How to make a phone number QR code
- Type the phone number. Include the country code (+44, +1 and so on) so it works from any phone.
- Spaces and brackets are fine: only the digits and + go into the code.
- Download PNG or SVG.
- Scan it to check the phone offers to call the right number.
Good uses
- Vans, shop windows and "for sale" signs
- Flyers and posters for local services
- Emergency contact labels on equipment, bikes and bags
- Reception desks and after-hours notices
What goes in the code
tel:+447700900123A standard tel: link. Phones show the number and ask before calling.
Good to know
- Nothing dials automatically: the phone asks first.
- To share a name, email and website too, use a contact (vCard) code instead.
Static codes: no expiry, no tracking
Codes made here are static: the phone number is written into the code itself, not kept on a server. So the code never expires, works without an account or subscription, and nobody, Yuzool included, sees who scans it or when.
The trade-off is that a static code can't be edited after it's printed: make a new one instead. Dynamic codes from other services point to a short link they control, so they can count scans and change the destination, but they stop working if the service or your subscription ends.
Printing, size and error correction
- Size: at least 2 cm (about 0.8 in) square for anything held in the hand. For posters and windows, make it about a tenth of the scanning distance: 20 cm across to scan from 2 m away.
- Contrast and border: a dark code on a light background, with the plain border (the quiet zone) kept clear of text and pictures. The app warns you about low contrast and light-on-dark codes.
- Error correction (in Style and size) lets a code still scan when part of it is dirty, scratched or covered: Low recovers about 7%, Medium 15% (the default), Quartile 25% and High 30%. Higher levels make the code denser, so keep Low or Medium for small prints with a lot in them, and choose Quartile or High for stickers, outdoor signs and things that get handled.
- File: SVG stays sharp at any size, so use it for print. PNG (up to 2048 pixels) suits screens, documents and slides.
- Test with two different phones before you print a batch.
Questions
Does scanning call the number straight away?
No. The phone shows the number and asks whether to call it.
Should I include the country code?
Yes. A number starting with + and the country code works wherever the person scanning is.
Can I add my name as well?
Use the Contact (vCard) type: it saves your name with the number, and the phone can call it from there.