The best place for a business QR code is wherever people have a few seconds to spare and a reason to act: at a counter, on a pack in their hands, at a stop or a table. This guide ranks twenty-one common placements by how much time the viewer has, and links to the full guide for each.
Which placements give people time to scan?
| Placement | Viewer dwell time | Typical code width | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business cards | Minutes (in hand) | 1.8 to 2.5 cm | Business cards |
| Table tents and menus | Minutes (seated) | 3 to 5 cm | Restaurant menus |
| Product packaging | Seconds to minutes (in hand) | 2 to 3 cm | Packaging |
| Food packaging | Seconds to minutes | 2 to 3 cm | Food allergens |
| Labels and bottles | Seconds (in hand) | 2 to 2.5 cm | Labels and bottles |
| Flyers and brochures | Seconds to minutes | 2.5 to 4 cm | Flyers and brochures |
| Tickets and passes | Seconds | 2 to 4 cm | Event ticketing |
| Stationery and résumés | Minutes | 1.8 to 2.5 cm | Résumés |
| Books | Minutes | 2 to 3 cm | Authors |
| Posters | Seconds | 4 to 30 cm | Posters |
| Newspapers and magazines | Seconds | 3 to 4 cm | Print ads |
| Banners and trade-show signage | Seconds | 5 to 30 cm | Banners |
| Storefront windows | Seconds | 10 to 15 cm | Windows |
| Vehicles | Seconds, parked only | 6 to 20 cm | Vehicles |
| Clothing, giveaways, merch | Long term | 1.5 to 6 cm | Merchandise |
| Billboards | Seconds; scan only where people pause | 15 to 40 cm | Billboards |
Widths are starting points based on the ten-to-one scanning-distance rule of thumb. They are not a standard. Test a proof at real distance.
What about websites, email and display ads?
A QR code on a web page or in an email only makes sense when the reader is on a desktop and the next step is on a phone. Examples are a desktop checkout page offering a mobile app, or a desktop site showing a Wi-Fi code in a lobby kiosk. On a phone, give a tappable link instead, because nobody can scan a code from the same screen they are holding. The same applies to digital display ads on phones; use them on screens in public spaces rather than mobile ads. For app downloads see app download QR codes.
What rules apply to every placement?
- Give a reason to scan. Pair every code with a short call to action. See QR code frames.
- Keep the quiet zone. Four modules of clear margin under ISO/IEC 18004.
- Use high contrast. Dark modules on a light block; see the colour guide.
- Use dynamic codes for anything printed in bulk. See static vs dynamic.
- Track each placement separately using QR code tracking.
- Export vector. SVG for large format and press.
Which business types are covered?
Placements show where; industries show why. See guides for restaurants, retail, automotive, manufacturing, tourism and e-commerce.