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Free QR code generator

Event QR Code Generator (Free)

This free event QR code generator makes a QR code that holds your event’s name, date, time and place, so people can add it to their phone’s calendar by scanning it.

  • No sign-up
  • Never expires
  • No watermark
  • Made in your browser

Create your event QR code

Event

Fields marked * are required.

Optional. One hour if left empty.

Times use this device’s time zone. Phones show the event in the scanner’s own time zone.

Your QR code appears here as you fill in the form.

Test it with your phone camera before you print or share it: point the camera at the preview and check it does what you expect.

Colors, logo and size
Style
Error correction

How much of the code can be dirty, scratched or covered and still scan. Higher levels add more squares, so the code gets denser. Medium suits most uses; choose High for a logo or rough surfaces.

The blank border scanners need around the code. It never goes below 4 modules (the code’s small squares), as the QR standard asks.

Sharp up to 17 cm (6.8 in) at 300 dpi. SVG scales to any size.

Logo in the center (optional)

PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF or SVG. It stays in your browser and is never uploaded.

How to make a event QR code

  1. Name the event

    Type the name people will see in their calendar.

  2. Set the date and time

    Choose the start and end, or tick All-day event. Times use your device’s time zone.

  3. Add the place and details (optional)

    Add the location and a short description, such as parking or what to bring.

  4. Download it

    Download a PNG or an SVG.

  5. Test it

    Scan the code with your phone and check the date, time and place before you print.

What an event QR code contains

An event QR code holds a calendar entry in iCalendar format, the standard behind .ics files. Most phone cameras recognise it and offer to add it to the calendar.

BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Spring open house
DTSTART:20270418T170000Z
DTEND:20270418T190000Z
LOCATION:120 Market Street\, Portland
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR
SUMMARY
the event name
DTSTART and DTEND
start and end, stored in UTC (the Z), so every phone shows the right local time
LOCATION and DESCRIPTION
where it is and any details; commas and semicolons get a backslash

The code also carries a unique ID and a timestamp, which calendar apps use to tell events apart.

Tips for printing and scanning

For event QR codes

  • Print the date and time in words next to the code, so people can decide before they scan.
  • Keep the description short. A long one makes the code dense; put the full programme on a web page instead.
  • Scan your own code and check the time shows correctly before printing, especially if guests travel from other time zones.

For any printed QR code

  • Size: print the code at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide for something held in the hand. For signs and posters, make it about a tenth of the scanning distance: roughly 10 cm (4 in) wide to scan from 1 m (3 ft).
  • Contrast: use a dark code on a light background. Light-on-dark codes and pale brand colors fail on some phones.
  • Quiet zone: keep a blank border of at least 4 modules (the code’s small squares) around it. Don’t crop it or put text and graphics right up against the code.
  • File type: use the SVG for print, since it stays sharp at any size. The 2048 px PNG is enough for print up to about 17 cm (6.8 in) wide at 300 dpi.
  • Surface: avoid glare from glossy laminate, tight curves (bottles, cups) and folds that cut through the code.
  • Test: scan a printed proof with an iPhone and an Android phone, at the real distance and in the real lighting, before you print in bulk.

When to use a dynamic code instead

An event code can’t be changed after printing, so a new date or venue needs a new code. Calendar codes are static in CirculateQR’s Studio too.

If details might change, or you want more than a calendar entry, use a hosted event page: CirculateQR’s event template shows the date, venue and directions, adds the event to calendars in one tap, links to tickets, and lets you change details without reprinting.

The code you make on this page is static: free, permanent and private, but fixed once printed. Static and dynamic codes compared.

Make a hosted event page

Event QR code questions

Do event QR codes work on iPhone and Android?

Most phone cameras recognise calendar codes and offer to add the event. If a phone doesn’t, a scanner app will. Test with the phones your guests are likely to use.

What time zone does the event use?

The time you enter is read in your device’s time zone and stored in UTC. Each phone that scans the code shows it in its own local time, so the event lands at the right moment for everyone.

Do event QR codes expire?

No. The event details are stored in the code, so it keeps working, even after the event has passed.

Can I change the date after printing?

Not with a static code. Make a new code, or use a hosted event page with a dynamic code, which you can update at any time.

Can I make a QR code for an all-day or multi-day event?

Yes. Tick All-day event and choose the first and last day.

Can I see how many people added the event?

No. Adding the event happens on each phone. A hosted event page with a dynamic code counts scans.

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