What you will need before you start
Before generating the QR code, you need one thing to be in place: a stable URL that will not change. The most common mistake restaurants make is linking a QR code to a temporary link that gets replaced when the menu is updated, leaving every printed QR code dead.
If your menu lives on your own website, use the permanent page URL. If you use a third-party service like Square, Toast, or a Google Drive PDF, make sure the share link is a permanent, public-access link rather than a time-limited share.
Generating the QR code
Use the URL QR code generator on this site. Paste your menu URL into the input field and the code generates immediately.
Before downloading, check these settings:
Error correction level. For a code that will be printed on a table tent, coaster, or wall sign, set the error correction to H (high). This is the most resilient setting and lets the code still scan even if a small portion is obscured by a stain, crease, or logo overlay. If you are adding a logo to the centre of the QR code, high error correction is not optional - it is required.
Module size and quiet zone. These control the density and margin of the code. For most printed materials, the defaults work well. The critical thing is to not crop the white border (quiet zone) when placing the image in your design.
What size to print
The scan distance from a table is typically 20–50 cm (about 8–20 inches). At 30 cm, a QR code needs to be at least 25 mm wide to scan reliably on most phone cameras. At 50 cm, it needs to be at least 38 mm.
A 50 x 50 mm QR code is a safe default for table use. It is large enough to scan without leaning in, small enough to fit on a standard table tent or the back of a menu.
If you are printing on a window or wall (scan distance of 1–2 metres), the code needs to be much larger - typically 150–300 mm. Use the QR print size checker to calculate the minimum size for your specific intended scan distance.
Where to place the code
Good placements:
- Tabletop tent card (both sides, so it is visible regardless of orientation)
- At the bottom of a physical menu that also carries a URL
- On the counter or at the entrance with a clear instruction: "Scan for our menu"
- On receipts, alongside the URL in text
Avoid:
- On highly reflective surfaces without a matte laminate
- On curved surfaces that distort the code at the edges
- Too small on a business card without testing that it scans at arm's length
What to write alongside it
A QR code without context is a black square that many people will ignore. A simple instruction improves scan rates significantly:
Scan for our menu
Or:
View our full menu - scan with your phone camera
Do not write "scan with a QR code app". Modern phone cameras open QR codes natively. Writing "QR code app" implies complexity and discourages scanning.
Updating the menu without reprinting
If the URL you linked the QR code to is under your control, you can update the menu content at that URL without generating a new QR code or reprinting anything. This is the main reason to use a stable URL rather than a direct link to a PDF that gets replaced.
If you use a link shortener or redirect service, you can update the destination URL at any time while the QR code itself remains unchanged. Some restaurants use this specifically to manage seasonal menu changes.
Testing before printing
Always test-scan your QR code before committing to a print run. Open your phone's camera, hold it at the distance a customer would naturally hold it at that table, and confirm it opens the correct URL. Test on both iOS and Android if possible, since camera processing differs slightly between them.
If the code scans but opens the wrong page, the URL was entered incorrectly. If it does not scan at all, the code is either too small, too low contrast, or the quiet zone was cropped.
WiFi QR codes alongside your menu QR
Many restaurants place a WiFi QR code on the same table card as the menu QR code. This handles the two most common questions a server gets asked: "What's your wifi password?" and "Can I see the menu?" Both resolved with a single scan each.