What the code should open
For most people, a contact card is the right choice. A vCard QR code adds you to the phone's contacts with one tap, and it works without an internet connection.
Other good options:
- Your portfolio or booking page, as a website QR code
- Your LinkedIn profile, if that's where you do business
- A scheduling link, so the next step is already on their calendar
Pick one. A code that opens a page asking people to choose between five more links loses most of them.
Size and placement
Print the code at least 2 cm (0.8 in) square. A standard card is about 8.9 by 5.1 cm, so that fits comfortably on the back, or in a corner of the front if you keep the margin clear.
- The back of the card is the easy choice. The code gets room to breathe and the front stays clean.
- Keep at least a few millimeters of empty space around it. Don't let your logo, a border or a bleed edge touch it.
- Add a few words next to it, like Scan to save my contact. People scan more when they know what they'll get.
Keep the contact card lean
Every field you add makes the pattern denser, and a dense pattern needs to be printed bigger. Name, mobile, email, company and website are plenty. Leave the fax number and mailing address out unless people actually need them. If you want to share a lot, link to a profile page instead and let the card stay simple. The size and printing guide explains why density matters at small sizes.
Match it to your brand
Use your brand color for the pattern as long as it's dark enough against the card stock, and add your logo in the center. Keep the logo small so the code still scans; adding one switches our generator to high error correction, which lets the code survive the covered center. Avoid pale brand colors and light-on-dark patterns, which some phone cameras can't read. Download the file as SVG before you send it to print, so it stays sharp at card size.
Order one card first, or print a test at home at exact size, and scan it with two different phones. Once both read it, send the full run.
Frequently asked questions
Should my business card QR code be a vCard or a link?
A vCard if the main goal is getting into someone's contacts. A link if you want them to see your work, book a call or follow you somewhere. A vCard works offline and can't break if a website moves.
Can I change the details after printing?
Not with a static code. The details are written into the pattern. If your number or job is likely to change soon, link to a page you control instead, and keep that page up to date.
Will a QR code work on a glossy card?
Usually, but glare can get in the way under bright lights. Matte or soft-touch stock scans more reliably.