QR Code Generator
Turn any URL or text into a downloadable QR code — instant, free, no watermark.
How to use the QR Code Generator
- Type or paste the URL or text the QR code should contain.
- Choose a size: Small (200px) for screens, Medium or Large (600px) for print.
- Scan the preview with your phone camera to test it, then press Download PNG.
About the QR Code Generator
A QR code is a scannable square barcode that stores text — most often a URL, but also plain text, Wi-Fi credentials, or contact details — that a phone camera can read instantly without typing anything. This tool generates one from whatever text or link you enter and renders it immediately as an image you can download.
It's useful for printed materials (flyers, business cards, menus, packaging) that need to point people to a website, for sharing a link at a glance in a presentation, or anywhere typing a long URL by hand would be impractical.
Worked example
Example: entering https://kwiktools.app generates a QR code that, when scanned by any modern phone camera, opens that page directly — the same code works whether it's displayed on screen or printed on paper.
What's inside the code
The generator encodes your text exactly as typed, with medium error correction (level M). Error correction stores redundant data, so a code at level M can still be read with about 15% of it damaged or covered — enough to survive a scuff, a fold, or a small logo. Codes also need a blank border, the quiet zone, so the scanner can find the edges; the downloaded image includes a narrow white margin, and it's worth leaving extra white space around it in your layout too.
The more text you encode, the more squares the code needs. A short URL produces a simple, open pattern that scans easily even when small; a long URL with tracking parameters produces a dense grid that needs to be printed larger. Shorten links where you can.
Getting the size right for print
A common rule of thumb is that a code can be scanned from about ten times its width: a 2 cm code works at around 20 cm, while a poster seen from 2 meters needs a code around 20 cm wide. For print, download the Large (600 px) version — at 300 dpi that's 2 inches (about 5 cm) without any blurring. Smaller sizes are fine for screens and slides.
Checklist before you print
- Test the code with two or three different phones, including an older one, from the distance people will actually be scanning.
- Keep dark squares on a light background. Inverted or low-contrast colors fail on many scanners.
- Make sure the destination works on mobile, and that the URL won't change. A printed code can't be updated, so point it at a page you control.
- Add a short caption such as 'Scan for the menu' so people know what they're opening.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this QR code expire or stop working?
- No. The QR code encodes your exact text directly — there's no shortened link or server in between, so it never expires and will keep working as long as the underlying URL is valid.
- Can I put anything other than a URL into a QR code?
- Yes — a QR code can encode any plain text, including phone numbers, email addresses, or short messages. Some apps use special formatted text (like Wi-Fi network details) that phones recognize and offer a one-tap action for, but this tool encodes whatever text you type as-is.
- What size should I use if I'm printing the QR code?
- Bigger is safer: aim for at least 2 x 2 cm (about 1 x 1 inch) for close-up scanning, and scale up for codes meant to be scanned from further away, like on a poster or storefront window. Always test-scan a printed copy before mass printing.
- Why won't my QR code scan?
- Common causes are the code being too small, printed with low contrast, or partially obscured — QR codes need clear quiet space (a plain border) around them and reasonable contrast between the code and background to scan reliably.