Printing a QR business card: the specs that actually work

A QR code that scans perfectly on screen can fail in print if the file is wrong. These are the specs that keep it reliable on physical card stock.

Size and bleed

The standard card is 3.5 × 2 inches (89 × 51 mm) in the US, or 85 × 55 mm in much of Europe. Add 0.125 in (3 mm) of bleed on every edge so background colour runs off the trim line, and keep important elements at least 3 mm inside the trim as a safety margin. A print-ready PDF should include these.

Resolution

Export at 300 DPI minimum. At 3.5 × 2 in that means roughly 1050 × 600 px of real detail. Anything lower and edges of the QR’s squares soften, which is exactly what trips up scanners.

Quiet zone

A QR code needs a clear margin of empty space around it — the quiet zone, ideally four modules (squares) wide. Don’t let text, logos or the card edge crowd it. If the code touches other elements, many phones simply won’t lock on.

Contrast and colour

Keep the code dark on a light background with strong contrast. Inverting it (light code on dark) works on some phones and fails on others, so it’s a gamble for a card you can’t reprint cheaply. Print the QR in solid ink, not a screen or gradient.

Minimum scannable size

Don’t shrink the code below about 0.8 in (2 cm) square on a card. Smaller codes demand the phone be very close and very steady, which people won’t bother with. Bigger is safer.

File format for the printer

Send a PDF with bleed and crop marks for a commercial printer; a high-resolution PNG is fine for home or office printing. Either way, scan-test the exported file on your phone before sending it off.

FAQ

What size should the QR code be on a business card?

At least 0.8 in (2 cm) square. Larger codes scan from further away and tolerate camera shake, so err on the generous side.

What DPI do I need for printing?

300 DPI. At business-card size that’s about 1050 × 600 px, which keeps the QR’s edges crisp enough to scan.

Do I need bleed?

Yes, if a professional printer is trimming the cards: 3 mm of bleed on each edge prevents thin white slivers at the borders.