR code, you can do three things. Lower the character count, lower the error correction, and remove a central graphic if it exists. Large QR codes can slow down scanning. Decreasing QR codes keeps them true to their name. The QR code meaning is “quick response code,” after all.
As we saw, the fewer rows and columns a QR code has, the smaller it can be. If you went from URL to QR code, you can shorten the character count by using a shortened version of the URL. That’ll allow you to use a lower version QR code and safely make the QR code smaller.
There are four levels of QR code error correction. The highest level, Level H, stores enough backup data to maintain QR code functionality with up to 30% QR code damage. By using a lower level of error correction, less data modules are taken up for storage. And the QR code can safely decrease in size.
Many custom QR codes have a central image or logo. If you’re trying to create a very small QR code, you can do away with optional aesthetic pieces like that. Any room you can clear within the data matrix is valuable real estate.
The actual minimum size for scanning ISO 18004-compliant QR codes is 10 mm, which is 1 cm or roughly 0.4”. But, as we said, many modern smartphones need at least double that to reliably scan. Stick with a 2-centimeter minimum and 10:1 distance-to-size ratio when printing or placing your QR code and you’ll be fine. Unless your QR code is extremely complex and you don’t have the ability to print high-resolution images.
If you don’t have the ability to print high-resolution, here’s a rule for QR code minimum size for large, complicated QR codes. For every 5 rows and columns of your QR code, you can increase its size by about .2” to ensure a 12” scan distance.
You will have to account for this increase in size when you place the QR code, though. But, in the absence of high-resolution printing, this rule ensures that more complex codes remain scannable.
QR Code Dimensions
Here’s a QR code chart that shows QR code dimensions and ideal scan distances based on character amount. Again, this is mostly for dense, data-heavy QR codes. Most of the time the 10:1 ratio suffices.
What Size QR Code for Business Card
The ideal QR code side for business cards is roughly 0.8 x 0.8”. If you use 1 square inch, it’s not the end of the world. The ideal scanning distance just increases a touch. This assumes a standard-sized business card of 9 x 5 cm or 3.5 x 2”.
QR Code Resolution Requirements
A QR code’s minimum resolution should be 76 x 76 px, or 2 x 2 cm. That’s because 1 centimeter is approximately 38 pixels and the minimum QR code size is 2 x 2 cm. If using imperial measurements, 1 inch is approximately 96 pixels.
How Big is a Micro QR Code?
A micro QR code can be under 1 square centimeter. Micro QR codes were designed by Denso Wave (the same QR code inventor) to be a smaller, more compact version. The smallest micro QR code is 11 x 11 modules and the largest is 17 x 17. The very smallest QR code is 21 x 21 modules.
So, Just How Small Can a QR Code Be?
QR code minimum size is about 1 x 1 cm—and even smaller if using micro QR codes. But that’s not recommended. The practical minimum of a QR code is at least 2 x 2 cm to account for the scanning capability of the majority of modern smartphones and QR code scanner apps. But the ideal size of a QR code is all based on scanning distance and data amount.
For the most part, a 10:1 distance-to-size ratio will work. 90% of the time if you stick to that rule, you’ll be fine. There are edge cases, though. When a QR code needs to be bigger because there’s so much information in it and high resolution printing isn’t available. In that case, use the .2” per 5 modules rule.
If you’re a restaurant replacing single use menus with QR codes, though, all you’ll be encoding is a URL. You won’t need to worry about large, complex static QR codes.
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