The short answer
Print the code at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide on a flyer held in the hand, and at least 10 cm (4 in) wide on a wall poster read from about a metre away. Leave a blank border of four modules around it, and put a one-line reason to scan next to it. Use a dynamic code so the destination can change after the print run and each run is counted separately.
How to add a QR code to a flyer or poster
Pick the one action you want
Choose a single destination such as a booking page, a sign-up form or an event page. A flyer with three possible destinations gets fewer scans than one with a clear reason to scan.
Create a dynamic code
Choose URL, paste the destination and save it as a dynamic code, so the page can change later without a reprint. Name it after the print run, for example “Spring flyer – campus boards”.
Style it for print
Keep dark modules on a light background and avoid gradients that lower contrast. Export a large file: SVG or PDF on the Pro plan, or a PNG at least 1000 px wide on the free plan.
Place it with a reason to scan
Set the code in a bottom corner or beside the headline, with a short line such as “Scan to reserve a table”. Keep it off folds, staples and the trim edge.
Test-print before the full run
Print one copy on the real paper and scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone from the real distance. Fix problems before you order 500 copies.
Size, distance and placement
- Best code type
- Dynamic URL code: editable after printing, with scan counts
- Typical scan distance
- Flyer: 20–40 cm (8–16 in). Wall poster: 0.5–2 m (2–6 ft)
- Minimum printed width
- Flyer: 2 cm (0.8 in), 2.5–3 cm is more comfortable. Poster: distance ÷ 10, so about 10 cm (4 in) at 1 m
- Quiet zone
- A blank border of at least 4 modules on every side. Text and photos must not touch the code
- Where to place it
- Bottom corner or beside the headline, on a flat area away from folds, staples and glossy hot spots
- Call to action
- One short line that says what the scan gives, for example “Scan for the full lineup”
- File format
- SVG or PDF for a professional printer; otherwise a PNG at 300 dpi at the final size
Static or dynamic for a printed flyer?
Choose dynamic. A flyer is printed once, but the page behind it keeps changing: an offer ends, a form closes, an event moves. A static code freezes the destination into the printed pattern, so any change means a reprint. A dynamic code points at a short link you can edit at any time, and it shows how many people scanned each run. The one case for static is a destination that will never change, such as a permanent web address, because a static code does not depend on any service.
Common mistakes
Tip: make one dynamic code for each place you hang or hand out the flyer, such as the campus board, the café and the mailbox drop. The scan counts then show which spot works, and you can send one place somewhere else without touching the others.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a QR code be on a flyer?
At least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide for a flyer held in the hand, and 2.5–3 cm is more comfortable. For anything read from further away, divide the scanning distance by 10.
Can I change where a printed QR code goes?
Only if it is a dynamic code. A dynamic code encodes a short link, so you can edit the destination later without reprinting. A static code cannot be changed.
How do I know which flyers get scanned?
Create a separate dynamic code for each location or print run and name it clearly. Scan counts, country and device are then reported per code.
Does a flyer QR code need an internet connection?
The phone reads the pattern offline, but opening the destination page needs a connection, so make sure there is signal where the poster hangs.