How to make a QR code for a flyer or poster

A QR code on a flyer or poster bridges the gap between print and digital — someone sees your flyer, scans the code, and lands on your website, event page, or sign-up form. You can create one for free at oneclickqrcode.com and download it in print-ready formats.

Why add a QR code to your flyer?

Flyers and posters have a fundamental limitation: they're static. Once printed, they can't be clicked, tapped, or interacted with. A QR code fixes that by adding a digital layer to a physical medium.

Here's what a QR code on a flyer enables:

• Instant action — instead of asking someone to type a URL, remember your business name, or search for you online, they just scan and they're there. The friction goes from 30 seconds of typing to 2 seconds of scanning
• Trackable results — while the QR codes from oneclickqrcode.com don't track scans directly, you can link to a URL with analytics (like a UTM-tagged link or a Bitly shortlink) to measure how many people scanned your flyer
• More information — a flyer has limited space. A QR code can link to a full website, a video, a long form, or a multi-page document without using up precious print real estate
• Mobile-first experience — people have their phones on them. Meeting them on their device is more natural than asking them to engage with a piece of paper

What should your QR code link to?

The destination matters as much as the QR code itself. Think about what you want the scanner to do:

Goal	Link to
Drive website traffic	Your website or landing page
Promote an event	Event registration page or ticket link
Collect leads	A sign-up form or landing page with an email capture
Share contact info	A vCard QR code (see our guide)
Share a coupon or offer	A page with the discount code or offer details
Play a video	A YouTube or Vimeo link
Get reviews	Your Google Business review link
Connect to Wi-Fi	A Wi-Fi QR code (for venue flyers)
Get email inquiries	An email QR code

Important: whatever you link to should be mobile-friendly. People are scanning with their phones — if the destination is a desktop-only website or a tiny PDF, you've lost them.

How to create the QR code

1. Prepare your destination URL

Copy the URL you want the flyer QR code to point to. Test it on your phone first — make sure the page loads fast and looks good on mobile.

Pro tip: if you want to track scans, create a UTM-tagged URL or use a URL shortener like Bitly before generating the QR code. The QR code will point to the tracking link, which redirects to your actual page.

2. Generate the QR code

Go to oneclickqrcode.com and paste your URL. The default Link type is what you want.

3. Customize the design

Make the QR code match your flyer design:

• Brand colors — use your primary brand color for the foreground dots. Keep the background white or very light for best scanning
• Dot style — rounded dots feel friendlier (good for events, casual businesses). Square dots feel more structured (good for corporate, professional services)
• Logo — add your logo to the center. This is especially important on flyers where multiple businesses might be advertised — your logo makes the QR code unmistakably yours
• Contrast — keep at least 3:1 contrast ratio. The tool warns you if it's too low

4. Download in the right format

For flyers and posters, you need a print-quality file:

• SVG — the best choice. Vector format that stays sharp at any print size. Hand it to your designer or print shop
• PNG at 2048px — if your print workflow doesn't accept SVG. At 2048px, you have enough resolution for any flyer or poster
• Transparent background — toggle "No background" if the QR code will sit on a colored area of your flyer design

For a detailed breakdown of formats, see our PNG vs SVG comparison.

Size and placement

Getting the size and placement right is critical. A QR code that's too small or poorly placed won't get scanned. For complete sizing math, see our QR code size guide.

Size recommendations

Material	QR code size	Typical scan distance
A5 flyer (half page)	2.5 × 2.5 cm – 3 × 3 cm	20-40 cm (handheld)
A4 flyer (full page)	3 × 3 cm – 5 × 5 cm	30-60 cm (handheld or on a board)
A3 poster	5 × 5 cm – 8 × 8 cm	50 cm – 1.5 m
A2 poster	8 × 8 cm – 12 × 12 cm	1-2 m
A1 or larger	12+ × 12+ cm	1.5-3 m

The general rule: for every 15 cm of scanning distance, you need about 1 cm of QR code width.

Placement

Where you put the QR code on the flyer affects how many people scan it:

• Near the call to action — place the QR code next to the text that tells people what to do. "Register now" + QR code is better than a QR code floating in a corner
• Lower half, but not the very bottom — eye tracking studies show people scan print materials from top to bottom. The QR code shouldn't be the first thing they see (that should be the headline), but it should be easy to find. The lower-third to lower-half is the sweet spot
• Don't crowd it — leave a quiet zone (blank margin) of at least 3-4 mm around the QR code. Don't butt it against text, borders, or other design elements
• Make it obvious — a QR code sitting in a busy design might get overlooked. Give it breathing room, a slight background contrast, or a border to make it stand out

Context label

Always add a text label near the QR code:

• "Scan to register"
• "Scan for details"
• "Scan to visit our website"
• "Scan for a special offer"

Without a label, people might not know what the QR code does — or might not notice it at all.

Design tips

Match the flyer's visual language

The QR code should feel like part of the design, not an afterthought pasted on at the last minute:

• If your flyer uses rounded shapes and soft colors, use the rounded dot style with your brand color
• If your flyer is bold and geometric, use the square dot style in a strong color
• If you have a dark-themed flyer, consider an inverted QR code (light dots on dark background) — but test it first, as inverted codes can be trickier to scan

Don't distort the QR code

QR codes must be square. Stretching or skewing the code (making it rectangular) will break scannability. If your design needs a rectangular element, keep the QR code square and add whitespace or a label above/below it.

Don't overlay decorative elements

Flowers, borders, background textures, or gradients behind the QR code will interfere with scanning. The QR code area should be clean — just the dots on a solid background.

Print in CMYK

If you're designing for professional print, make sure the QR code colors are converted to CMYK. An RGB color on screen might print differently. The most reliable approach: design your QR code with high-contrast colors, and verify a test print scans correctly.

Testing before printing

Never print a full run without testing. Here's the testing checklist:

1. Print one copy at the final size on the same paper stock
2. Scan from the expected distance — if the flyer will be on a bulletin board, stand 1 meter away and scan. If it's a handout, hold it at arm's length
3. Test in realistic lighting — indoors, outdoors, fluorescent office lighting, dim café lighting
4. Test on both iPhone and Android — both should work with the built-in camera
5. Verify the destination — make sure the URL loads correctly and the page looks good on mobile
6. Test with the logo — if you added a center logo, confirm it doesn't interfere with scanning

If anything fails, increase the QR code size or simplify the colors (go back to dark on light).

Common mistakes

QR code too small

The #1 mistake. A 1.5 cm QR code on an A3 poster that's viewed from 2 meters away simply won't scan. Follow the size recommendations above.

No call to action

A QR code with no context looks mysterious. People don't scan unknown QR codes. Always tell them what they'll get: "Scan for 20% off" is infinitely more effective than just a QR code.

Low contrast on dark backgrounds

A dark blue QR code on a dark purple flyer background looks terrible and won't scan. If your flyer has a dark background, place the QR code on a white or light-colored card/box within the design.

Linking to a non-mobile page

You created a great flyer, added a QR code, and linked it to your desktop website that's impossible to read on a phone. Always link to a mobile-friendly page.

No testing

"It scanned fine on my computer screen" is not the same as scanning a printed copy at the real distance in the real lighting. Always print-test.

FAQ

What's the best format for a flyer QR code?

SVG for the highest quality at any print size. If SVG doesn't work with your workflow, PNG at 2048px is excellent for any flyer or poster.

Can I use the same QR code on different flyers?

Yes — if they should all link to the same URL. If different flyers promote different events or offers, create a unique QR code for each.

Should I use a URL shortener?

Not required, but useful for two reasons: (1) shorter URLs make simpler QR codes that scan better at small sizes, and (2) services like Bitly give you scan analytics so you can measure your flyer's effectiveness.

Can I put a QR code on both sides of a flyer?

You can, but it's usually unnecessary. One QR code in a prominent position on the front or back is enough. Two identical QR codes feel redundant; two different QR codes might confuse people.

How long does the QR code last?

Forever. The QR code is just an image encoding a URL. It works as long as the destination URL exists. There's no expiration, no subscription, no server to maintain.

Is it free to use on commercial flyers?

Yes. QR codes from oneclickqrcode.com are free for any use — personal, commercial, or anything else. No watermarks, no attribution needed.

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Create your flyer QR code free at oneclickqrcode.com — paste your URL, customize the design, and download in SVG or PNG. No sign-up needed.