The short answer
Give every booth surface its own dynamic QR code and point them at a short mobile page with one action, ideally a lead form. Banners read from 2–3 m need codes of 20–30 cm, table cards need 4–5 cm, and brochures 2.5 cm. Venue Wi-Fi and mobile signal are often weak, so keep the page small.
How to set up QR codes for a trade show booth
Build a page that loads fast
Make a single-screen page with your headline, a short lead form and a booking link. Avoid heavy video and large images, because hall signal is often poor.
Make one code per surface
Create separate dynamic codes for the banner, the table card, the brochure and the giveaway, all pointing at the same page. Name them clearly so reports show which surface drove scans.
Size for the viewing distance
Work from where people stand: 2–3 m for a back wall banner, about 1 m for a counter, 40 cm for a handout. Divide by 10 for the minimum width.
Add a reason and a reward
Write what the scan gives, for example “Scan for the pricing sheet” or “Scan to book a 15-minute demo”. A concrete offer beats a lone code.
Switch the destination after the show
When the event ends, point the same codes at a follow-up page or recording, so brochures taken home still work.
Size, distance and placement
- Best code type
- Dynamic URL codes, one per surface (banner, table card, brochure, giveaway)
- Banner on the back wall
- Read from 2–3 m: code 20–30 cm (8–12 in), placed between 1.2 and 1.6 m high
- Counter or table card
- Read from about 1 m: code 10 cm; a card held in the hand: 4–5 cm
- Brochure or flyer
- Held in the hand: 2.5 cm (1 in) or more, away from the fold
- Destination
- A single-screen mobile page with one lead form (a Biz Page with the add-on or on the Business plan)
- Connectivity
- Assume weak venue Wi-Fi. Keep the page light and the form short
- After the show
- Repoint the same codes to a follow-up page without reprinting
Static or dynamic at a show?
Dynamic, because your booth materials are printed weeks before the event and then used again at the next one. You can switch the destination between pre-show, show and follow-up, fix a broken form link in the middle of day one, and see which surface earned the scans. A Biz Page with a lead form (Biz add-on or Business plan) can be that page, so one account covers the page, the codes and the counts.
Common mistakes
Tip: test every code on the actual stand in the actual hall during setup, with the venue lighting on. Glare and distance problems only show up in place.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a QR code be on a trade show banner?
For a banner read from 2–3 m, plan for 20–30 cm (8–12 in) wide. The rule of thumb is scanning distance divided by 10.
How do I collect leads with a QR code?
Point the code at a short mobile page with a lead form. With the Biz add-on or the Business plan you can build that page as a Biz Page with a lead form and export the submissions afterwards.
Can I see which booth material got the most scans?
Yes, if you make a separate dynamic code for each material and name it clearly. Counts, devices and countries are reported per code.
Does this replace badge scanning?
No. Badge scanners read the attendee’s own registration code. A booth QR code serves visitors who have not been scanned and links them to your page.