How to turn a link into a QR code
- Paste the full web address, including
https://. - Check the code in the preview. It redraws as you type.
- Download the PNG for screens, or the SVG if it is going to print at any size.
Always include https://
A code containing example.com is ambiguous — some scanners will guess it is a web
address and add the scheme, and others will treat it as plain text and simply display it. A code
containing https://example.com is unambiguous and opens the browser on every device.
This generator adds the scheme if you leave it off, but it is worth understanding why it matters.
Shorter links make cleaner codes
Every character you encode adds modules to the pattern. A short link produces a sparse code that scans from further away and survives worse printing. A long one with tracking parameters produces a dense code that needs to be printed larger.
| Link | Characters | Version | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|
https://ex.co | 13 | 1 | 21 × 21 |
https://example.com/offers | 26 | 2 | 25 × 25 |
| The same, with three UTM parameters | 96 | 5 | 37 × 37 |
That last row has nearly three times the modules of the first, in the same physical space. If the code is going on something small, shorten the link before you encode it.
Tracking parameters
UTM parameters work fine in a QR code and are the usual way to see how much traffic a printed code brought in. Keep them short, and put them on the landing page rather than adding a redirect hop — every redirect is a chance for the link to break later.
These codes cannot be edited later
The web address is encoded in the pattern itself. There is no redirect through our servers, which is why the code never expires and why we never see your scans. The trade-off is that a printed code points where it points, permanently.
If the destination might change, encode a link to a page you control and change that page
instead of the code. A URL like https://yoursite.com/menu that you can repoint is far
safer on a printed sign than a link straight to a file. Our
comparison of static and dynamic codes covers
this properly.
Where these get used
- Property signage. Yard signs and window cards that open the listing — see .
- Weddings. RSVP forms, photo albums and registries, covered in .
- Packaging. Instructions, registration and reordering.
- Print advertising. Posters and flyers where typing a URL is friction.
Printing and testing
Test the code on two phones before you print anything, ideally one iPhone and one Android. Check it at the actual size on the actual material, not just on screen. The size calculator gives you a minimum size for your scanning distance, and our disclaimer explains why this step is on you rather than on us.
Common questions
Do I need to include https:// in the link?
Yes, and this tool adds it if you forget. Without a scheme, some scanners treat the text as a web address and others just display it as plain text, so the code behaves inconsistently across devices.
Can I change where the code points after printing it?
Not with a static code, which is what this site makes. The address is inside the pattern. If the destination may change, encode a link to a page you control and update that page instead.
Is there a limit on how long the link can be?
Practically, yes. The code still works with very long links but the pattern gets dense and needs printing larger. Keep links under about 100 characters if the code is going somewhere small.
Will you track how many people scan it?
No. There is no redirect through our servers, so we have no way to count scans and no record that the code exists. If you want scan numbers, add UTM parameters and read them in your own analytics.
Can I use these codes commercially?
Yes, including printed advertising and packaging. No attribution is required and there is no watermark.
Should I use a URL shortener first?
It produces a sparser, more robust code, but it adds a dependency: if the shortener shuts down, every printed code breaks. A short path on your own domain gives you the same benefit without the risk.