QR Code Generator (Free, Online)

Create and download a QR code for free just by entering text or a URL. Adjust the error correction level, size, margin, and colors, then save as PNG or SVG. Everything runs in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to a server.

Last updated: 2026-09-03

What Is a QR Code Generator?

A QR code generator takes the text or URL you type in and instantly converts it into a black-and-white square pattern — a QR code — that you can save or print as an image. This tool builds the code in real time as you type, so there is no need to click a separate "generate" button, and you are free to fine-tune the error correction level, image size, margin, and foreground/background colors before downloading the result as a PNG or SVG file.

Behind the scenes, a QR code represents data using a grid of small black-and-white squares called "modules." The more information you encode, the more modules are needed, which makes the overall pattern denser and finer. QR codes also include built-in Reed-Solomon error correction, a mathematical technique that lets a scanner reconstruct the original data even when part of the printed code is smudged, torn, or otherwise damaged — which is a big part of why QR codes work so reliably in everyday, imperfect conditions.

How to Generate a QR Code

Enter the content you want to encode Type in a URL, a store description, Wi-Fi login details, or any other text you want people to be able to scan and retrieve.
Choose an error correction level Pick L, M, Q, or H depending on how the code will be used. Higher levels (Q or H) are recommended for outdoor signage or printed material that is likely to get dirty or worn.
Adjust size, margin, and colors Use the sliders and color pickers to set the image size, the margin (quiet zone) around the code, and the foreground and background colors to match your design.
Check the generated QR code The preview updates instantly as you make changes. For extra peace of mind, scan it with an actual phone camera before you rely on it.
Download as PNG or SVG Choose SVG if the code will be resized or printed, since vector images never lose quality; choose PNG for quick use on the web or social media. You can also copy the image directly to your clipboard.

Tips for getting more out of it

Raising the error correction level makes the code more readable even if it gets a bit dirty or damaged, but it also makes the pattern denser and the image larger.
Keep enough contrast between the foreground and background colors — pairing two light colors can make the code unreadable to a phone camera.
When printing a QR code for display, leave enough margin (quiet zone) around it so scanners can find it reliably.
A long URL produces a dense, hard-to-scan pattern, so it is a good idea to shorten it with a URL shortener before encoding.
If you enter a properly formatted string, such as Wi-Fi credentials or a vCard, a compatible app can read the settings directly from the QR code.

Common Ways to Use QR Codes

Printing on flyers and posters

Turn the URL of a campaign page or reservation form into a QR code and print it on a flyer or poster so visitors can open it on their phone the moment they see it.

Sharing contact details on business cards

Enter your details in vCard format and the resulting QR code lets anyone who scans it add your contact information directly into their phone's address book.

Sharing store Wi-Fi credentials

Enter your network name (SSID) and password in the proper Wi-Fi QR format so customers can connect to your Wi-Fi without typing a single character.

Linking to digital menus and ordering pages

Place a QR code on each table at a restaurant or cafe to guide guests straight to a digital menu or contactless ordering page.

Distributing event registration and check-in links

Turn a registration form, survey, or check-in URL into a QR code and post it at the entrance or on signage so attendees can access it in seconds.

Glossary

QR code: A two-dimensional code developed in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave. Because it stores information in two directions rather than one, it can hold far more data than a traditional one-dimensional barcode.
Error correction level: A rating of how much dirt, damage, or missing area a QR code can tolerate while still being read correctly. There are four levels — L, M, Q, and H — with H offering the highest tolerance.
Module: One of the small individual squares that make up a QR code. Data is represented by the pattern of black and white modules arranged across the grid.
Quiet zone: The blank margin that must surround a QR code. Without enough space here, a camera or scanner may fail to correctly detect where the code begins and ends.
Position detection pattern: The distinctive square patterns found in three of the four corners of a QR code. They allow a scanning device to recognize the code's correct orientation no matter what angle it is viewed from.
Reed-Solomon code: The error-correction coding technology built into QR codes. It allows the original data to be reconstructed mathematically even if a portion of the code has been lost or obscured.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. By specification, a QR code can hold up to 7,089 numeric digits, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, or 2,953 bytes of binary data such as Japanese text. Raising the error correction level reduces the amount of data that can be stored.

M (Medium) is enough for most everyday uses. For outdoor signage or printed material that may get dirty or damaged, choose Q or H; choose H (High) if you plan to embed a logo in the center.

No. QR code generation happens entirely in your browser — whatever you enter is never sent to or stored on an external server.

Common causes are insufficient contrast between the foreground and background colors, too little margin (quiet zone), or an image resolution that is too low. Try regenerating it with the standard black-on-white colors and a generous margin.

A barcode is a one-dimensional code that stores information only horizontally, mostly numbers. A QR code stores information both horizontally and vertically, so it can hold far more data in the same area, including URLs and contact details.

Side Note — The Birth of the QR Code and How It Works

The QR code is a two-dimensional barcode developed in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave. The one-dimensional barcodes then used to manage automotive parts could only hold about 20 numeric digits, and that was no longer enough as production processes grew more complex. The name "QR" stands for "Quick Response," reflecting the original design goal of letting a scanner read the code almost instantly.

Three of the four corners of a QR code carry a distinctive square pattern called a "position detection pattern," which lets a camera recognize the correct orientation of the code no matter what angle it is scanned from. The code also embeds Reed-Solomon error correction, so even if part of it gets dirty or damaged, up to about 30% of the data can still be recovered and read correctly.

Although Denso Wave holds the patent for the QR code, it chose not to enforce that right and published the specification openly, which let companies around the world adopt the technology freely. In recent years, the spread of cashless payments and the rise of contactless menus and ordering systems at restaurants have pushed QR code use to grow dramatically, both in Japan and worldwide.

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