How to create a QR code
- Type or paste your link or text above — the code updates a moment after you stop typing.
- Pick a size (Small, Medium or Large) and an error correction level (L, M, Q or H). Medium size with level M suits most uses.
- Scan the preview with your own phone before you share it, then click Download PNG.
What is a QR code?
A QR (Quick Response) code is a square barcode that phones read with the camera. It stores text — most often a web address — as a grid of black and white squares called modules. The three large squares in the corners tell the scanner where the code is and which way up it is. The rest holds your data plus extra recovery data, so a QR code is an easy bridge from a poster, table or package to anything online.
What the three sizes mean
The size setting is the width of one module in pixels: Small is 6 px, Medium 10 px and Large 14 px. The code also adds a 4-pixel white border. A short URL such as https://example.com (19 characters) needs a 25×25 module grid at level M, so the PNG is 25 × 10 + 8 = 258 pixels square at Medium and 358 pixels at Large. The pixel size appears under the preview. Longer text needs a denser grid, so the file grows with your content.
Choosing an error correction level
Error correction lets a scanner rebuild data that is dirty, creased or covered. The percentage is roughly how much of the code can be lost and still decode.
- L (7%) — the simplest grid, fine for clean screens and large codes.
- M (15%) — the default and a good balance for web links.
- Q (25%) — better for print that may be handled, such as flyers and packaging.
- H (30%) — for rough surfaces or outdoor stickers. It makes the grid denser, so print it larger.
A higher level fits less text. In standard byte mode, one code holds at most about 2,953 characters at L, 2,331 at M, 1,663 at Q and 1,273 at H. Non-English characters take more than one byte each. If your text is too long, the tool tells you to shorten it or lower the correction level.
Common uses and tips
- Restaurant menus and event pages — point the code at a page you control, so you can update the content without reprinting.
- Wi-Fi sharing — encode
WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:password;;so guests join with one scan. See how to make a Wi-Fi QR code. - Business cards — use a short link to keep the grid coarse and easy to scan at small sizes.
Common mistakes: the code is black on white only, and the built-in white border is thin (4 pixels), so place it on a white area with generous empty space around it rather than directly against busy artwork. Do not stretch it to a non-square shape, and do not print it so small that single modules fall below about half a millimetre. As a rule of thumb the code should be about one tenth as wide as the scanning distance. Always test the final printed version, not just the screen.
This generator makes static codes: the text is stored in the code itself, so it never expires, has no scan counter and cannot be edited later. If the page it points to moves, the code breaks. Link to a stable address, ideally one you control.
Is it private and safe?
Yes. The code is generated in your browser by a small script bundled with the site. The text or link you enter is never uploaded, and the code points straight to your content rather than through a tracking redirect.
Related guides
Learn the basics in How to make a QR code, work out how big to print it with QR code size for printing, and see why a printed code keeps working in Do QR codes expire?.
Frequently asked questions
Is my text or link uploaded anywhere?
No. The QR code is generated entirely in your browser with JavaScript, and nothing you type is sent to a server. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will keep working.
Can I use the QR codes commercially?
Yes. Codes you generate are yours to use on menus, flyers, packaging and business cards, with no watermark and no fee. You are responsible for the content they link to.
Why won't my QR code scan?
The usual causes are low contrast, too little white space around the code, or printing it too small for the amount of data. Try the Large size, a shorter link, or a higher error correction level, and test with more than one phone.
What does error correction do?
It adds redundant data so the code still decodes when part of it is damaged, dirty or covered. Level L tolerates about 7 percent loss and H about 30 percent, but higher levels make the grid denser and hold less text.
Does the QR code expire?
No. A static code like the ones made here simply contains your text, so it works as long as the destination does. If the link goes offline or changes, the printed code stops being useful.
How much text can a QR code hold?
In byte mode the maximum is about 2,953 characters at level L, down to roughly 1,273 at level H. Shorter content makes a simpler code that scans faster and works at smaller print sizes, so keep links as short as you can.
Can I add a logo, colors or download an SVG?
No. This tool produces a black-and-white PNG only. The H level has room for a small logo if you add one in an image editor, but test the result with several phones afterwards.