How to make a website QR code
- Open the page you want people to land on and copy the address from your browser's address bar.
- Paste it into the Website URL field. If you leave off https://, we add it for you.
- Pick colors, a dot style or a frame with a short label like Scan for the menu.
- Download PNG for screens and quick printing, or SVG for anything a designer or print shop will handle.
- Scan it with two different phones before you print a single copy.
Shorter links scan easier
Every character in the link becomes part of the pattern. A short address like example.com/menu makes a code with fewer, larger squares, and that's the code that still scans from a crumpled flyer or across a dim room. A 200-character link copied out of a shopping cart or a search result makes a dense code that cameras struggle with at small sizes.
Before you paste, trim the junk. Session IDs, tracking strings added by an email platform and anything after a ? that you don't recognize can usually go. Open the trimmed link in a private browser window to make sure it still lands where you expect.
UTM tags are fine if you want to see QR visits in your analytics. They add length, though, so keep the values short: utm_source=qr beats utm_source=spring-community-newsletter-flyer.
Link to a page you control
Our codes are static. The address is baked into the pattern, so once the code is printed it points to that exact URL for as long as the paper lasts. That sounds like a limit, and it's easy to work around: point the code at a page on your own site, then change what's on that page whenever you need to.
A restaurant can print example.com/menu on every table and update the menu page each season. A church can point a code at /this-week and refresh the page every Sunday. If the address itself has to move, set up a redirect on your site instead of reprinting. Our guide to static vs dynamic codes covers when a paid dynamic code is worth it.
Check the page on a phone first
Everyone who scans your code arrives on a phone, usually standing up, often with one hand busy. A page that looks fine on a laptop can be a wall of tiny text on a 6-inch screen. Open the link on your own phone and ask three questions. Does it load quickly on cellular? Does the important thing show without scrolling? Can someone finish the job, whether that's ordering, signing up or reading, with one thumb?
Be careful linking straight to a file. A PDF works. A web page works better, because it fits the screen instead of making people pinch and zoom.
Where website codes work well
- Flyers and posters that point to event details or a sign-up page
- Table tents and menus in restaurants and cafes
- Product packaging that links to a setup video or a reorder page
- Business cards that link to a portfolio or booking page
- Shop window signs for people walking past after hours
Print it big enough for the distance. A good rule is 1 cm of code width for every 10 cm of scanning distance, so a poster read from 2 meters needs a code about 20 cm across. The size and printing guide goes deeper. Paste your link above, download the SVG, and tape a test print to the wall where it will actually hang.
Frequently asked questions
Do website QR codes expire?
No. A static code opens the same address for as long as it exists. It stops working only if the page goes away, so keep the URL alive or redirect it.
Can I change the link after the code is printed?
Not in the code itself, because the address is part of the pattern. Point the code at a page you control and change that page, or set up a redirect on your site.
Can I track how many people scan my QR code?
Not from the code alone, since static codes don't pass through a tracking server. Add a UTM tag to the link and QR visits will show up in your site's analytics.
Why won't my website QR code scan?
The usual causes are a code that's too small for the distance, low contrast between pattern and background, or a link so long the pattern gets dense. Shorten the link, use a dark pattern on a light background and print it larger.