How to make a contact card QR code
- Fill in the fields you want saved. Every one is optional except a name.
- Watch the module count in the panel beside the code — it climbs as you add detail.
- Download the SVG if this is going on a printed card, so it stays sharp at any size.
What a contact code contains
The code holds a vCard 3.0 record, the same format your phone uses internally for contacts. It is plain text with one field per line, so a phone can read it and offer to save the contact without opening a browser or an app. A complete record looks roughly like this:
BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N:Okonkwo;Adaeze
FN:Adaeze Okonkwo
ORG:Northline Studio
TEL;TYPE=CELL:+441632960041
EMAIL:adaeze@northline.studio
END:VCARD
We use version 3.0 rather than 4.0 because support for 3.0 is close to universal across iOS and Android, while 4.0 is still handled inconsistently.
Contact codes get dense fast — this is the real constraint
This is the one thing that separates a contact code from every other type. A link is 20 or 30 characters. A filled-in contact card is 200 or more, and the pattern grows with it.
| Fields filled | Bytes | Version | Grid | Minimum print width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name only | ~55 | 4 | 33 × 33 | about 1.5 cm |
| Name, phone, email | ~110 | 7 | 45 × 45 | about 2 cm |
| Every field on this page | ~200 | 10 | 57 × 57 | about 2.5 cm |
A 57 × 57 code printed at 1 cm gives each module about 0.17 mm, which is below what most office printers hold and below what a phone camera resolves at arm's length. If your code is going on a business card, fill in fewer fields. Name, one phone number and one email is the sweet spot.
Use a phone number the whole world can dial
Write numbers in international format, with the country code and a leading plus, like
+441632960041. A local-format number saved from a code will not dial from abroad, which
rather defeats the point at a conference.
What to leave out
A postal address adds 40 to 60 characters and is rarely what someone scanning your card needs. A website is usually better spent as a short link. If you want to share a lot, put a single link to a contact page on your own site and use the URL generator instead — the code will be a quarter of the density.
Where these get used
- Business cards. The classic use, with sizing advice in .
- Conference badges and lanyards. Scanned at close range, so they can be small.
- Résumés. Covered in , though a link to your portfolio often works better.
- Email signatures and slide decks. On screen, where density matters less.
Printing on a business card
Give the code at least 1.5 cm square with a clear white margin, and never let it sit closer than about 3 mm to a trim edge — cards get cut with a tolerance and a clipped quiet zone stops the scan. Print a single proof and scan that before ordering a box of five hundred. Our print size guide and error correction guide go into the trade-offs.
Common questions
Will the contact save straight to the phone?
On most modern phones, scanning opens a prompt offering to create a new contact with the fields pre-filled. The person still has to confirm, which is normal and expected behaviour.
Why is my code so much denser than other QR codes?
A contact card carries far more text than a link. Every field adds characters, and characters add modules. Removing the postal address and website typically drops it by two versions.
Should I use vCard or MECARD?
vCard, which is what this tool produces. MECARD is more compact and was common on older Japanese handsets, but vCard support is broader today and the size difference rarely changes the print size you need.
Can I add a photo to the contact?
Not usefully. A photo would take thousands of characters and exceed what a scannable code can hold. Link to a contact page on your site if you need a picture.
What format should the phone number be in?
International format with the country code, like +44 1632 960041. A local number saved from a code will not dial from another country.
Does the code stop working if I change jobs?
The code keeps working but the details it saves are whatever was encoded when you printed it. There is no way to update a printed code, so a link to a contact page you control is more durable.