QR code for a website (from a link)
A link to a website, online store, Google Form, PDF menu or Instagram profile. Scanning it opens the page right away.
Online QR Code Generator
Create your own QR code instantly and completely free. We support 9 content types: URLs, WiFi credentials, vCard business cards, emails, SMS messages, phone numbers, GPS locations, and calendar events. Customize the colors and the shape of dots and corners, add a logo or a frame with text, enable quiet zone for better readability, and download in PNG, SVG or PDF format. QR codes are perfect for marketing materials, business cards, restaurant menus, or event tickets.
Generate QR Code
Your QR code:
Example
This is an example. Fill in the content and your QR code appears here.
The PDF could not be created. Reload the page and try again.
Several QR codes on one page Letter-size PDF to print and cut out, for tables or stickers.
Print the sheet at actual size (100%) and cut along the lines.
{n} is replaced with the number of the code, such as Table 1, Table 2.
- Content
- -
- Type
- Plain text
- Size:
- 300x300 px
- Error correction:
- M
- Format
- PNG
- Quiet zone
- 2
- Colors
- #000000 #ffffff
How to create a QR code for free
- 1 Choose the content type: website link, WiFi, business card, text, email, phone, SMS, location or event.
- 2 Fill in the details. The QR code preview appears as you type.
- 3 If you like, change the colors and the shape of dots and corners, or add a logo or a frame with text. Under the preview you see whether a reader could scan the code.
- 4 Download the QR code as PNG for the web and everyday printing, as SVG or PDF for print shops, or as a letter-size sheet with several codes to cut out.
No sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many codes you make. You can use the QR codes commercially too.
Your data stays in your browser
The QR code is created right on your device. The link, text or WiFi password is never sent to a server or stored anywhere, so it is safe to put even your home network login into a QR code.
Tips for a QR code that always scans
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Use a dark code on a light background. Some scanners cannot read inverted colors.
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Keep a quiet zone around the code, an empty margin at least 4 modules wide.
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The shorter the content, the simpler the pattern. Shorten long links before creating the code.
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Print it at least 0.8 × 0.8 in (2 × 2 cm). For scanning from a distance, plan for about a tenth of that distance.
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If the code might get damaged or partly covered, choose a higher error correction level (Q or H).
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Test the code on two or three phones before printing a whole batch.
Which QR code do you need?
The generator handles 9 content types. Click a type and the form above switches to it.
WiFi QR code
Guests connect without typing the password. All you need is the network name, password and security type.
Business card QR code (vCard)
Name, phone, email and website are saved straight to the contacts after scanning.
Text QR code
A short message, code, instructions or anything else that should appear after scanning.
Email QR code
Opens a new email with the address, subject and text already filled in.
Phone number QR code
After scanning, the phone offers to call the number.
SMS QR code
Prepares a text message with the number and content, ready to send. Handy for contests and polls.
Location QR code
GPS coordinates open in maps. Directions to a shop, a wedding venue or an entrance.
Event QR code
Adds the event name, date and place to the calendar, for example from an invitation or poster.
Where QR codes come in handy
QR codes for tables: menus and ordering
A sticker or table tent with a QR code opens the menu, an order form or your website. Link the code to a menu you control, such as a page on your site or a PDF in Google Drive. In Drive, set access to “Anyone with the link” and upload a new menu through “Manage versions” into the same file, otherwise the code keeps opening the old menu. When prices change, you update the page and the code stays the same. For several tables, download the letter-size sheet and add the table number under each code.
Weddings and photo sharing
A QR code on the tables or in the invitation takes guests to a shared album, for example in Google Photos, where they upload their pictures.
Google reviews
Put the review link from your Google Business Profile into a QR code. Customers can rate you straight from their phone.
Flyers, posters and business cards
A link to your website or your contact details right on paper. Use SVG for printing and the code stays sharp at any size.
Memorials and remembrance pages
A QR code on a headstone can lead to a page with memories and photos. Send the SVG file to the stonemason for engraving.
Invoices and payments
Payment QR codes follow a set format, such as the EPC QR code used for SEPA transfers, and are created by invoicing software or online banking. This generator does not create them yet.
How a QR code works
A QR code is a grid of dark and light squares called modules. Some of them help the scanner find and straighten the code, the rest carry the content itself plus backup data. Thanks to that, the code still scans when it is slightly damaged, dirty or partly covered.
Error correction levels
| Level | When to use it |
|---|---|
| LLow (~7%) | Codes on screens or in clean conditions. The simplest pattern. |
| MMedium (~15%) | Everyday printing. The default in the generator. |
| QQuartile (~25%) | Stickers and posters outdoors, where the code can get scratched. |
| HHigh (~30%) | Codes with a logo in the middle or a high risk of damage. |
What a QR code is made of
Point at an item in the list to highlight it.
- Finder patterns. The three large squares let a scanner find the code and work out how it is rotated.
- Alignment pattern. Helps correct distortion when the code is photographed at an angle or printed on a curved surface.
- Timing patterns. Alternating modules between the finder patterns tell the scanner how big the grid is.
- Format information. The error correction level and the mask in use. The code stores them twice, in two identical copies. Next to the lower copy sits one module that is always dark.
- Data and error correction. The content itself plus backup codewords for error correction. Depending on the level (L, M, Q or H), about 7 to 30% of the codewords can be restored, so a partly damaged code still scans.
- Quiet zone. An empty margin at least 4 modules wide. Without it, scanners often fail to find the code.
Free QR codes that never expire
The QR codes from this generator are static. The content is stored right in the image, so the code never expires, has no scan limit and does not depend on any service that could shut down or start charging fees.
The content cannot be changed after printing, though. If you want to change where the code points, put in a link to a page you control and update that page instead. Paid dynamic QR codes often stop working when the subscription ends.
How to prepare a QR code for print
PNG is enough for the web and documents. For print shops, stickers and large formats, download SVG or PDF, which scale without losing quality. When you need several copies, download the letter-size sheet, choose how many codes go in a row and print it at actual size. Print the code in a dark color on a light background, leave a margin around it and test one printed copy before printing the whole batch.
QR code guides
More detailed articles on print size, safety, WiFi, business cards and why a QR code sometimes does not work.
- What is a QR code and how does it work?
- Are QR codes safe? How to scan them wisely
- QR code not working or scanning empty? Causes and fixes
- What size should a QR code be for print?
- Static vs dynamic QR code: what is the difference?
- How to create a QR code for an event and calendar
- How to create a vCard QR code for a business card
- PNG or SVG for a QR code: which format should you choose?
- How to create a WiFi QR code for guests
- How to create a QR code for free
Related Tools
More generators for test data, codes and placeholder content.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the QR code generator really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many codes you make. You can use the QR codes commercially too.
Do QR codes expire?
No. A static QR code stores its content right in the image and works forever. It only stops working if its target disappears, for example the website it links to.
How many times can a QR code be scanned?
As many times as you like. A static QR code does not count or track anything.
How do I create a QR code from a link?
Choose the URL type, paste the link and download the image. Copy the whole link from your browser, including the https:// at the start.
How do I create a WiFi QR code?
Choose the WiFi type and enter the network name (SSID), the password and the security type, usually WPA/WPA2. After scanning, the phone connects without typing the password.
Can I change a QR code after printing it?
Not a static one. If you need to change the target, put a link to your own page into the code and update the content there.
Can I add a logo to a QR code?
Yes. In the Logo section, upload an image (PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG) and set its size. Error correction switches to high (H) on its own, and under the preview you see whether a reader could scan the code. Keep the logo on the small side and test the printed code with a phone.
How do I create a payment QR code?
Payment QR codes use a fixed format, such as the EPC QR code for SEPA transfers, and are created by invoicing software or your bank's online banking. This generator does not create payment QR codes yet.
How do I scan a QR code?
Open the camera on your phone and point it at the code. Most Android phones and iPhones recognize it on their own; otherwise Google Lens will help.
PNG, SVG or PDF - which format should I download?
PNG is an image that works for the web, documents and everyday printing. SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without losing quality, so it is better for print shops and large formats. PDF is vector too, so it also suits print shops. To print several codes at once, use the letter-size sheet to cut out.
What is the quiet zone?
The quiet zone is the empty margin around a QR code. It helps the scanner see where the code starts and ends. Keep it on, especially when the code sits on a colored background.
How much text fits in a QR code?
At most about 2,900 characters of plain text or 7,000 digits. The more data, the denser and harder to read the code gets, so keep the content as short as you can.
How do I put a QR code into Word or Canva?
Download the QR code as PNG or SVG and insert it as an image. Both Word and Canva support SVG, so the code stays sharp even when enlarged.
What is a QR code?
A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional barcode. It can hold a link, text, a contact or WiFi login, and you scan it with your phone camera.