ShopsyCrop Shopsy Label with Invoice & Order Details
GlowRoadCrop GlowRoad Label with Invoice & Order Details
25-09-2026 · Quick Cropper
A QR code on packaging can open a product video, a manual or your review page. To make sure it works, a few details matter. Create the code with Quick Cropper's QR Code Generator.
This quick guide covers the size and placement of QR codes on product packaging.
Keep it at least 2 × 2 cm for close scanning. Longer links make denser codes, so keep URLs short or print the code larger.
Fine for most flat, clean packaging.
Better for pouches, curved bottles and anything that may get scratched.
A dark code on a light background scans best.
Avoid seams, folds and tight curves.
Leave blank space around the code.
A QR code on packaging is most useful when it gives customers something they actually want. Popular options include a how-to-use video, setup instructions, a recipe, warranty registration, a page with care instructions or a link to reorder the product. Some brands link to their review page or social media to build a community. Choose one clear purpose for each code, so customers know what they will get when they scan it. For parcel inserts with a reorder or review link, the Thank You Card Maker places the QR code on a card for you.
Once packaging is printed, the QR code cannot be changed. Link to a page on your own website that you control and will keep for a long time, instead of a temporary campaign page or a third-party link that may expire. If the content needs to change later, update the page itself while the address stays the same. This way, packaging printed today will still work years from now.
Vector files print sharply at any size on packaging.
Tell your designer the minimum size the code should be printed at.
Scan the QR code on the printer's proof before approving the print run.
Make sure the code is not stretched, curved or placed over a fold.
A QR code on its own does not tell customers why they should scan it. Add a few words next to it, such as Scan for the setup video or Scan to register your warranty. A clear call to action increases the number of scans and sets the right expectation. Keep the text short and place it right next to the code so the two are clearly connected.
Can I put the QR code on a curved bottle? Yes, but place it on the flattest area and use high error correction, then test scan the finished bottle.
Should I use a coloured QR code? Dark colours on a light background can work, but always test them; black on white is the safest choice.
How close to the barcode can I place the QR code? Keep a clear gap between the QR code and the product barcode, so each code has its own blank margin and the billing scanner does not pick up the wrong one.
Packaging is often printed in large quantities, so a faulty QR code can be an expensive mistake. Before approving the final print, scan the code on a physical sample or proof with several different phones, including older models, under normal indoor lighting. Check that it opens the correct page quickly and that the page looks good on a mobile screen. Also test it at the angles and distances customers are likely to use. Only approve the print run once every test passes, so every pack that reaches your customers works as intended.
Right size, right error correction, good contrast - then test-scan a printed sample. Pair it with a product barcode from the Barcode Generator for a complete pack label.