QR codes are everywhere — restaurant menus, business cards, event tickets, WiFi login screens, payment terminals. They’re the fastest way to get someone from the physical world into a digital destination. But generating them usually means signing up for a QR code service, dealing with tracking pixels, or paying for “premium” features like custom colors.
The QR Code Generator on AllTools creates QR codes for URLs, WiFi credentials, vCards, email, phone numbers, SMS, and location coordinates — all in your browser, with no account and no tracking. Here’s how to create QR codes for every use case.
QR Code Types: URL, WiFi, vCard, Email, Phone, SMS, Location
QR codes aren’t just for URLs. The underlying standard supports several data formats that trigger different actions when scanned. Each type encodes specific information that tells the scanning device what to do.
URL QR codes
The most common type. Encode any web address and the scanner opens it in a browser.
Use cases: Website links, landing pages, app download links, social media profiles, YouTube videos, Google Maps locations, online menus, event registration pages.
Format: The QR code simply contains the URL text — https://alltools.app/tools/qr-generator — and the scanning device recognizes it as a link.
WiFi QR codes
Encode your WiFi network name (SSID), password, and encryption type into a QR code. When someone scans it, their device offers to connect to the network automatically — no typing long passwords.
Use cases: Guest WiFi in offices, cafes, and Airbnbs. Home networks where you don’t want to spell out a complex password. Events and conferences with temporary WiFi access.
Format: WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:Password123;; — the scanner parses this and pre-fills the WiFi connection dialog.
Pro tip: Print a WiFi QR code and frame it near your router or at the entrance of your space. Guests scan once and they’re connected. This is dramatically better than dictating “the password is lowercase a, uppercase B, the number 7, underscore…“
vCard QR codes
Encode a complete contact card — name, phone, email, company, job title, website, address — into a QR code. When scanned, the device offers to save the contact directly to the phone’s address book.
Use cases: Business cards, conference badges, email signatures (print the QR on your card), networking events, company directories.
Format: The QR code contains a vCard (Virtual Contact File) in the standard VCF format that every phone recognizes.
Pro tip: A QR code on your business card that adds your full contact info with one scan is more useful than the card itself. People lose cards; the contact saved to their phone persists.
Email QR codes
Encode an email address, subject line, and even a pre-filled body. When scanned, the device opens the default email app with everything pre-populated.
Use cases: Customer feedback collection, support requests, event RSVPs, newsletter signups where you want to capture the email interaction.
Format: mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Inquiry&body=Hi,%20I%20would%20like...
Phone QR codes
Encode a phone number. When scanned, the device offers to call the number or save it.
Use cases: Business signage (“Call us!”), support desks, emergency contact information, physical directories.
Format: tel:+971501234567
SMS QR codes
Encode a phone number and a pre-filled text message. Scanning opens the messaging app with the number and message ready to send.
Use cases: Opt-in marketing (“Text JOIN to…”), quick feedback collection, event check-ins, two-factor authentication setup.
Format: smsto:+971501234567:Your message here
Location QR codes
Encode GPS coordinates. When scanned, the device opens a maps application showing the exact location.
Use cases: Event venues, store locations, parking instructions, meeting points, delivery drop-off locations.
Format: geo:25.2048,55.2708 (latitude, longitude)
Step by Step for Each Type
Creating a URL QR code
- Open the QR Code Generator
- Select “URL” as the QR type
- Enter the full URL including
https:// - Adjust size and error correction if needed
- Click Generate
- Download the PNG
Creating a WiFi QR code
- Open the QR Code Generator
- Select “WiFi” as the QR type
- Enter your network name (SSID) exactly as it appears on the router
- Enter the WiFi password
- Select the encryption type (WPA/WPA2 is most common; select “None” for open networks)
- Select whether the network is hidden
- Generate and download
Important: The password is encoded in the QR code. Anyone who scans it will connect with the credentials you entered. For sensitive networks, only share the QR code with authorized people.
Creating a vCard QR code
- Open the QR Code Generator
- Select “vCard” as the QR type
- Fill in the contact fields — name, phone, email, company, title, website, address
- You don’t need to fill every field; only include what’s relevant
- Generate and download
Tip: vCards with more data produce denser QR codes. If you include every field, the QR code needs to be larger to remain scannable. For business cards, stick to name, phone, email, and company.
QR Code Size and Error Correction Guide
Two settings affect how your QR code looks and performs: physical size and error correction level. Getting these right matters for the context where the code will be scanned.
Size guidelines
The minimum scannable size depends on the scanning distance:
| Scanning Distance | Minimum QR Code Size |
|---|---|
| 10 cm (phone held close) | 2 cm x 2 cm |
| 30 cm (business card) | 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm |
| 1 meter (poster, sign) | 10 cm x 10 cm |
| 3 meters (banner, wall) | 30 cm x 30 cm |
| 10 meters (billboard) | 1 meter x 1 meter |
The general rule: QR code width should be at least 1/10th of the scanning distance. A code scanned from 2 meters away should be at least 20 cm wide.
For digital use (websites, emails, social media), generate at 300x300 pixels or larger. This ensures the code remains sharp when displayed on screens and when users screenshot it for later scanning.
Error correction levels
QR codes have built-in error correction — they can still be scanned even if part of the code is damaged or obscured. There are four levels:
| Level | Error Recovery | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| L (Low) | ~7% | Digital displays, pristine conditions |
| M (Medium) | ~15% | General purpose, printed materials |
| Q (Quartile) | ~25% | Outdoor signage, potentially dirty/worn |
| H (High) | ~30% | Codes with logos overlaid, harsh conditions |
Higher error correction = larger QR code. Level H codes are denser (more modules) than Level L codes encoding the same data. For most uses, Level M is the sweet spot between reliability and size.
If you’re adding a logo: Use Level H. The logo covers part of the code, so you need maximum error correction to compensate. Even with Level H, keep the logo to about 10% of the QR code area.
Customization Options
Colors
The default black-on-white QR code is universally readable, but you can customize colors for branding. Important rules:
- Maintain high contrast. The foreground must be significantly darker than the background. A dark blue on white works. A light yellow on white does not.
- Don’t invert colors. Most scanners expect dark modules on a light background. A white-on-black code may not scan reliably.
- Test after customizing. Always scan the final QR code with at least two different devices to verify readability.
Adding a logo
Many QR code generators offer logo overlay. This places a small image (usually a company logo) in the center of the QR code. It works because error correction rebuilds the data hidden under the logo. Use the highest error correction level (H) when adding logos, and keep the logo small — covering more than 10-15% of the code area risks making it unscannable.
Size and resolution
Generate your QR code at the largest size you’ll need. Scaling a QR code down maintains quality; scaling up can introduce blurriness. For print, generate at least 1000x1000 pixels. For web use, 300x300 or 500x500 is sufficient. The tool outputs PNG format, which maintains pixel-perfect sharpness at any size.
After generating, you can compress the image if file size matters, though QR code PNGs are typically small (under 50KB).
Batch QR Generation
Need multiple QR codes — say, one for each product page, each employee’s vCard, or each table in a restaurant? While the AllTools generator processes one code at a time, here’s an efficient workflow:
- Prepare your data in a spreadsheet — one row per QR code with the URL, contact info, or WiFi credentials
- Open the QR Generator in a browser tab
- Generate each code by entering the data, generating, and downloading. Use a consistent naming scheme (e.g.,
qr-table-01.png,qr-table-02.png) - Organize downloads into a folder for easy access
For URL-based QR codes, you can also use a URL encoder to properly format URLs with special characters before generating the code.
If you need barcodes instead of (or in addition to) QR codes, the Barcode Generator supports Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, and other standard formats.
FAQ
What’s the maximum amount of data a QR code can hold?
A standard QR code can store up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 7,089 numeric digits. In practice, you’ll rarely approach these limits. A URL with tracking parameters might be 200 characters. A full vCard with all fields is typically under 500 characters. The more data you encode, the denser (more complex) the QR code becomes, which means it needs to be physically larger to remain scannable.
Can I add a logo to the center of my QR code?
Yes, QR codes with logos work because of error correction. When you use Level H error correction, the code can recover from up to 30% data loss — which means a small logo covering 10-15% of the center area won’t affect scannability. Generate the code, then overlay your logo using any image editor. Always test the final result by scanning it with your phone.
How far away can a QR code be scanned?
The scanning distance depends on the physical size of the QR code and the camera resolution of the scanning device. As a rule of thumb, the maximum scanning distance is about 10 times the width of the QR code. A 3cm QR code on a business card can be scanned from about 30cm away. A 30cm QR code on a poster can be scanned from 3 meters away.
Do QR codes expire?
Static QR codes — the kind generated by AllTools — never expire. The data is encoded directly in the pattern of squares. As long as the QR code image exists and is intact, it will scan and work forever. Some commercial QR services use “dynamic” QR codes that redirect through their servers, which can expire if you stop paying. AllTools generates static codes with no server dependency.
Can I scan QR codes without a separate app?
Yes. Modern smartphones (iPhone with iOS 11+ and most Android phones from 2018 onward) have QR scanning built into the default camera app. Just point your camera at the QR code and a notification appears with the action. If your device doesn’t support this natively, the QR Scanner on AllTools reads QR codes from uploaded images.
Are WiFi QR codes secure?
The WiFi password is encoded in the QR code in plain text — it’s not encrypted. Anyone who scans the code (or captures an image of it) can extract the password. This is fine for guest networks and public WiFi, but don’t use QR codes for networks with sensitive access. Treat a WiFi QR code like a written-down password: share it only with people you trust.
Start Generating
Ready to create a QR code? Open the QR Code Generator and pick your type — URL, WiFi, vCard, email, phone, SMS, or location. No account, no tracking, no limits. Your data stays in your browser.
For related tools, explore the Security tools category — including the QR Scanner, Barcode Generator, and Password Generator.
