QR codes are becoming increasingly common nowadays due to their numerous benefits. The main benefit of QR codes is that they’ve made it easy and convenient to transfer information from the businesses to their customers. One scan and they know all about your business.
But the one thing that impairs QR codes’ usefulness is their wrong sizing.
Your QR code minimum size should be carefully chosen, otherwise, your prospects won’t be able to quickly scan your code and you will lose some of your potential scans.
So, is there an established size for QR codes? What’s the QR code minimum size? Read on to know all about QR code sizing.
Why Is Your QR Code Minimum Size Important?
Choosing your QR code minimum size is crucial to scan it effectively. Nowadays, almost everyone uses smartphones and scan QR codes. Some smartphones have good cameras while others don’t. If your QR code is too small, then smartphones with an average camera may not be able to decode it.
As a result, the scanners will be frustrated, and you might lose some of your potential clients. So, it’s highly recommended that you research the factors that influence the sizing of QR codes to choose a perfect size.
Factors To Consider When Determining the Right Size For Your QR Codes
- Scanning Distance
You need to know the spot where you’ll advertise your QR code.
Do you plan to position it on billboards? Or on your business cards?
Determining the distance between the scanner and the QR code is vital. Let’s grasp this with the help of an example.
Assume you planted your QR code on a billboard. That means the scanner will be here 20 ft from it. If your QR code is too small, then it will be impossible for the scanner’s mobile camera to catch it.
- Data Size
The more information a QR code contains, the smaller its dots get. And as the dots get smaller and smaller, it’s harder for smartphones to encode them.
So, if you want to embed a large amount of data in your QR code, you better choose a bigger size for it.
The Standard Formula for Calculating The Ideal QR Code Size
As you now know that scanning distance and the size of data play a key role in determining your QR code minimum size, let’s talk about how you can calculate the ideal size for your QR code.
There is an established way to calculate it. That is: dividing the scanning distance by 10. So, for example, if the scanner needs to scan the QR code from a distance of 10 inches, then the optimum size for your code is 1×1 inch.
You can follow this formula every time. It doesn’t matter if the scanner needs to scan it from near or far.
QR Code Minimum Size
The minimum size for a QR code that you should opt for is 2×2 cm. QR codes can be smaller than that. There is no rock bottom. But we recommend that you choose 2×2 cm or 0.8×0.8 inches so that it qualifies to scan on most mobile devices.
Besides, if you ever want to track customer engagement with your code in the future, then it’s mandatory to have a size greater than the minimum.
QR Code Maximum Size
Like the QR code minimum size, there is no maximum size for QR codes. It can be very big if the distance requires it to be big. Now we don’t know what your scanning distance is. It might be 20 feet or 100 but the one thing that remains the same is you need to divide the distance by ten. That’s your ideal size.
We encourage you to have a slightly bigger QR code size because that increases the odds of scanning it effectively.
Resolution Of Your QR Code
Another important issue that you need to address before determining the QR code minimum size is its resolution.
The resolution simply means how many pixels you need to have per centimeter. It helps you make your QR code clearer which helps in scanning it accurately.
Keeping the resolution low might result in losing scans, so you must know the minimum resolution requirements for your QR code.
The minimum pixel requirement for 1 cm is 38 pixels. And the minimum size to choose for your QR code is 2×2 cm. So the minimum resolution required for a QR code is 76×76 pixels.
The Ideal Size of QR Codes For Business Cards
By using QR codes on business cards, you can share a lot more than just your contact details with your customers. So, you should incorporate a QR code on your business card.
But what’s the ideal size?
For a normal-sized business card that is 9×5 cm, you should include a 0.8-1cm of QR code. That’s the ideal size for its scanning distance.
The Ideal Size of QR Codes For Magazines And Newspapers
QR codes in magazines and newspapers to advertise jobs, businesses, products, and services.
If you also want to use it in newspapers, magazines, and flyers, then you must know its ideal size.
The ideal size to use in this scenario is 4-7 cm.
The Ideal Size of QR Codes For Billboards
Businesses print their QR codes on the billboard with their advertisements so anyone can just stop at a corner and scan the code.
As billboards are quite high, the scanning distance is increased. The typical scanning distance will be between 750-1500 cm. So, applying the same formula, the ideal size for the QR code would be 75-150 cm.
Conclusion
Getting your QR code minimum size right is of utmost importance because it increases the odds of converting every scan.
However, there is no standard size for QR codes which means that you need to determine it according to your needs.
So, to determine your QR code minimum size, you need to apply a formula. That is, you need to divide the scanning distance by 10. The answer tells you your QR code’s ideal size. You can use this formula every time. It will always give you the right answer.
Would you like to generate a QR code for your business? Click here.