What a logo QR code does when scanned
When someone scans a QR code with a logo, the code opens the web address you entered. The logo sits over the center of the code and does not change that link. The built-in camera apps on current iPhones and Android phones scan the code, so no extra app is needed.
This generator makes static QR codes. The link is stored in the pattern itself, so nothing sits between the scan and the destination. The code does not expire. It cannot be edited after printing, and we cannot count its scans.
How to make a QR code with a logo
- Enter your link. Type the website address (URL) the code should open.
- Open the Logo panel. This is where you add a logo to the center of the code.
- Upload your logo. Choose your image file. It is processed in your browser.
- Adjust the logo size. Start small. A large logo covers more of the code, and a smaller one is easier to scan.
- Check the scan result. 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. Choose a PNG at 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096 pixels, or an SVG for print.
Why error correction H matters
A logo covers part of the code, which hides some of the small squares, called modules. A QR code can recover damaged or missing data through error correction. The levels are L (about 7%), M (about 15%), Q (about 25%) and H (about 30%).
When you add a logo, 77-3.com raises the error correction level to H automatically. H gives the code room to recover about 30% of its data, which is what lets the logo cover part of the pattern. Higher levels make the code denser, with more modules, so a code with more content needs a larger print size.
Choose a logo that scans
- Keep the mark simple. A bold, simple mark works better than a detailed picture or small text.
- Use a transparent PNG or SVG. Transparency lets the code's own colors show around the mark.
- Aim for a square-ish shape. It fits the center of the code evenly.
- Keep it small. If the page warns that a design will not scan, make the logo smaller and check again.
Keep strong contrast and a clear margin
Dark modules on a light background scan most reliably. Light-on-dark codes do not scan on some older scanner apps, so avoid inverted colors unless you have tested them. For colors, gradients and shapes, see custom QR codes.
Leave a blank margin, called the quiet zone, around the code. The standard calls for 4 modules. Many codes still scan with less, but do not go below 2. The quiet zone margin is one of the design options you can set.
Try woven logo mode instead
If you want the logo to look like part of the code, use woven logo mode. It blends the logo image into the dots of the code itself, so the whole code looks like the logo and still scans. The work is done in the browser. To see how it works, read about woven logo QR codes.
Print size and testing
Print a logo QR 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. Test-scan the code with a phone before you print a large run. For more sizing advice, see the QR code size guide.
Free, and your logo stays private
The generator is free. It needs no sign-up, no account and no email. Your logo is processed in your browser, and uploaded logos are never sent to or stored on our servers. We do not track scans.