Short answer
Choose the template, type your link and text, then print at actual size (100%, not 'fit to page') or download the SVG. Each layout sizes the code for its usual reading distance: about 2.6 cm on a business card, 6 cm on a flyer, 4.5 cm on a table tent and 16 cm on an 18 by 24 inch poster.
Placement rules the templates follow
Size follows distance. A widely used rule of thumb puts the code at about one tenth of the scanning distance. Business cards are read at 15 to 25 cm, flyers at 30 to 60 cm, table tents from a chair, posters from a couple of metres. The templates size the code for those distances and never go below 2 cm.
A clear margin all round. The QR standard asks for a quiet zone four modules wide on every side. The templates build that margin into the code's white box, and nothing else is placed inside it.
One call to action. A short line directly under the code tells people what they'll get: "Point your camera here", "Menu and allergens", "Join the guest Wi-Fi". Codes with a reason next to them get scanned; bare codes get ignored.
Away from folds and edges. Folds crack the modules and trimming can cut the quiet zone. The templates keep the code on a flat panel with margin to spare.
Format notes
| Template | Finished size | Code size | Typical distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business card | 3.5 × 2 in (88.9 × 50.8 mm) | 2.6 cm | 15–25 cm |
| Flyer, US Letter | 8.5 × 11 in | 6 cm | 30–60 cm |
| Flyer, A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 6 cm | 30–60 cm |
| Table tent | 4 × 6 in | 4.5 cm | 50–80 cm |
| Poster | 18 × 24 in | 16 cm | 1.5 m and more |
Need a different size? Work it out with the size calculator, make the code in the generator and export SVG. The print guide covers paper, finishes and proofing.
Questions
Why does the template use error correction Q?
Printed codes get scuffed, folded, splashed and laminated. Level Q can recover from roughly a quarter of the code being damaged, a sensible middle ground between robustness and density for print.
My printer shrank the page. What happened?
Most print dialogs default to 'fit to page', which scales everything down a few percent. Choose 'actual size' or 100%. For business cards, send the SVG to a print shop rather than printing on an office printer.
Can I change the fonts and colors?
The SVG uses plain text and shapes, so you can open it in Inkscape, Illustrator, Affinity or Figma and restyle it. Keep the code itself dark on light and don't let other elements into its white margin.
Do the templates include bleed?
No. They're sized to the finished trim size with a safe margin inside. If your print shop asks for bleed, add it in your design app and keep the code well away from the edge.