A QR code is the quickest way to send someone from paper to a web page: they point their phone camera at it and the link opens. You do not need an app, an account or design software to make one. This guide shows how to make a QR code for free in five steps, then covers the details that decide whether it actually scans: size, contrast, placement and testing.
How to make a QR code in 5 steps
- Decide where the code should lead. Copy the full link: your website, an online menu, a Google review page, a form, a PDF you have uploaded, or a payment page. A QR code can also hold plain text such as a Wi-Fi name or a phone number.
- Open a QR code generator. Go to the free QR Code Generator. It builds the code in your browser, so what you type is not uploaded anywhere.
- Paste your link or text into the box.
- Choose a size. Pick 256 px for a website or email, 512 px for documents and social posts, and 1024 px for anything you will print.
- Generate and download the PNG, then scan it with your own phone before you use it anywhere.
That is all it takes. The rest of this guide is about making the code work reliably in the real world.
Static vs dynamic QR codes
A free generator like this one makes a static QR code: the link is stored inside the pattern itself. It never expires and needs no subscription, but you cannot change where it points after printing. If the address might change, point the code at a page you control, such as your own website, and update that page instead. Paid "dynamic" QR services store a short redirect link in the code so the destination can be edited later, but if the subscription lapses, every printed code can stop working.
Choosing the right print size
The most common reason a QR code fails is that it was printed too small for the distance it is scanned from. A simple rule: the code should be at least one tenth as wide as the scanning distance.
- Business cards and labels, scanned from about 20-30 cm: at least 2-3 cm wide.
- Flyers, menus and table cards, scanned from arm's length: 3-4 cm.
- Posters on a wall, scanned from 1-2 m: 10-20 cm.
Always download the largest size for print so the edges stay sharp. For more on why print needs more pixels than a screen, see resizing images for print vs screen.
Make it scan every time
- Keep strong contrast. Dark code on a light background. Light-on-dark and pale colours fail on many phones.
- Leave a quiet zone. Keep a plain margin around the code, roughly the width of four of its small squares. Do not let text or graphics touch it.
- Keep the link short. Shorter content makes a simpler pattern that scans from further away.
- Avoid shiny surfaces and curves. Glossy lamination and bottles can reflect light across the code.
- Test the final print, not just the file on your screen, with two different phones.
Adding a QR code to a document
Once you have the PNG, you can place it in Word, Canva or any design tool like a normal picture. If you need it inside an existing PDF, open the PDF in Edit PDF and add the image where you want it. To turn a finished design into a PDF for printing, use JPG to PDF or PNG to PDF.
Common questions
Is it really free? Yes. Static QR codes cost nothing to make and have no scan limit.
Do QR codes expire? A static code never expires. It stops working only if the page it points to is taken down.
Can I see how many people scanned it? Not with a static code on its own. If you need numbers, point the code at a link that your website analytics can track, for example one with a campaign tag.
Can a QR code hold a PDF? Not the file itself - only a link to it. Upload the PDF somewhere public, then make a QR code for that link.
Ready to try it? Open the QR Code Generator, paste your link, and you will have a printable QR code in under a minute.