💼 Networking
QR codes for business cards: how to get them right
A QR code makes a business card easier to act on and lets you measure the response. Three decisions, destination, size, and placement, determine whether anyone scans it.
4 min readUpdated
On this page
A QR code solves an old business-card problem: hardly anyone types the phone number or email address printed on the card. One scan opens your contact details, website, or WhatsApp. You can also see how many people from an event looked you up afterward.
Where should the QR code lead?
| Destination | Best for | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp with a pre-filled message | Sales, trades, and services. This option converts best. | Useful only if you respond on WhatsApp. |
| A bio page with all your links | People with several destinations: website, portfolio, booking, and social profiles. | Adds another step before the action. |
| Your website or portfolio | Agencies, consultancies, and professionals. | The site must work well on mobile. |
| A booking form | Clinics, advisors, and appointment-based services. | Creates high friction if it asks for too much information. |
Avoid a plain vCard QR code
A QR code that stores a vCard contact works, but it is static. You cannot edit or measure it, and a phone-number change makes every card obsolete. A dynamic QR leading to a page with a “Save contact” button gives visitors the same result and remains editable.
Generate the QR code for your card
Size and placement on the card
- 1
Make each side at least 2 cm
That is the size a QR code needs at a typical hand-held distance of about 20 cm. Below 1.8 cm, ordinary printing starts to produce unreliable scans.
- 2
Leave a 4 mm white margin around it
Without that margin, many scanners cannot find the pattern. Do not push it against the edge of the card or nearby text.
- 3
Place it on the back, at the bottom right
The thumb naturally rests there when someone turns the card over, and this placement leaves the front clear for your name.
- 4
Add a few words beside it
Use “Scan to message me” or “View my portfolio.” A QR code without context receives far fewer scans than one with a concrete promise.
Printing: what to ask the print shop for
- A PNG at least 1000 px wide. Ours is 1920 px.
- No glossy finish over the QR code, because reflections make it harder to read.
- Pure black on white, or two strongly contrasting colors. Avoid light gray.
- Never resize the image by distorting it; preserve its square proportions.
- Ask for a printed proof and scan it before approving the full run.
How to measure the return from an event
Print a separate batch for each event, with its own short link pointing to the same destination. You will know exactly how many scans each trade show, conference, or meeting produced. It is the only inexpensive way to answer, “Was attending worth it?”
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum QR code size for a business card?
Use a side length of 2 cm plus a 4 mm white margin around it. Below 1.8 cm, scanning becomes unreliable with standard printing.
Can I put my logo in the center of the QR code?
Yes, provided the QR uses level H error correction and the logo covers no more than 30% of the area. Branded taap.at QR codes already use level H.
Is QR or NFC better for a business card?
QR offers broader compatibility because every camera can read it. NFC feels more polished, but depends on the phone model and makes the card considerably more expensive.
Can I change the destination if I change jobs?
Yes, if the QR code is dynamic and the link is in your account. Change the destination and cards already handed out will open the new location.
Make it yours and track every click
Create a free account so your links do not expire and you can measure country, device, and source.