QR Code for Website: Link Any Page to a Scannable Code

The most common QR code use case is linking to a website URL. Scan the code → open the URL in the device’s browser. Here’s how to do it well — from generating the code to tracking who scanned it.

Creating a QR code for a URL

1. Copy the full URL of the page you want to link (including https://)
2. Paste it into qrcodegen.io
3. Choose error correction level M or H for print
4. Download as SVG (for print) or PNG (for digital use)

That’s it for basic use. The sections below cover making it work better.

Shorten the URL first

Longer URLs produce denser QR codes with more modules. Dense codes are harder to scan at small sizes.

Before: https://example.com/products/summer-collection-2026?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=june-flyer&utm_content=back-panel

After: https://example.com/s/june-flyer

Options:

• Custom path on your own domain: example.com/qr-menu (best — no third-party dependency)
• Bit.ly or similar: bit.ly/abc123 (easy, but you depend on their service)
• UTM parameters as a redirect: redirect a short URL to a long tracked URL

Add UTM tracking

UTM parameters let your analytics tool attribute traffic to the specific QR code:

https://example.com/landing?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=storefront-2026

Recommended UTM parameters for QR codes:

Parameter	Value	Example
utm_source	qr	Origin is a QR code
utm_medium	Placement type	print, digital, email
utm_campaign	Campaign name	spring-sale, menu-2026
utm_content	Specific code	front-door, table-tent

If you have multiple QR codes in the same campaign, utm_content distinguishes them.

Keep the full UTM URL in a spreadsheet for your records — the QR code itself won’t tell you what UTM parameters it contains without scanning.

Landing page tips

The landing page should be:

• Mobile-first — 95%+ of scans happen on phones
• Fast loading — under 2 seconds on mobile; people abandon slow pages
• Specific — send to the exact page, not the homepage
• Relevant to context — if the QR is on a product package, link to that product

Avoid linking to:

• PDFs directly (bad mobile UX; put the PDF behind a page)
• Files that trigger a download
• Login walls (if the user just found you)

QR code for restaurant menu

URL: https://yourrestaurant.com/menu?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=table

If the menu changes seasonally, set up a redirect on your own domain:

https://yourrestaurant.com/menu → redirects to current menu PDF/page

Change the redirect target whenever the menu updates — the QR code never changes.

QR code for events

For ticket validation or check-in, each QR code should encode a unique identifier:

https://yourapp.com/checkin/event-2026/ticket-id-abc123

The backend validates the ticket ID on scan. This is a different use case from marketing QR codes — here the data inside the QR code must be unique per ticket.

Embedding QR codes in email and digital content

QR codes in email are unusual — people read email on their phone and would have to scan with a second device. Use a hyperlinked button or text instead for email.

For digital contexts where QR codes make sense (digital signage, websites shown on a second screen):

• Use PNG at 256–512px
• Maintain the quiet zone by not placing the image flush against other elements
• Test that the code is scannable from the screen

Size for print

Print format	Minimum QR size	Recommended
Business card	1.5 cm	2 cm
A5 flyer	3 cm	4 cm
A4 flyer	4 cm	5 cm
A3 poster	5 cm	7 cm
Roll-up banner	8 cm	12 cm

Always export as SVG or PDF for print. Never use JPEG.

Generate QR codes for your website at qrcodegen.io.