You can add a logo to a QR code without hurting scanning because every QR code has error correction: at level H, it stays readable with up to about 30% of the code damaged. The practical rule is to use level H, keep the logo, plus the white margin behind it, within about 20% to 25% of the code's area, not cover the three corner squares, and test on several phones before printing.
- The logo covers part of the QR code, and error correction makes up for it; with a logo, use level H, which recovers up to about 30% of the code.
- Logo and white margin together should take up at most about 20% to 25% of the QR code's area, which is equal to 45% to 50% of its width.
- The logo goes in the center, on a plain background, far from the three corner squares.
- Here on the site, adding a logo to the QR code is free with an account (sign in with Google); colors and shapes work without sign-up.
Why does a QR code with a logo still work?
Because the QR code stores information with room to spare. Error correction is a calculated redundancy that lets the content be rebuilt even when part of the pattern disappears, gets dirty, or is covered. The QR code standard, ISO/IEC 18004, defines four levels:
| Level | Recovers up to | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| L | about 7% | Screens and clean environments |
| M | about 15% | General use, QR codes without a logo |
| Q | about 25% | Printed pieces that will suffer wear |
| H | about 30% | QR codes with a logo in the middle |
The logo works like deliberate damage: it covers modules (the little squares of the code), and error correction recovers what was hidden. But there is only one margin of safety, and it also has to handle real life: glare, dirt, crumpled paper, a basic camera. That is why the logo can't use up the whole 30%.
What is the maximum logo size on a QR code?
Up to about 20% to 25% of the code's area, counting the logo and the white margin behind it. Because area grows with the square, this equals a logo that is 45% to 50% of the QR code's width, much more than it seems. That is the ceiling, not the goal:
| Logo width (with margin) | Area taken | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| 25% of the QR code's width | about 6% | Plenty of room to spare |
| 33% (one third) | about 11% | Good starting point |
| 40% | 16% | Still has room, if the print is good |
| 45% | about 20% | Recommended limit |
| 50% | 25% | Ceiling: only with careful testing |
| 55% or more | 30% or more | Uses up all of level H's margin: don't |
On a QR code 4 cm (1.6 in) per side, for example, one third of the width gives a logo of about 1.3 cm (0.5 in), and the 25% area ceiling is a 2 cm (0.8 in) square. Start small and only go bigger if every test passes.
Why leave a white margin behind the logo?
The margin behind the logo is a plain band that separates the logo artwork from the QR code's dots. Without it, the camera sees pieces of the logo stuck to the modules and can't tell what is code and what is decoration.
- Put the logo inside a plain square or circle, in the QR code's background color.
- Leave breathing room at least one module wide between the logo and the dots.
- Remove the dots that sit under the logo instead of overlapping them. A transparent-background logo thrown over the dots is the worst of both worlds.
- Count that breathing room within the 20% to 25%.
Where can't the logo go?
- On top of the three big corner squares. They are the position markers: the camera uses them to find the code and work out its angle. With one of them covered, scanning usually fails even at level H.
- In the outer margin. The quiet zone, the clear band of 4 modules around the QR code, can't have a logo, text, or frame either.
- Behind the whole QR code. A watermark-style logo spread under the dots drags down the contrast of the entire code.
The right spot is the center, far from the three position markers.
Does the logo's color affect scanning?
The logo can be any color you like, as long as it stays inside its plain box. What needs contrast is the QR code's dots: dark on a light background. If you plan to use your brand color on the dots, go with the darkest shade in the palette and leave yellow, gold, and pastel tones for the logo, where they don't get in the way. The guide to colored QR codes says more about color combinations.
Does a QR code with a logo need to be bigger?
A little. Level H stores more redundancy, and redundancy takes up space: the same content needs more modules. According to the capacity table in the ISO/IEC 18004 standard, the address https://qrcodegratuito.com.br produces 29 × 29 modules at level M and 33 × 33 at level H. At the same printed size, each module gets smaller.
Add the area the logo covers and the conclusion is simple: a QR code with a logo calls for a short link and a size a bit above what the distance rule suggests (QR code side ≈ scanning distance ÷ 10). The table by material is in the guide to QR code size for printing.
How do you test a QR code with a logo?
- Scan it on screen with at least two phones, an iPhone and an Android, and include an older device.
- Test with the camera and with Google Lens.
- Print a proof at the final size, at 100%, and scan from the real distance.
- Try it in low light and from a slightly crooked angle, the way it happens in real life.
- If it fails on any device, make the logo smaller before changing anything else.
Still not scanning? The guide QR code not working? 12 reasons and how to fix it goes through the other causes.
Can I add a logo to a QR code here?
You can, with the free account: sign in with Google, open Customize, and choose your logo and its size (small, medium, or large). The logo is processed only on your device, is not uploaded or stored, and the site automatically turns on error correction H and tests scanning. Without an account, here at QR Code Free Forever you can already give the QR code your brand's look:
- dot and background color by hex code, in your brand's exact color;
- dot shape (square, rounded, dots, leaf, or drop) and corner shape (square, rounded, or round);
- 8 ready-made styles and a transparent background;
- automatic scan test, which warns you when contrast is low.
And the logo can go next to the QR code instead of inside it. On a display, card, or package: the logo on top, the QR code below, and a sentence saying what it opens. It works with any error correction level. If you are building the piece, send the QR code as an SVG; the guide PNG or SVG explains why.
Frequently asked questions
Does a QR code with a logo work on any phone?
It does when it follows the rules: level H, a moderate logo with a white margin, and good contrast. Even so, test on different devices, including an older one, before printing.
Round or square logo: which is better?
Both work. What counts is the logo's total area including the margin, and at the same width, a circle covers about 20% less area than a square.
Does a QR code with a logo expire?
Not if it is static: the logo is just a drawing, and the content stays stored in the code itself. Dynamic QR codes are the ones that expire, with a logo or without, when the vendor's service is shut down.
How much does it cost to add a logo to a QR code here?
Nothing. The QR code logo feature is coming soon with a free account, and colors, shapes, and a transparent background are already available today, with no sign-up.
