Codes that scan first time.
A payment code that needs three attempts loses the customer. Most scanning failures come from the print, not the phone.
Size and distance
A common rule of thumb is that a code scans reliably from about ten times its own width. A 2.5 cm code works on a counter; a poster across a room needs a much larger one.
| Where | Typical distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Counter card | 25 cm | 2.5 cm |
| Parcel insert | 30 cm | 3 cm |
| Table tent | 40 cm | 4 cm |
| Event poster | 2 m | 20 cm |
Quiet zone
The QR standard calls for a clear margin of four modules around the code. Artwork, borders and rounded card corners that eat into it are the most common cause of failed scans we see.
Contrast
Dark modules on a light background, with strong contrast. Inverted codes and low-contrast brand colours work on some phones and not others.
Error correction
Higher error correction lets a code survive a logo in the middle or a scuffed corner, at the cost of a denser pattern. We usually use level M or Q for payment cards.
Proofing
Every design is printed at actual size and tested on several phones, in poor light, before we sign it off.