How to make a phone number QR code
- Enter the number in international format, with the country code.
- Check the preview — a phone number makes one of the sparsest, most robust codes there is.
- Download the SVG if it is going on signage at any size.
What the code contains
The code holds a tel: link and nothing else. Scanning it brings up the dialler with
your number ready, and the person presses call. It is the simplest of all the code types, and because
the payload is so short the pattern stays sparse — which makes it the most forgiving type to print
badly.
| Code type | Typical grid | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Phone number | 21 × 21 | Very high — scans small, from a distance, on rough stock |
| Web address | 25 × 25 | High |
| Contact card | 57 × 57 | Low — needs size and print quality |
If you need a code on something small, curved, or printed cheaply, a phone number is the type most likely to survive it.
Use international format
Write the number with a country code and a leading plus, like +441632960041. Phones
handle this correctly whatever country the caller is in. A local format number saved from a code will
not connect from abroad, which matters more than people expect on vehicle livery and trade signage.
Where these get used
- Vehicle livery. Read from a few metres away at a traffic light, where nobody is going to type a number.
- Trade signage and boards. Especially on site hoardings and property signs — see .
- Emergency and service contacts. On equipment, in lifts, in car parks.
- Taxi and delivery cards. Where speed matters more than detail.
Printing for distance
Because the pattern is sparse, a phone number code scans reliably at sizes where a denser code would fail. The distance rule still applies: about a tenth of the scanning distance. A code read from three metres on a van needs roughly 30 cm. The size calculator works it out for you.
Common questions
Does scanning the code place the call immediately?
No. It opens the dialler with your number entered, and the person presses call. No phone dials automatically from a scan.
What number format should I use?
International, with the country code and a leading plus. A local format number will not connect for anyone calling from another country.
Why is this code so much simpler looking than others?
A phone number is a very short payload, so the pattern needs few modules. That also makes it the most tolerant type for small or low-quality printing.
Can I include an extension number?
Support for extensions after a comma or semicolon varies by handset, so it often will not work. Better to use the main number and let the caller be routed.
Will it work on a tablet or a phone with no SIM?
It opens whatever handles calls on that device, which may be a voice-over-IP app, or nothing at all. Print the number as text alongside the code.