CIRCULATEQR

Free QR code generator

Location QR Code Generator (Free)

This free location QR code generator makes a QR code that opens a place in Google Maps (or another maps app), so people can get directions with one scan instead of typing an address.

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

Create your location QR code

Location

Fields marked * are required.

Find the place by

Opens Google Maps searching for this, on iPhone and Android.

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 location QR code

  1. Choose how to find the place

    Use an address or place name, or exact coordinates for places without a clear address, like a park entrance or a field.

  2. Enter the place

    Type the address, or the latitude and longitude. On a phone you can use your current location.

  3. Check the preview

    Open “What’s inside this code” and open the link on your computer to check the pin is in the right spot.

  4. Download it

    Download a PNG or an SVG.

  5. Test it

    Scan the code with your phone and check the map opens at the right place.

What a location QR code contains

By default the code holds a Google Maps link, which opens in the Google Maps app if it’s installed and in the browser otherwise, on iPhone and Android alike.

https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=350%20Fifth%20Avenue%2C%20New%20York
Address search
Google Maps looks up the address or place name, just as if it was typed in
Coordinates
the link holds the exact latitude and longitude, so the pin lands on the spot
geo: link
an alternative like geo:40.7484,-73.9857, which opens the default maps app on most Android phones; iPhone cameras may not open it

Tips for printing and scanning

For location QR codes

  • For big sites (campuses, parks, venues), use coordinates for the entrance people should head to, not the postal address.
  • Check the pin before you print: open the link on your computer and zoom in.
  • Print the address in words too, for people who prefer their own maps app.

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

Use a dynamic code if the location may move, for example a food truck, a pop-up or an event that changes venue. The code holds a short CirculateQR link to your maps link, and you can point it at a new place any time without reprinting. Dynamic codes also count scans.

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

Location QR code questions

Do location QR codes work on iPhone?

Yes, when they hold a Google Maps link (the default here). It opens in Google Maps if it’s installed, or in the browser otherwise. geo: codes are less reliable on iPhone, so only choose them if your audience mostly uses Android.

Do location QR codes expire?

No. The map link is stored in the code, so it keeps working. To point to a different place, make a new code.

Address or coordinates: which should I use?

Use the address when it’s clear and Google Maps finds the right building. Use coordinates for places without a precise address, or when the entrance is far from where the address pin lands.

Can it open Apple Maps instead?

A Google Maps link opens in Google Maps or the browser. From there, iPhone users can share the place to Apple Maps. If you need one code that opens each person’s own maps app, a dynamic code with device routing can send iPhones and Android phones to different links.

Can I see how many people scanned it?

Not with a static code, which goes straight to Google Maps. A dynamic code counts scans.

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