How to turn text into a QR code
- Type or paste the text. Line breaks are kept.
- Watch the size note under the preview: the more text, the denser the code.
- Download PNG or SVG, or copy the image.
- Scan it to check the text reads correctly.
Good uses
- Instructions on machines, plant labels or kit boxes
- Serial numbers, asset tags and stock codes
- Treasure hunts, puzzles and escape rooms
- A short message on a gift card or a poster
- Passing text from a computer screen to a phone
How much text fits
A single QR code holds up to about 2,900 characters of plain English text at Low error correction (accented letters, other alphabets and emoji take more space each). In practice, under a few hundred characters scans easily from a phone. If the app says Too much data for one QR code, shorten the text or lower the error correction.
Good to know
- The text is shown as it is. If it starts with a web address, the phone may offer to open it.
- For long documents, a Link code to the document online is easier to scan.
Static codes: no expiry, no tracking
Codes made here are static: your text 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
How much text can a QR code hold?
Up to about 2,900 characters of plain text at Low error correction. Under a few hundred characters makes a code that scans much more easily.
Does a text QR code need the internet?
No. The text is inside the code, so the phone shows it without going online.
Can I use other languages and emoji?
Yes. The text is stored as UTF-8, so any language works. Non-English letters and emoji take more room, so less fits.