BUSINESS CARD GUIDE

How to make a custom QR code for a business card

A QR code can turn a small piece of cardstock into a contact action. It can also become a permanent link to a dead page. Choose carefully.

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What should a business card QR code contain?

Use a short website QR code when 0.5 inch is the design limit. Direct Add vCards start at 1 inch, which is a practical size for a typical contact record. Move to 1.5 inches when the record is unusually long or you want more scanning margin. Preserve the white border and test the physical card before ordering a stack.

Create your business card QR code

Website QR code or vCard QR code?

Choose	Best when	Main tradeoff
Direct Add vCard	You want the scan to open the phone's native Add Contact screen with name, company, title, phone, email, address, and website prefilled	It contains more data and usually needs a larger printed code. Changing a field means printing a new code.
Website	You want an editable profile, portfolio, booking page, link hub, or measurable destination	The URL must remain under your control for as long as the cards exist.

Do not use a free redirect domain you do not control for a long-lived print piece. Saving three minutes now is a ridiculous reason to make every card dependent on someone else's business model.

How to design the code

Choose Website or vCard in ScreenCode's free generator.
Enter only the information the recipient actually needs.
For a website code, choose the smallest output that keeps the payload readable.
Start a typical Direct Add vCard at 1 inch. Move to 1.5 inches if the contact record is unusually long or the physical proof scans inconsistently.
Use classic modules for maximum reliability, or a restrained custom style.
Add short center text only on 1.5-inch, 2-inch, or 3-inch codes, or a logo on a 2-inch or 3-inch code.
Sign in to export PNG or JPG with a free account, or SVG with Pro. Do not stretch or crop the exported code.

A worked example: a contact card for a designer

Imagine Alex Morgan wants people to save a name, business email and portfolio address. Choose vCard in the generator and enter just those fields. Keep a postal address or extra phone numbers out unless recipients need them; more information makes the code denser.

Start with a 1-inch code, export PNG with a free account or SVG with Pro, and place it beside “Save my contact.” Print a proof at its actual size. Scan it on iPhone and Android and check the name, email and website before printing the full batch. If it scans unreliably, simplify the fields or increase the size.

Prefer a business card in your phone’s Wallet?

Create an Apple Wallet or Google Wallet card with the same contact details. Open the pass when you meet someone and let them scan its contact QR. A free account includes one editable card for each platform; saving and adding a pass require sign-in.

When details change, save and add the updated pass again. Old screenshots, printed codes and already shared contact details do not change automatically.

Create your Wallet business card

How large should the QR code be on a business card?

The payload decides the required size. A 0.5-inch code can be appropriate for a short website address. ScreenCode starts Direct Add vCards at 1 inch, a practical recommendation for a typical contact record containing a name, company, title, phone, email, website, and postal address.

Printed size	Best fit	Practical guidance
0.5 inch	Short website URL	A compact choice when the destination itself is short.
1 inch	Typical Direct Add vCard	The recommended starting size for a standard business-card contact record.
1.5 inches	Long or unusually dense vCard	Use when the record contains lengthy fields or you want additional scanning margin.

Compatible QR readers are already built into most modern phone cameras. After the scan, a Direct Add vCard opens the native Add Contact screen with the contact information prefilled, then one click saves it. The phone still controls the confirmation workflow.

See the full print-size guide

What to print beside the code

Give people a reason to scan and tell them what will happen. “Save my contact,” “View portfolio,” or “Book a call” beats an unlabeled square. Also print the essential human-readable contact information. A QR code should make the card faster, not hold the card hostage.

Test before ordering

Scan the exported file before placing it in the layout.
Scan a physical proof under ordinary indoor lighting.
Test with both iPhone and Android phones.
Confirm that every contact field maps correctly.
Check that the destination domain is spelled correctly and uses HTTPS.