How to Add a QR Code to Your Website, Menu, or Business Card

Quick answer: Choose the right content type for your goal (URL for a website, vCard for a business card, WiFi for a network), generate the code with a free tool like our own QR code generator, then place it somewhere visible with good colour contrast, adequate size, and a short line of text telling people what scanning it will actually do.

Generating the code itself takes under a minute. Getting people to actually scan it depends on a handful of details most businesses get wrong the first time. Here's how to do each of the common use cases properly.

Adding a QR Code to Your Website

This might sound backwards, why would a website need a QR code, but it's genuinely common. Businesses print a code on a physical flyer, sign, or product that links back to their own website, or embed one directly on a webpage so a visitor viewing the site on desktop can scan it with their phone to continue browsing on mobile, or to save contact information instantly.

1. Generate a URL type code pointing to the specific page you want people to land on, not just your homepage if a more specific page fits the context better
2. Export as SVG if the code will be displayed on the website itself, since it will render sharply at any screen size
3. Place it somewhere it makes contextual sense, a contact page, a "save our details" prompt, or near a product listing

Adding a QR Code to a Restaurant Menu

This is one of the most common QR use cases today, and also one of the easiest to get wrong through poor placement rather than a technical issue.

1. Generate a URL code linking directly to your digital menu, review page, or WhatsApp ordering line, whichever action you actually want a diner to take
2. Export as PNG for print, at a size no smaller than roughly 2 by 2 centimetres for a table card, larger if it will be viewed from further away like a wall poster
3. Add a short instruction next to it, "Scan for our full menu" performs meaningfully better than a bare code with no context, since some customers genuinely don't realise what a code is for without a prompt
4. Test the printed code yourself with your own phone before the full print run goes out, checking both the scan itself and the destination page's mobile experience

Adding a QR Code to a Business Card

A business card is a genuinely strong use case for the vCard type specifically, rather than a simple URL, because it lets someone save your full contact details directly to their phone with one scan, rather than just opening a webpage they may or may not bookmark.

1. Generate a vCard type code with your name, organisation, job title, phone, email, and website filled in
2. Keep the code a reasonable size relative to the card, large enough to scan reliably, typically at least 1.5 by 1.5 centimetres on a standard card, without overwhelming the design
3. Use a colour that contrasts clearly against the card's background. A light grey code on a white card looks elegant but often fails to scan reliably. High contrast, dark code on light background or vice versa, matters more for reliable scanning than aesthetic subtlety

Adding a QR Code for WiFi Access

This is a genuinely underused case that saves real friction for offices, cafes, and short-term rentals.

1. Generate a WiFi type code with your exact network name (SSID), password, and correct security type (usually WPA/WPA2 for most modern routers)
2. Print it somewhere guests will naturally see it, near a reception desk, on a laminated card on a table, or framed near an entrance
3. Add a short label, "Scan to join WiFi," since without context some guests won't realise a code can connect them automatically rather than just opening a webpage

General Placement Rules That Actually Matter

• Contrast over cleverness. A code that matches your brand palette beautifully but has low contrast between foreground and background will fail to scan in poor lighting. Test in the actual lighting conditions the code will live in.
• Size scales with viewing distance. A code meant to be scanned from a table needs to be much smaller than one on a poster meant to be scanned from several feet away.
• Always include a reason to scan. "Scan for menu," "Scan to save my contact," "Scan for WiFi," a code with zero context gets ignored far more often than one that tells people exactly what happens next.
• Leave a margin. QR codes need a quiet, empty border around them to scan reliably, don't crop the code tight against other design elements.
• Test before you commit to a large print run. A five-minute test scan with your own phone catches sizing or contrast problems before they become an expensive reprint.

A Mistake Worth Avoiding

The most common mistake we see isn't technical, it's using a generic URL type code when a more specific type would work better. A business card with a plain URL code sends someone to a website they then have to navigate to find contact details and manually add. The same card with a vCard code saves those exact details straight into their phone with one tap after scanning. Matching the code type to the actual intended action, not defaulting to a URL out of habit, is what separates a QR code that gets used from one that gets ignored.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should a QR code be on a printed flyer?

As a rough guide, a code should be at least 2x2 centimetres for something viewed up close, like a table card, and scale up considerably for anything viewed from a distance, like a poster or banner. When in doubt, print a test size and scan it yourself from the expected viewing distance.

Can I add my logo to the middle of a QR code without breaking it?

Yes, provided the error correction level is set to Q or H before generating, since these levels reserve enough redundancy in the pattern to keep the code scannable even with a portion of the centre covered by a logo.

Should a QR code on my website link to my own website?

It can, for cases like letting a desktop visitor continue browsing on their phone, or scanning to save contact details. For most other on-site purposes, a direct clickable link usually serves visitors better than a QR code, since they're already on a device that doesn't need scanning.

Why isn't my printed QR code scanning?

The most common causes are low contrast between the code and its background, a size too small for the viewing distance, or a code cropped too tightly with no margin around it. Reprinting with better contrast and a slightly larger size resolves the vast majority of scanning issues.