What a phone number QR code does
A phone call QR code is built for one job: starting a call to your number from a scan. The number is stored in the pattern itself, so nothing sits between the scan and the call.
The built-in camera on current iPhones and Android phones scans QR codes, so the person scanning does not need to install anything.
Because the code is static, it cannot be switched off, it does not expire, and it keeps working even if 77-3.com disappears. The trade-off is that the number cannot be edited after printing, so check it carefully before you print.
How to make one here
- Choose the phone call code type.
- Enter the phone number with its country code. For a US number, start with +1, then the 10-digit number.
- Pick your colors and shapes. Dark modules on a light background scan most reliably, so avoid light-on-dark designs.
- Check the test scan. Every design is test-scanned in your browser before download. If it will not scan, the page says so and suggests a fix, usually more contrast or a smaller logo.
- Download the code. Choose a PNG at 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096 pixels for screens, or an SVG, which is a vector file made for print.
The code is generated in your browser. The number you enter is never sent to or stored on our servers, and the tool is free with no sign-up.
Where a call code helps
- Service trucks and vans. A customer can start a call from the side of the vehicle without reading a number.
- Yard and property signs. Add the code to a sign with a sales, leasing or service line.
- Flyers and door hangers. Put a "call to book" line beside the code.
- After-hours and on-call lines. A quick scan saves typing a number in a hurry.
Tips for a phone number code
- Always include the country code. A number without it is incomplete. For the US, that is +1.
- Print the number as text next to the code. Some people prefer to dial by hand.
- Use a number that will stay the same. A static code cannot be changed after printing. A dynamic code can be edited, but every scan goes through the provider, which can stop the redirect. Compare the two in our static vs dynamic QR codes guide.
- Keep a blank margin. The quiet zone should be 4 modules wide per the standard. Many codes still scan with less, but never go below 2.
- Test-scan a printed proof. Scan it with your own phone, standing at the distance the sign will be read from, before you print a large run.
Size and printing
Print a phone code at least 2 cm (about 0.8 inch) wide. A common guide is that the scanning distance can be about 10 times the code's width. A code to be scanned from 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) away should therefore be about 20 cm (about 8 inches) wide.
For a vehicle or yard sign, measure how far away people will stand, then divide that distance by 10. Longer content makes a denser code that needs a larger print, but a phone number is short, so the code stays simple. For more on print sizes and placement, read our QR code size guide.
Texting instead of calling?
If you want people to send a message rather than call, use our text message QR code generator.