The location QR code opens your address in Google Maps or Waze as soon as someone scans the code with a phone, ready to start directions. Use it so guests, customers or delivery drivers get to the right place without typing an address or relying on “it's the second left after the bakery”.
- Opens in Google Maps or Waze, your choice.
- Accepts an address, a place name or a Google Maps link.
- The destination is stored in the QR code itself: it never expires and doesn't go through our server.
- Before printing, scan it with your phone and check that the pin lands in the right place.
What is a location QR code for?
- Invitations: weddings, birthdays, baby showers and graduations, especially at venues guests don't know.
- Business and services: on the card, bag, flyer and website of the store, restaurant or clinic.
- Hard-to-find places: farms, country houses, warehouses, fairs and shops inside a market hall.
- Property for sale or rent: on the printed listing or the agent's brochure.
- Deliveries and visits: the right gate of the apartment complex or the company's service entrance.
- Tours and excursions: the meeting point, leaving no room for “I was at the other entrance”.
How to create the location QR code
- Say where it is. Type the full address (street, number, city, state and ZIP code) or the place name as it appears in Google Maps, like “Pike Place Market, Seattle”.
- Or paste the Google Maps link. It's the most precise way, because it leads exactly to the spot you picked on the map. With a Maps link, the QR code opens in Google Maps itself.
- Choose where it opens: Google Maps or Waze.
- Customize and check the scan test. Any colors and shapes you like, always with contrast.
- Download as PNG or SVG and scan it with your phone to see if the map opens in the right place.
Google Maps or Waze: which to choose?
| What matters | Google Maps | Waze |
|---|---|---|
| How people get there | Car, on foot, by bike or public transit | Car |
| What opens | The place on the map, with the directions button | Navigation, ready to go |
| Place information | Photos, hours and reviews, when the place is listed | Focus on the route and traffic |
| Without the app installed | Opens in the browser | Opens the Waze page in the browser |
If in doubt, go with Google Maps, which serves people arriving by car and on foot. If almost everyone will arrive by car, Waze is a good choice.
Tips for a QR code that works the first time
- Always include city and state. “100 Maple Street” exists in many cities; without the city, the map may pick the wrong one.
- Use the place name only if it shows up on the map. Search for the name in Google Maps first. If it doesn't appear, use the address or the link.
- Say what the QR code does. A “Get directions” next to the code explains everything.
- Size and contrast. At least about 0.8 × 0.8 in (2 × 2 cm) when printed, dark dots on a light background and a clear margin around it. On a sign read from far away, the QR code's side should be about one tenth of the scanning distance.
Things to watch out for
An address on a public poster reaches anyone, not just the people you invited. For a party at home, send the QR code in each person's invitation instead.
Here at QR Code Free Forever, the address becomes a QR code in your browser and doesn't go through our server. Even so, check the pin before printing: a wrong street number sends your guests to the neighbor's house.
See also
- Event QR code, to save the date and time to the calendar.
- WhatsApp QR code, for anyone who gets lost to ask for help.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Google Maps or Waze installed?
No. If the app is installed, it opens; if not, the map appears in the phone's browser.
How do I get the Google Maps link for my address?
In the Google Maps app, open the place, tap Share, then Copy Link. On a computer, copy the address from the browser bar with the place open on the map.
My place has no street number or is out in the countryside. Will it work?
It works best with a Google Maps link: drop a pin on the exact spot, share it and paste the link into the generator. That way the QR code leads to the right place, even without a street number.
If I change address, does the QR code change too?
No. The destination is stored in the QR code, so if you move, create a new one and replace the printed one.
Can it open in Apple Maps?
This type opens in Google Maps or Waze, which work on both iPhone and Android. iPhone users without those apps see the map in the browser.