Guides
QR code guides
Clear answers to the questions people ask about QR codes: how static and dynamic codes differ, whether codes expire, how big to print them, how scan tracking works, and how to stay safe. Each guide starts with a short answer, then explains the detail with real numbers and worked examples.
20 guides · Updated
Start here
- Dynamic vs Static QR Codes: What Is the Difference?What is a dynamic QR code, and how is it different from a static one?
- Do QR Codes Expire? Static vs Dynamic, ExplainedDo QR codes expire?
- QR Code Size Guide for Print: Minimum Size and DistanceWhat size should a printed QR code be?
- How to Choose a QR Code Generator: 9 CriteriaWhich QR code generator should I use?
QR code basics
Static and dynamic codes, expiry, editing after printing, and choosing a generator.
- Dynamic vs Static QR Codes: What Is the Difference?What is a dynamic QR code, and how is it different from a static one?
- Do QR Codes Expire? Static vs Dynamic, ExplainedDo QR codes expire?
- How to Change Where a QR Code Goes After PrintingCan I change where a QR code goes after it has been printed?
- How to Choose a QR Code Generator: 9 CriteriaWhich QR code generator should I use?
Making a specific QR code
Step-by-step guides for menus, WiFi, contact cards and codes in bulk.
- How to Make a QR Code for a Restaurant MenuHow do I make a QR code for my restaurant menu?
- How to Make a WiFi QR Code (and How It Works)How do I make a QR code that connects people to my WiFi?
- How to Make a vCard QR Code for Business CardsHow do I put my contact details in a QR code?
- Bulk QR Codes: Create Hundreds at Once or by APIHow do I create QR codes in bulk or automatically?
Design and printing
Size, error correction, AI artwork and codes on packaging.
- QR Code Size Guide for Print: Minimum Size and DistanceWhat size should a printed QR code be?
- QR Code Error Correction Levels L, M, Q and H ExplainedWhat do QR code error correction levels mean, and which should I use?
- AI QR Code Art: How It Works and How to Make Sure It ScansHow does AI QR code art work, and how do I make sure it still scans?
- QR Codes on Packaging and Products: A Practical GuideHow should I use QR codes on product packaging?
Tracking and routing
Scan analytics, UTM tags for print campaigns, and routing scans by context.
- How to Track QR Code Scans, and What Analytics MissHow do I track how many people scan my QR code?
- QR Codes in Print: UTM Tracking and Measuring ResultsHow do I measure the results of QR codes in print marketing?
- Routing QR Code Scans by Device, Location, Time or LanguageCan one QR code send people to different pages depending on who scans it?
Events, loyalty and games
Tickets and check-in, digital stamp cards and scavenger hunts.
- QR Codes for Events: Tickets, Check-In and RSVPsHow do I use QR codes for event tickets, check-in and RSVPs?
- QR Code Loyalty Programs: How Digital Stamp Cards WorkHow does a QR code loyalty stamp card work, and how do I stop people abusing it?
- How to Plan a QR Code Scavenger HuntHow do I plan and run a QR code scavenger hunt?
Security and privacy
QR phishing, safe scanning, and what scan tracking means under GDPR and CCPA.
Quick answers
What is the difference between a static and a dynamic QR code?
A static QR code stores its content, such as a URL or WiFi password, in the pattern itself, so it never expires but cannot be changed or tracked. A dynamic QR code stores a short link to a redirect service, which lets you change the destination after printing and count scans, but it only works while that service keeps forwarding the link.
Do QR codes expire?
A static QR code never expires; it decodes to the same content for as long as the print is readable. A dynamic QR code stops working if the provider stops redirecting it, which can happen when a free trial ends, a subscription lapses or the provider closes. Check a provider’s expiry terms before printing.
How big should a printed QR code be?
A common rule of thumb is to make the code at least one tenth of the scanning distance wide: 2.5 cm (1 inch) for a code scanned from 25 cm, 30 cm for a poster read from 3 meters. Keep at least 2 cm as an absolute minimum for close-up use, leave a quiet zone of 4 modules around it, and use dark modules on a light background.
Can I change a QR code after printing it?
Only if it is a dynamic code, or a static code that points to a URL on a website you control and can redirect. A static code with the destination encoded directly cannot be changed; you need to print a new code.
Are QR codes safe to scan?
The code itself cannot harm your phone, but it can send you to a malicious website, the same as a link in an email. Check the link preview before opening it, be wary of codes stuck over other codes or arriving in unexpected emails, and never enter passwords or payment details on a page you reached from an unfamiliar code.
Who writes these guides?
The CirculateQR team. Technical details are checked against the QR code standard, ISO/IEC 18004, and the example codes are generated with the same open-source encoder the product uses. Claims about other organizations link to their original source.
Ready to make a code?
Static QR codes are free and unlimited on CirculateQR. Dynamic codes add editing after printing, scan analytics and routing.