QR Code Generator

Create free QR codes for text and links — download as PNG or SVG.

Text or URL to encode

Image size

Error-correction level

What is a QR code generator?

A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional barcode that stores data — most often a link or a short piece of text — in a grid of dark and light squares that any phone camera can scan. A QR code generator turns your text into one of these images. This tool builds the code entirely in your browser using byte-mode encoding with Reed–Solomon error correction, so what you type is never uploaded anywhere.

How to use this tool

Type or paste text or a URL into the box above — the preview updates as you type.
Pick an image size (128, 256 or 512 px) and an error-correction level.
Click Download PNG for a raster image, or Download SVG for a vector that scales to any size.

Choosing an error-correction level

Error correction lets a QR code stay readable even when part of it is dirty, damaged or covered by a small logo. Higher levels protect more, but make the code denser for the same text:

L — low (7%): the smallest, simplest codes; best for clean screens and short links.
M — medium (15%): the everyday default for URLs and text.
Q — quartile (25%): a good choice for print, where the code might get scuffed.
H — high (30%): survives the most damage; use it if you plan to overlay a small logo.

Common mistakes that make QR codes unscannable

Encoding a long URL. More characters mean more modules packed into the same square, so the code gets denser and harder to scan from a distance. Use the shortest link you can, and test the result with your own phone before printing.
Cropping the quiet zone. Scanners need a blank margin around the pattern to find it. The PNG and SVG downloads from this tool already include a 4-module white border — do not trim it off or let text or graphics touch the code.
Low contrast. Dark modules on a light background scan most reliably. Do not recolor the code to pastel-on-pastel, and keep it off busy photo backgrounds; the plain black-on-white output is intentional.
Counting characters instead of bytes. This tool encodes in byte mode, so non-ASCII characters such as accented letters or CJK text cost 2–4 UTF-8 bytes each and fill capacity faster than the visible character count suggests.

Maximum capacity by error-correction level

Byte-mode capacity at the largest QR version (40), which is the limit this tool enforces:

Level	Max bytes (UTF-8)
L (7%)	2953
M (15%)	2331
Q (25%)	1663
H (30%)	1273

If the tool reports your text is too long, shorten it or step down to a lower level to regain capacity.

Frequently asked questions

What is a QR code?

A QR code is a square, two-dimensional barcode invented by Denso Wave in 1994. It encodes data — usually a URL or plain text — in a pattern of dark and light modules, and the three larger squares in the corners let a scanner detect and orient it. Any modern smartphone camera can scan one.

Which error-correction level should I choose?

M (15%) is right for most on-screen uses. Choose Q or H if the code will be printed, might get dirty or damaged, or if you want to place a small logo in the middle — higher levels can rebuild more missing data but make the code denser. L produces the smallest code when you know it will stay clean.

Should I download PNG or SVG?

Both contain the same code. PNG is a fixed-size raster image (128, 256 or 512 px) that drops straight into documents, slides and websites. SVG is a vector format that stays perfectly sharp at any size, so it is the better choice for print — from business cards to posters.

Is there a scan limit or do the codes expire?

No. These are static QR codes: your text is stored directly in the image itself, with no redirect service or database in between. They never expire, have no scan limit, and work for as long as someone has a camera to scan them.