QR Code Generator
A QR code is a square barcode that any modern phone camera can read in a second, turning a printed page into a link, a menu, a contact card, or a payment page with no typing at all. Restaurants print them on tables so guests can read the menu, shops put them on posters so passers-by can visit a website, and event organisers print them on tickets so a door scanner can check people in. This free QR code generator makes one for you in seconds, with no sign-up, no watermark, and no cost. Type or paste any text or website address, choose the size and the error correction level, and tap Generate. The code appears on the page instantly and you can download it as a PNG image, ready to paste into a flyer, a business card, a slide deck, or a product label. Everything runs in your browser: your text is never uploaded to a server, and the downloaded image is yours to use however you like. Because the code is generated locally, it works offline too once the page has loaded, which makes it handy when you are preparing print materials on the move.
Your QR Code
How to Use This QR Code Generator
- Enter the text or link you want to encode. For a website, include the full address starting with https:// so phones open it directly.
- Choose a size. Use 256 pixels for screens and slides, and 512 or 1024 pixels for printing, so the code stays sharp at a larger size.
- Choose an error correction level. Level M suits most uses. Pick H if the code will be printed outdoors, handled a lot, or partly covered by a logo.
- Tap Generate QR Code, test it with your phone, then tap Download PNG to save the image and use it wherever you need it.
What Is a QR Code?
A QR code, short for Quick Response code, is a two-dimensional barcode invented in Japan in 1994 for tracking car parts, and it has since become the standard way to move information from paper to phone. Unlike a traditional barcode, which stores data in a single row of stripes, a QR code stores data in a grid of black and white squares called modules, read both across and down. That grid can hold a web address, a few hundred characters of text, or a small amount of structured data such as a Wi-Fi login. The three large squares in the corners tell a scanner where the code starts and how it is oriented, so a phone can read it from any angle, even upside down.
Tips for Printable QR Codes
A QR code that looks fine on screen can fail on paper, so a few printing rules make all the difference. Print black modules on a white background with the highest contrast you can manage, and never invert the colours, because most phone cameras expect dark modules on a light background. Leave a clear white margin — the quiet zone — at least four modules wide around the whole code, and do not let text, logos, or borders crowd it. Size matters more than most people expect: a code linking to a short address can be as small as 2 centimetres across, but a code holding a long link needs to be bigger, because every extra character adds modules and shrinks each one.
Worked Example
Suppose you run a small café and want customers to open your menu on their phones. You enter https://example.com as the text, choose a size of 256 × 256 pixels and error correction level M, then tap Generate QR Code. The tool draws a square code that any phone camera can read, and the results panel confirms the encoded text, the size, and the level. You scan it with your own phone to check that it opens the right page, then tap Download PNG and save the image as qr-code.png. You paste that image onto your table cards at a printed size of about 3 centimetres, with a clear white margin around it. A customer points their phone at the card, the menu opens, and no app or typing is needed. If you later move the menu to a new address, remember to generate a fresh code, because the printed picture still holds the old link.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I put in a QR code?
You can encode a website address, a block of text, a Wi-Fi password, an email address, or a phone number. Most phones open a link automatically when they scan a QR code, so links are the most common use. Keep the content short when you can, because shorter content makes a simpler code that scans more easily.
Do I need to sign up or pay to use this QR code generator?
No. This QR code generator is completely free, with no sign-up, no account, and no watermark. The code is generated in your browser, and you can download it as a PNG and use it on a flyer, a menu, a business card, or a website.
What does error correction level mean?
Error correction lets a QR code still scan when part of it is damaged, dirty, or covered by a logo. Level L recovers about 7 percent of the code, M about 15 percent, Q about 25 percent, and H about 30 percent. Higher levels make the code denser, so M is a good balance for most uses and H is best for printed codes that may get worn.
Why will my QR code not scan?
The most common causes are a code printed too small, low contrast between the code and its background, or a link typed incorrectly. Print the code at least 2 centimetres across, use black modules on a white background, leave a clear white margin around it, and test it with your own phone before you print hundreds of copies.
Does my QR code expire?
No. A QR code is just a picture of the text or link you entered, so it never expires on its own. It will keep working as long as the link it points to still works. If you change the website address later, you will need to generate a new code, because the old picture still holds the old address.