The business card QR code is a code that saves your name, mobile number, email, company and website straight to the address book of whoever scans it with a phone camera. Use it on cards, badges and email signatures, and say goodbye to “can you send me your number again?” (and to digits jotted down wrong).
- Uses the vCard format (version 3.0), the standard contact format that iPhone and Android understand.
- The camera offers “Add to Contacts”, and the person saves it with one tap.
- The data is stored in the QR code itself: it never expires and doesn't go through our server.
- Fewer filled-in fields make the QR code simpler and easier to scan at a small size.
What is a contact QR code for?
- Printed business card: on the back, so nobody has to type your details.
- Trade show, conference and event badges: networking without swapping paper.
- Email signature and the last slide of a presentation: the person on the other end saves you right away.
- Store counter, office and reception: a “save our contact” sign next to the register.
- Printed resume: the recruiter saves your contact without copying a number.
- Work vehicle, job-site sign and delivery packaging: the customer keeps your contact for next time.
How to create your business card QR code
- First and last name. For a business contact, you can use just the company name.
- Mobile and phone number. Enter them with the country code, like +1 212 555 1234.
- Email, company, job title, website and address. Fill in only what makes sense for whoever will receive it.
- Customize. The QR code can follow your brand colors, with dark dots on a light background. Check the scan test.
- Pick a size and download. For the print shop, SVG is best: it doesn't lose quality at any size.
- Test. Scan it with your phone, tap “Add to Contacts” and see how the contact looks in your address book.
What size should I use on a business card?
The minimum for a printed QR code is about 0.8 × 0.8 in (2 × 2 cm). On a standard business card (3.5 × 2 in), a QR code between 0.8 and 1.2 in fits nicely on the back.
But a contact QR code grows with every field you fill in. Name, two phone numbers, email, job title, website and address together make a code full of tiny dots, which the camera takes a while to read when printed small. If that happens, remove fields or give the QR code more room.
Tips for a QR code that works the first time
- Watch out for shine. Glossy lamination can reflect light right on top of the code. A matte finish avoids the problem.
- Quiet zone. Don't push the QR code against the card edge or text: leave some breathing room around it.
- Test the print shop proof. Before printing the whole run, scan the QR code printed at actual size, on a proof or a regular sheet of paper.
- Check the numbers. With one digit wrong on your phone number, the card loses its reason to exist.
Things to watch out for
Everything in the QR code is visible to whoever scans it. If the card will be handed out in bulk, think twice before including a home address or personal mobile number.
Here at QR Code Free Forever, the contact is built in your browser and doesn't go through our server. But once printed, it's as public as the card itself.
See also
- WhatsApp QR code with a pre-filled message, for people who prefer to send a message.
- Link QR code, to point to your LinkedIn, portfolio or website.
- Email QR code, which opens a message already addressed to you.
Frequently asked questions
Which fields are required?
Only the name, or the company name for a business contact. Mobile number, email, job title, website and address are optional.
Can I add a photo to the contact?
No. A photo would take up more space than fits in a practically sized QR code, so the contact is saved without a photo.
Does the contact QR code need internet?
No. The data is inside the code itself, so the phone reads it and saves the contact even without a signal.
I changed my phone number or company. Does the QR code update itself?
No. The data is stored in the QR code, so you need to create a new one and reprint. The upcoming Pro plan will have dynamic QR codes and a digital business card.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. The iPhone reads it with the camera, and on Android the camera or Google Lens does it on most recent devices; both offer to save the contact.