How to make a QR code for your business card

A QR code on your business card lets people scan it with their phone and instantly save your contact info — name, phone number, email, and company — directly to their address book. You can create one for free at oneclickqrcode.com using the Contact QR type.

Why put a QR code on a business card?

Business cards have a problem: most of them end up in a drawer, a pocket, or the trash. The contact info on them rarely gets typed into a phone. It's just too tedious.

A QR code solves this by removing the manual step entirely. One scan, and your details are saved. Here's why it's worth doing:

• Higher contact save rate — people are far more likely to scan a QR code than to manually type your name, phone number, and email. The easier you make it, the more connections you keep
• No typos — your email address is firstname.lastname@company.com, not firstname.lastnme@company.com. QR codes eliminate human error
• Instant saving — scanning a vCard QR code opens a "Add to Contacts" prompt on both iPhone and Android. One tap and it's done
• Modern impression — a QR code signals that you're tech-savvy and thoughtful about the details. It's a small thing that leaves a good impression
• Works everywhere — every smartphone made in the last several years can scan QR codes with the built-in camera. No app needed

What is a vCard QR code?

When you hear "QR code for a business card," what you're actually creating is a vCard QR code. A vCard is a standard format for digital contact cards — think of it as a universal file format for contact information.

The QR code encodes your details in vCard 3.0 format. When someone scans it, their phone recognizes the format and offers to save it as a new contact. The fields that get saved include:

• Full name — first and last name, properly separated (important for phone contact lists)
• Phone number — saved as a phone contact
• Email address — saved as an email contact
• Company — saved as the organization/company name

This all happens automatically. The person scanning doesn't need to know what a vCard is — they just see "Add to Contacts" and tap it.

How to create a business card QR code (step by step)

1. Open oneclickqrcode.com

Go to oneclickqrcode.com in any browser. No sign-up, no account needed.

2. Switch to the Contact type

Click the icon to the left of the input field. A dropdown appears with five QR code types: Link, Text, Wi-Fi, Email, and Contact. Select Contact.

The input fields change to show contact-specific fields.

3. Fill in your details

Enter the information you want on your digital contact card:

• Full name (required) — enter your name as you want it to appear in someone's contacts. For example, "Jane Smith" or "Dr. James Wilson"
• Phone number — your primary phone number, including country code if needed (e.g. +1 555 123 4567)
• Email address — your professional email address
• Company (optional) — your company or organization name

The QR code preview updates in real time as you type. You'll see it appear on the right side of the screen.

A note about the name: the tool automatically handles the first name / last name split for you. This matters because some phones (especially iPhones) store contacts with separate first and last name fields. "Jane Smith" becomes first name "Jane", last name "Smith" in the generated vCard.

4. Customize the appearance

With your details entered, the customization options expand below. This is where you make the QR code match your brand or business card design:

Colors:

• Change the foreground color (the dots) to match your brand. A dark navy, charcoal, or your brand's primary color works well
• Change the background color if your business card isn't white. For most cards, keep this white for maximum scannability

Pattern and corners:

• Choose a dot style: square (classic), dots (softer look), or rounded (modern feel)
• Choose a corner style: square, dots, or rounded

Logo:

• Add your company logo to the center of the QR code by dragging and dropping an image file. The tool accepts PNG, JPEG, SVG, and WebP. For details on logo sizing, file types, and color pairings, see our guide on adding a logo to a QR code
• When you add a logo, the tool automatically increases error correction to the highest level so the code stays scannable

The contrast between foreground and background matters. If you pick colors that are too similar, the tool shows a warning with the exact contrast ratio. For business cards, aim for high contrast — you want this to scan reliably every time, even in dim conference rooms.

5. Download

Pick your format and size:

• SVG — the best choice for business cards. It's a vector format that your print designer can scale to any size without quality loss
• PNG at 1024px or 2048px — perfectly fine for most business card printers
• Transparent background — toggle "No background" if you want the QR code to sit directly on your card's background color without a white box

Click Download and you're done. Send the file to your printer or designer.

Designing your business card with a QR code

Having the QR code is one thing. Placing it well on your card is another. Here are practical design tips:

Size and placement

• Minimum size: 1.5 × 1.5 cm (about 0.6 inches). Anything smaller and some phone cameras will struggle to focus and read it
• Recommended size: 2 × 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) or larger. This gives comfortable scanning distance and room for a center logo. Our QR code size guide has detailed recommendations for every print format
• Back of the card is the most common placement — the front stays clean with your name and branding, the back features the QR code prominently
• Leave quiet zone — there should be a small margin of blank space around the QR code (at least 2-3mm). Don't let other design elements crowd it

Design approaches

Approach 1: QR code as the focal point Give the QR code prime real estate on the back of the card. Center it, make it large (2.5-3 cm), and add a small line of text below it: "Scan to save my contact." Clean and effective.

Approach 2: QR code as a secondary element Keep your standard business card layout and add a smaller QR code in one corner. This works well if you already have an established card design and just want to add scanning functionality.

Approach 3: Branded QR code integrated into the design Match the QR code colors to your brand, add your company logo to the center, and make it part of the overall design language. This looks the most polished but requires a bit more design thought.

Color considerations for print

What looks good on screen doesn't always print well. Keep these in mind:

• Dark on light always works — black or dark-colored QR codes on white or light backgrounds are the safest bet for scannability
• Avoid very dark backgrounds — a white QR code on a black card can work, but some older phone cameras struggle with inverted codes. Test it
• Metallic or glossy finishes — if your business card has a glossy or metallic finish, make sure the QR code area is matte. Glare from lighting can make scanning difficult
• Embossing or debossing — don't emboss the QR code itself. The shadows from raised or lowered areas can interfere with scanning

What information to include

The tool supports four fields for contact QR codes: name, phone, email, and company. Here's how to think about what to include:

Always include

• Full name — this is required, and it's the most important field. It's how the contact will be labeled in someone's phone
• Email address — the primary way most professional contacts follow up

Usually include

• Phone number — include it if you want people to be able to call or text you. Use your work number, not your personal cell, if you want to maintain that boundary
• Company name — helpful context that appears in the contact card. If you're a freelancer, you can use your business name or skip it

Not available (but that's okay)

The tool currently doesn't support these vCard fields: job title, address, website URL, social media handles. If you need someone to visit your website, consider creating a separate Link QR code instead, or include the URL in your business card design alongside the contact QR code.

For most networking situations, name + email + phone + company covers what people actually need. A contact QR code that saves these four fields is far more useful than a business card that has everything printed in tiny text that nobody will manually type in.

Printing tips

Choose the right format

• SVG is ideal for print. Your designer or print shop can place it in their layout at any size, and it stays sharp. No pixels, no blurriness
• PNG at 2048px works well if your print shop prefers raster images. At 2048 pixels, you have plenty of resolution for even large placements
• Avoid JPG for print — JPEG compression can blur the fine details of QR code dots, especially at smaller sizes

Print a test first

Before ordering 500 cards, print one or two test copies. Then:

1. Scan the test card with your phone's default camera
2. Verify all the contact details are correct (check for typos in your own info)
3. Scan from a realistic distance — hold the phone about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) away
4. Test in different lighting — conference venues and offices often have tricky lighting
5. Try on both iPhone and Android if possible

Paper and finish

• Matte paper is better for QR codes than glossy. Less glare means easier scanning
• Standard cardstock thickness (300-400 gsm) is fine — thickness doesn't affect scannability
• Avoid printing the QR code over textured areas — patterns or textures underneath the QR code can confuse scanners

Real-world scenarios

At a conference or networking event

You meet someone interesting. Instead of fumbling with spelling your email address over loud music, you hand them your card and say "scan the QR code on the back — it'll save my details to your phone." Five seconds later, they have your full contact info saved accurately. You've made a good impression and your details won't be lost.

For freelancers and consultants

You don't have a massive brand or marketing team. Your business card IS your marketing. A QR code that instantly saves your contact info makes your card more functional than a beautifully designed card that gets tossed in a stack and forgotten.

For job seekers

Hand your business card to a hiring manager or recruiter. The QR code saves your contact info to their phone instantly. They're far more likely to follow up with someone whose contact is already in their phone than someone whose card is in a pile on their desk.

For sales teams

If your team hands out a lot of cards, QR codes standardize the contact saving process. Every team member can create their own contact QR code at oneclickqrcode.com — no IT department or design team needed.

FAQ

Does the QR code work on both iPhone and Android?

Yes. Both platforms recognize vCard QR codes natively. When scanned with the built-in camera app, a "Add to Contacts" prompt appears automatically. No third-party app needed.

Does the QR code expire?

No. The contact information is encoded directly in the QR code image. There's no server, no subscription, no expiration. The code works forever — or until you change your contact details and need to generate a new one.

Can I fit all my social media links in the QR code?

Not in a single contact QR code — the tool supports name, phone, email, and company. If you want to share multiple links, consider creating a Link QR code that points to a page where all your social profiles are listed (like a Linktree or your personal website).

What if I change my phone number or email?

You'll need to create a new QR code and reprint your cards. The QR code is static — the info is baked into the image. There's no way to update it after printing. This is worth keeping in mind when designing your card — if your details change often, you might want the QR code to link to a webpage you can update instead.

Is my contact information stored or uploaded?

No. Everything at oneclickqrcode.com runs in your browser. Your name, phone, email — none of it is sent to a server, stored, or shared. The QR code is generated entirely on your device.

How small can the QR code be on a business card?

The absolute minimum is about 1.5 × 1.5 cm (0.6 inches), but 2 × 2 cm is recommended. A vCard QR code contains more data than a simple URL code, so it needs slightly more resolution to stay scannable. When in doubt, go bigger.

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Create your business card QR code for free at oneclickqrcode.com — select the Contact type, enter your details, and download. No sign-up needed.