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How to put a QR code on your business card

A business card does its job when someone actually saves your details. Most cards end up in a drawer before that happens. A QR code on the card lets people add you to their phone contacts in one scan, while you are still talking. This guide covers what to put in the code, how big to print it and how to fit it into your design.

By Aidan Lowson · Updated

Why add a QR code to your business card

  • Your details get saved, not filed. One scan and a tap on Add contact puts your name, number and email into their phone, spelt correctly.
  • It works on the spot. People can scan the card during the conversation and hand it back, which is handy at events where cards get lost.
  • You can share more than fits on the card. A portfolio, booking page or LinkedIn profile is one scan away, without crowding the design.

Contact card or link?

There are two good options, and the right one depends on what you want people to do.

  • A contact card (vCard) stores your details in the code itself. Scanning it offers to save you as a contact. It needs no website and works with no signal. Make one with the free vCard QR code generator.
  • A link opens a web page, such as your portfolio, booking page or online profile. It can show far more, and you can update the page at any time without reprinting. Make one with the free URL QR code generator.

If you're not sure, choose the contact card. It does the one thing a business card is for, and it never breaks because a website went down.

What to include

Every field you add makes the code denser, and denser codes are harder to scan at business card size. Stick to what people need to reach you:

  • Name, company and job title, so they remember who you are when they scroll their contacts later.
  • One phone number with the country code, like +44 7700 900123, so it works for international contacts.
  • One email address and your website.
  • Leave out the address unless people visit you in person. It adds a lot of data for little benefit.

Make your business card QR code in 4 steps

  1. Open the vCard QR code generator and fill in the fields you want to share.
  2. Match your brand. Set the code colour to your brand colour, as long as it is dark, and keep the background light. Add your logo if you like, with error correction set to Quartile or High.
  3. Download an SVG. It stays sharp at any size, which is what printers want. Use a PNG if you are designing the card in a tool that doesn't accept SVG.
  4. Print one proof and scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone. Check every field lands in the right place before you order a full batch.

Your details are turned into a code in your browser and are never sent to our servers.

Design tips for the card

  • Give it at least 2 x 2 cm. A standard UK card is 85 x 55 mm, so the code fits comfortably on the back, or in a corner of the front.
  • Leave a quiet border. Keep a margin of plain background around the code, about the width of four of its small squares. Text or patterns right up against it stop it scanning.
  • Add a short label like "Scan to save my contact", so people know what the code does before they scan it.
  • Choose a matt finish. Gloss and foil reflect light and can hide parts of the code from the camera.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Using a code from a free trial. Many QR sites make codes that go through their own redirect link, which stops working when the trial ends. Read why QR codes stop working before you print 500 cards.
  • Light code on a dark card. Some phones can't read inverted codes. Keep the code dark on a light panel, even on a dark card.
  • Printing it too small to make room for a logo. If space is tight, drop a field from the code rather than shrinking it.

Handing out cards at an event? See our guide to QR codes for trade shows and conferences.

Frequently asked questions

What should a QR code on a business card link to?

For most people, a contact card (vCard) that saves your details straight into the phone. If your work is visual, like design or photography, a link to your portfolio can be the better choice.

How big should a QR code be on a business card?

At least 2 x 2 cm for a contact code, with a clear margin around it. A link code can go a little smaller, but 2 cm is a safe minimum for both.

Can I update my details after the cards are printed?

Not with a contact code, because your details are stored in the code itself. If you expect them to change, point the code at a web page you control and update that page instead.

Does a business card QR code work on iPhone and Android?

Yes. Both read QR codes from the built-in camera and offer to save the contact, with no app needed.

Will the QR code stop working after a while?

No. Codes made with Free QR Gen are static, so there is no subscription to run out. Your contact code works for as long as the details in it are correct.

Create your contact QR code now, free →

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