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Free QR code generator

PDF QR Code Generator (Free)

This free PDF QR code generator makes a QR code that opens a PDF you’ve already put online, such as a brochure, manual or price list, when someone scans it with their phone.

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

Create your PDF QR code

PDF link

The PDF must be online and open to anyone with the link: on your website, or shared from Google Drive or Dropbox.

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 PDF QR code

  1. Put the PDF online

    Upload it to your website, or share it from Google Drive or Dropbox so that anyone with the link can view it.

  2. Paste the link

    Copy the PDF’s link and paste it into the generator.

  3. Check the link

    Open the link in a private browser window to make sure it opens without signing in.

  4. Download it

    Download an SVG for print or a PNG for documents and screens.

  5. Test it

    Scan the code with your phone and check the PDF opens.

What a PDF QR code contains

A QR code can’t hold a PDF file itself: even a short PDF is far more data than the largest QR code fits. The code holds the link to your PDF, and the phone opens it from there.

https://example.com/files/spring-brochure.pdf

The PDF stays wherever you uploaded it. If you replace the file at the same link, the code shows the new version; if the link changes or the file is deleted, the code stops working.

Tips for printing and scanning

For PDF QR codes

  • Use a link that doesn’t need a sign-in. Shared-drive links set to “Restricted” won’t open for people who scan.
  • Keep the PDF small (a few MB) so it opens quickly on mobile data.
  • A PDF formatted for phones (single column, large text) is much easier to read than a full-size print layout.

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 you’ll publish new versions of the document at new links, or want to know how many people opened it. You keep the PDF where it is (your website, Google Drive, Dropbox), and the dynamic code points to it. When there’s a new version, change the link in CirculateQR; the printed code stays the same.

Dynamic codes need a free CirculateQR account. On the free plan a dynamic code stays live for 14 days after you publish it; on a paid plan your codes stay live with no time limit, or you can keep a single code for a one-time $5.

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

Make a dynamic PDF code

PDF QR code questions

Can a QR code contain a PDF file?

No. The largest QR code holds under 3 KB, far less than a PDF. A PDF QR code holds a link to the PDF online, and scanning opens it.

Where should I upload my PDF?

Anywhere that gives you a public link: your own website is best because you control it. Google Drive and Dropbox work too; set sharing to “Anyone with the link”.

Do PDF QR codes expire?

The code made here never expires, because it holds your link directly. It works as long as the PDF stays online at that link.

Can I update the PDF without changing the QR code?

Yes, if you replace the file but keep the same link, which most websites allow. If the link changes, use a dynamic code so you can point the printed code at the new link.

Why does my PDF QR code ask people to sign in?

The file is shared privately. In Google Drive or Dropbox, change sharing to “Anyone with the link can view”, then test the link in a private browser window.

Can I see how many people opened the PDF?

Not with a static code. A dynamic CirculateQR code counts scans, or your website analytics may count downloads of the file.

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