QR code generator – free, with logo
Enter a link, pick colours and a logo, done. PNG, SVG, JPG, WebP and a print-ready CMYK PDF – no sign-up.
With the free QR code generator you turn any link into a QR code: in your colours, with rounded corners and, if you like, your logo in the centre. Every code is automatically checked for readability before you download it. You get PNG, JPG, WebP and SVG for screens and the web, plus a print PDF and EPS in CMYK for your print shop. No sign-up, and the code never expires.
How it works
- Enter the link, for example to your website, menu or Instagram. We add https:// automatically.
- Choose colours and corners. Upload your logo if you like – we clear the centre and check that the code still scans.
- Download the code: as an image for the web and social media, or as a print-ready PDF for your print shop.
Guide: QR codes that work reliably
How big should a printed QR code be?
Rule of thumb: the edge length should be about a tenth of the scanning distance. Scanning from 30 cm needs a code of about 3 cm. Don't print smaller than 2 cm.
The longer the link, the more and finer the dots. That's why the generator shows the dot size for every print size and blocks sizes that would be too fine.
| Use | Scanning distance | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt, business card | about 20 cm | 2 cm |
| Flyer, menu | 25–30 cm | 2.5–3 cm |
| Table stand | 30–40 cm | 3–4 cm |
| Counter, till | about 50 cm | 5 cm |
| Door, shop window | about 1 m | 10 cm |
Colours and logo: what works?
Dark dots on a light background are the safest choice. Coloured codes work well as long as the contrast is high enough. Not every phone can read light dots on a dark background – the generator tells you.
A logo in the centre works because QR codes can correct errors. With a logo we automatically use the highest error correction (H, about 30 %) and clear the dots under the logo. The logo can be at most 30 % of the edge length. We check whether your code still scans after every change: at three sizes, slightly blurred and as a compressed JPG.
Rounded corners are no problem: even with maximum rounding and a logo, the iPhone camera read our code straight away.
The margin is part of the code
A QR code needs a free margin of four dot widths around it (quiet zone). Without it, some phones can't find the code. All downloads already include this margin – don't crop it or put text or frames in it.
Static, not subscription: your code never expires
Our codes contain your link directly. There's no redirect via a third-party server, no expiry date and no subscription. Many “dynamic” codes from other providers stop working when the subscription ends – and printed flyers and stickers become useless.
Tip: link to a page on your own website, for example /menu. You can then change its content at any time without reprinting.
Which file format for what?
All formats contain the same code. Choose by what you want to do with it:
| Format | Use |
|---|---|
| PNG | Website, social media, Word and PowerPoint; transparent background available |
| JPG | WhatsApp, email, wherever PNG doesn't work |
| WebP | Websites (small file); not every browser can create it |
| SVG | Designers and websites; scales to any size without losing quality |
| Print PDF (CMYK) | Print shop; vector in print colours (FOGRA39), sharp at any size |
| EPS (CMYK) | Older graphics programs and print shops that ask for EPS |
Frequently asked questions
Is the QR code generator really free? Does the code expire?
Yes, it's free and needs no sign-up. The code contains your link directly, so it never expires and works without us. The files contain no reference to Gastro Master.
Can I change the link later?
No, a printed code always opens the link it contains. That's why it's best to link to a page on your own website, whose content you can change at any time without reprinting.
How big should I print the QR code?
Rule of thumb: edge length about a tenth of the scanning distance, at least 2 cm. On a flyer 2.5 to 3 cm is usually enough, in a shop window more like 10 cm. The generator blocks print sizes where the dots would be too fine.
Does a QR code with a logo work reliably?
Yes, as long as the logo isn't too big. We automatically use the highest error correction, clear the centre and limit the logo to 30 % of the edge length. We also check after every change whether the finished code scans. If it doesn't, we block the download and suggest a smaller logo size.
Which colours can I use?
Dark dots on a light background are safest. Coloured dots work well if the contrast is high enough. Not every phone can read light dots on a dark background. The generator shows you right in the colour picker whether the contrast is enough.
Which file do I give my print shop?
The print PDF: it contains the code as a vector in print colours (CMYK, FOGRA39) including the quiet zone. If your print shop or graphics program asks for EPS, use the EPS file.
Does the code count how often it's scanned?
No, there's no redirect via our server and therefore no tracking. If you want to see scans in your own analytics, add a parameter to your link, for example ?utm_source=qr-flyer.
Are my link or logo uploaded?
No. The code is created entirely in your browser. Your link and logo are not sent to us. Your draft is only stored in your browser.
Checked against
- ISO/IEC 18004:2024 – QR code specification (error correction L/M/Q/H, quiet zone of 4 modules)
- Gastro Master phone test (21 Oct 2026): code with maximum rounding and logo scanned with the iPhone camera
- Gastro Master test series (21 Oct 2026): 180 combinations of link length, rounding, logo size and colours, read with the decoder of the “qr” library (MIT/Apache-2.0)