🔲 QR Code Generator: Make Free, Scannable QR Codes
By Shihab Mia · Updated 2026-07-13
Any text works: a link, plain text, Wi-Fi string, vCard, phone number or email. Encoded on your device, never uploaded.
Your QR code
A QR code generator turns any text or web address into a square grid of black and white modules that a phone camera can read in a fraction of a second. This tool builds a real, standards-compliant QR code entirely in your browser: type a link or message, choose an error correction level, and a scannable code appears instantly with no sign-up, no watermark, and nothing uploaded to a server. Download it as a razor-sharp SVG for print or a PNG for the web, at any size you like.
What is the QR Code Generator?
A QR code (short for "Quick Response" code) is a two dimensional barcode invented by Denso Wave in 1994. Where a traditional barcode stores a few dozen digits in one horizontal strip, a QR code stores data in both directions, so a single symbol can hold up to roughly 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 bytes. The three large squares in the corners are finder patterns that let a scanner locate and orient the code even when the image is rotated or skewed, which is why a QR code still reads when you point your camera at it sideways.
Every QR code is built from a fixed sequence of steps, and this tool performs all of them locally. First your text is converted to bytes and packed into a bit stream with a mode indicator and a length header. The tool then picks the smallest "version" (symbol size, from 21x21 up to 177x177 modules) that can hold your data at the correction level you chose. Reed-Solomon error correction codewords are calculated and interleaved with the data so the code survives damage. Finally the modules are laid out, one of eight mask patterns is applied to avoid awkward blank areas, and format and version information is written into the reserved zones.
Error correction is the single most important setting for reliability. QR codes use four levels, named L, M, Q and H, that can recover from roughly 7, 15, 25 and 30 percent damage respectively. Higher correction means the code keeps working even if it is partly covered, printed small, or lightly scratched, but it also packs in more modules, making the pattern denser. Level M is the common default because it balances resilience against size, while H is popular when a logo is placed over the centre or when the code will be printed on packaging that gets handled a lot.
Because this generator renders the result as inline SVG, the output is resolution independent: the same code that looks crisp on a business card scales flawlessly to a poster or a vehicle wrap without ever going fuzzy. The PNG export is produced from that same vector, so you can pick an exact pixel size when a raster image is required. Nothing you type is transmitted, which matters when the payload is a private link, a Wi-Fi password, or contact details you would rather not send to a third party service.
When to use it
- Linking a printed flyer, poster, business card or product label to a website, menu or landing page.
- Sharing a Wi-Fi network name and password so guests can join by scanning instead of typing.
- Putting a payment or donation link, app store page, or booking form one tap away from a phone camera.
- Adding a scannable contact card (vCard) to an email signature, badge or storefront window.
- Generating codes for event tickets, table numbers, asset tags or inventory labels that never expire.
- Embedding a code in slides or documentation that points readers to live docs or a feedback form.
How to use the QR Code Generator
- Type or paste your text, URL or other data into the input box. A scannable code updates as you type.
- Choose an error correction level: M is a safe default, H is best if a logo will cover part of the code or it will be printed small.
- Drag the module size slider to set how large each square is, which controls the exported pixel dimensions.
- Scan the preview with your phone camera to confirm it resolves to the right content.
- Click Download SVG for print or Download PNG for the web, or Copy SVG code to paste the markup straight into a page.
Formula & method
Worked examples
You want a QR code for the link https://toolnimba.com at the default Medium (M) correction level.
- The URL is 22 bytes of UTF-8, encoded in byte mode with a 4 bit mode indicator and an 8 bit length.
- Version 1 (21x21) holds only 14 bytes at level M, so the tool steps up to version 2 (25x25), which holds 26.
- Reed-Solomon codewords are generated and interleaved, then the modules are placed and masked.
- The mask with the lowest penalty score is selected automatically to keep the pattern easy to scan.
Result: A 25x25 module version 2 QR code that any phone camera resolves straight to the website.
You need the same link but plan to drop a small logo over the centre, so you raise correction to High (H).
- At level H about 30 percent of the code can be damaged or covered and still recover.
- Higher correction needs more codewords, so the same 22 byte URL now requires version 3 (29x29).
- The denser grid means each module is smaller at the same overall size, so print it a little larger.
- Because H tolerates loss, a centred logo covering up to roughly a quarter of the area still scans.
Result: A 29x29 module version 3 code that keeps working even with a logo obscuring the middle.
QR error correction levels and what they mean
| Level | Recovery capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L (Low) | About 7% of data restorable | Clean digital display, maximum data in the smallest grid |
| M (Medium) | About 15% of data restorable | General use, the common default balance |
| Q (Quartile) | About 25% of data restorable | Print that may get handled, smaller sizes |
| H (High) | About 30% of data restorable | Logo overlays, packaging, rugged outdoor printing |
Approximate maximum capacity by data type (version 40, level L)
| Data type | Max characters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Numeric (0 to 9) | 7,089 | Most efficient, 10 bits per 3 digits |
| Alphanumeric | 4,296 | Digits, A to Z, and nine symbols |
| Byte (UTF-8) | 2,953 | URLs, mixed text, most real-world use |
| Kanji | 1,817 | Shift JIS double byte characters |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Printing the code too small. A dense code (long URL or high correction) has tiny modules. As a rule of thumb, keep the printed code at least 2 by 2 cm, and larger for scanning at a distance. If it will not scan, either shorten the data or enlarge the print.
- Removing the quiet zone. QR codes need a blank margin (the "quiet zone") of at least four modules on every side so scanners can find the edges. Cropping tight to the pattern or placing it on a busy background is a leading cause of codes that will not read.
- Inverting the colors. Most scanners expect dark modules on a light background. A light-on-dark code or a low contrast color pair (for example mid grey on beige) can fail. Keep strong contrast and, when unsure, use classic black on white.
- Covering too much with a logo. A centred logo only works because error correction fills in the hidden modules. At level M a large logo can push past the recoverable limit. Raise the level to Q or H before adding artwork, and always test the final code.
Glossary
- Module
- One of the small black or white squares that make up the QR grid. The number of modules per side grows with the version.
- Version
- The size of the symbol, from version 1 (21x21 modules) to version 40 (177x177). A larger version holds more data.
- Finder pattern
- The three large nested squares in the corners that let a scanner locate the code and correct for rotation and perspective.
- Quiet zone
- The blank margin of at least four modules around the code that scanners rely on to separate it from the surrounding image.
- Error correction
- Extra Reed-Solomon data (levels L, M, Q, H) that lets a code still be read when part of it is damaged or covered.
- Mask
- One of eight patterns XORed over the data area to avoid large blank or repeating regions that would confuse a scanner.
Frequently asked questions
Is this QR code generator really free with no limits?
Yes. You can create and download as many QR codes as you like, at any size, with no account, no watermark and no expiry. The codes are generated by your own browser, so there is no server cost and no usage cap.
Do the QR codes expire or stop working?
No. This tool produces static QR codes, which encode your text or link directly into the pattern. There is no redirect and no tracking server involved, so the code keeps working forever as long as the destination it points to still exists.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The entire encoding process, including the Reed-Solomon error correction and image rendering, runs locally in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you type is sent over the network, which makes it safe for private links, Wi-Fi passwords and contact details.
Which error correction level should I choose?
Use M for most cases. Choose H if you will place a logo over the code or print it small or on packaging that gets handled, because H recovers from about 30 percent damage. Choose L only when you need to pack the most data into the smallest grid on a clean screen.
What is the difference between the SVG and PNG downloads?
The SVG is a vector file that stays perfectly sharp at any size, ideal for print, business cards and large formats. The PNG is a raster image at a fixed pixel size, which is convenient for the web, chat apps and documents that do not accept SVG.
Can I put a QR code on a business card or poster?
Yes. Download the SVG so it scales without blurring, keep the four-module quiet zone around it, and print it at least 2 by 2 cm (larger for posters meant to be scanned from a distance). Test the printed proof with a phone before running the full batch.