QR Code Generator
Turn any URL, text, phone number, or Wi-Fi login into a downloadable QR code. Enter your text, pick a size, generate, and download the PNG. No sign-up, no watermark, and nothing is sent to a server — the QR code is created entirely in your browser.
Quick answer
Paste your URL or text above, click Generate, and download the PNG. The resulting QR code never expires — it's a static image of your data, so as long as the URL inside keeps working, the code keeps working.
QR Code Generator
How QR codes work
A QR code ("Quick Response" code) is a two-dimensional barcode invented by Denso Wave in 1994 to track car parts in Toyota factories. It encodes data as a grid of black and white squares that a camera can read from almost any angle. The three large squares in the corners help a scanner orient the code. Smaller alignment patterns correct for curvature and perspective distortion.
QR codes also include error correction — between 7% and 30% of the code can be damaged, dirty, or covered and the scanner will still recover the original data. That's why you can print a logo in the middle of a QR code and it still works. This generator uses the default error correction level (L = 7%), which keeps the code compact while still being scannable.
When to use it
QR codes shine whenever you need to give someone a URL or data without asking them to type it. Restaurant menus, Wi-Fi logins for guests, business cards, event posters, product labels, shipping tracking, museum exhibits, TV ads, lost-pet tags, and parking meters all use QR codes because phone cameras decode them instantly.
You can also encode structured data: tel:+13175551234 for a phone number,
mailto:you@example.com for email, or WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:password;;
for Wi-Fi credentials. Phones recognize these formats and prompt the user to call, email,
or join the network directly.
Common mistakes
- Encoding too much data. Long URLs make the code dense and harder to scan. Use a URL shortener for anything over ~100 characters.
- Printing too small. The minimum scannable size is roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm) for a close-up scan, or about 10% of the expected scanning distance for posters and signs.
- Poor contrast. QR codes must be dark squares on a light background to scan reliably. Inverting the colors (light squares on dark) breaks most scanners.
- Covering the corners. The three position-detection squares in the corners are required for a scanner to orient the code. You can cover the center with a logo, but never the corners.
- Forgetting to test. Always scan your printed QR code with multiple phones before going to press. A small typo in the URL becomes a big problem on 10,000 flyers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a QR code?
Enter any URL, text, or data into the field above, pick a size, and click Generate. Download the PNG and use it anywhere.
Do QR codes expire?
Static QR codes (like the ones generated here) never expire. They're a picture of the encoded data. Dynamic QR codes from paid services route through a redirect URL that can expire if you stop paying.
Are QR codes free to use commercially?
Yes. QR code is an open standard. Denso Wave holds the patent but has waived commercial use rights. You can print QR codes on anything with no license fee.
What's the max amount of data in a QR code?
Up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 bytes in the largest version. In practice, keep payloads under 300 characters for reliable scanning.
Can I track scans of my QR code?
Not with a static QR code. If you need analytics, put a tracking URL (like a bit.ly link or a URL with UTM parameters) inside the code, then check the destination server's stats.