QR Code Generator
Create QR codes for links, text, Wi-Fi, email and phone numbers. Download as PNG or SVG — free, no watermark, no account.
We'll add https:// automatically if you leave it off.
Options — size, margin & error correction
Use 512px or more if you plan to print the code.
Blank border around the code. Keep at least 2–4 so scanners can find it.
Higher levels survive smudges and damage but make the code denser. M suits most uses; pick H for small printed labels.
Your QR code
Fill in the fields above — your QR code appears here automatically.
How it works
A QR code is simply text encoded as a grid of black and white modules. What happens when someone scans it depends entirely on how that text is formatted — this tool builds the correct format for you, then renders the code on your device. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
What each mode does
- URL — encodes a web address. Scanning opens it in the browser. If you leave the scheme off (just "example.com"), https:// is added for you.
- Text — encodes plain text exactly as typed. Scanning shows the text on screen: good for serial numbers, notes or instructions.
- Wi-Fi — encodes your network name, security type and password. Scanning offers to join the network — ideal for guests, holiday lets, cafés and offices.
- Email — encodes a mailto: link with an optional subject and message. Scanning opens the person's email app with everything pre-filled.
- Phone — encodes a tel: link. Scanning opens the dialler with the number ready to call.
Size, margin and error correction
The size options control the pixel dimensions of the download — use 512px or more for print, or grab the SVG, which scales to any size with no loss of sharpness. The margin is the blank "quiet zone" around the code that scanners use to find its edges — keep it at 2–4 modules or more. Error correction adds redundancy so the code still scans when smudged or partially covered; higher levels are more robust but denser.
Printing tips
- Size the code for its scanning distance — roughly one tenth of how far away people will stand.
- Use dark modules on a light background; avoid low contrast.
- Don't crop the white margin or overlap the code with graphics.
- Prefer the SVG download for anything going to a printer.
- Test a printed sample with more than one phone before producing hundreds of copies.
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire or stop working?
No. This tool makes static QR codes: your link, text or Wi-Fi details are encoded directly into the pattern itself, with no redirect service in between. The code works forever — a URL code only 'breaks' if the website it points to goes offline.
Is it really free, with no watermark or sign-up?
Yes. Codes are generated entirely in your browser — nothing you type is sent to a server, there's no account, no watermark and no scan tracking. You can use the downloads commercially.
How does a Wi-Fi QR code work?
It encodes your network name, security type and password in a standard format that phone cameras understand. When a guest scans it, their phone offers to join the network without them typing anything. Choose WPA for almost every modern router — it covers WPA, WPA2 and WPA3. Note the password is readable by anyone who scans the code, so only share it with people you'd give the password to anyway.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
PNG suits screens and everyday documents. SVG is a vector format that stays perfectly sharp at any size, so it's the better choice for print — posters, menus, flyers and packaging — and for graphic design software.
What does the error correction setting do?
QR codes include redundant data so they still scan when partially dirty, damaged or obscured. Level L tolerates about 7% damage, M about 15%, Q about 25% and H about 30%. Higher levels make the pattern denser, so M is the best all-rounder; pick H for small printed labels that may get scuffed.
How big should a QR code be when printed?
A useful rule of thumb is scanning distance divided by 10 — so a code scanned from 30 cm away should be at least 3 cm wide, and a poster read from 3 metres needs a code about 30 cm wide. Never print below about 2 × 2 cm, keep the white margin around the code, and always test a printed sample with a couple of different phones.
Why won't my QR code scan?
The usual culprits are printing it too small, trimming the white margin (the quiet zone), low contrast between the code and its background, or encoding a very long text that makes the pattern extremely dense. Keep the content short, keep the margin at 2–4 modules or more, use dark-on-light colours, and test before you distribute it.