QR code for business cards
A QR code for your business card should open one page: your website, your LinkedIn profile, your portfolio or your booking page. With linqr you can change that link after the cards are printed, so a new job or a new website doesn't mean ordering a new box of cards.
Your code will appear here
What to link
Pick the one page where someone sees who you are and how to reach you in seconds:
- Your website's contact page, with phone, email and directions. You update the page, and the card stays current.
- Your LinkedIn profile, for sales, recruiting and consulting.
- Your portfolio, for designers, photographers and architects: the work says more than a list of services.
- Your booking page, for hair stylists, therapists and advisors, so a new client can book on the spot.
- Your Instagram, for studios, bakeries and photographers. See QR code for Instagram for tips.
- Your Facebook page, for local shops, restaurants and clubs that post their news there. See QR code for your Facebook page.
One code, one destination. If you want to show several things, build a page with links on your own website and point the code there.
vCard or a link?
Some generators make vCard codes: your name, phone and email are stored in the code itself, and the phone offers to save the contact. linqr doesn't make vCard codes. Every linqr code is a link to a web page, and that cuts both ways.
| vCard code | Link code (linqr) | |
|---|---|---|
| After scanning | The phone offers to save a contact | Your site, profile or portfolio opens |
| New number or title | The data is in the code: new code, new print run | Update the page or the link; the cards stay |
| What people see | Contact details only | Everything on the page: services, work, map |
| Scan stats | None | Scans, devices, countries |
If the phone must save the contact straight away, you need a vCard generator, and a reprint whenever your number changes. With a link, a contact page with big “Call” and “Email” buttons gets close.
Size and placement
A US business card is 3.5 × 2 in, and people scan it from their hand, 6-10 in (15-25 cm) from the phone. Rule of thumb: make the code at least 0.8 in (2 cm) wide, 1 in (2.5 cm) to be comfortable. Leave an empty margin around it, the quiet zone: 4 modules is recommended, about 1/8 in (3 mm) on each side of a 0.8 in code. The QR code size guide has more numbers.
- On the back when the front is full of logo and details. The code and one line, like “Scan to see my work”, are enough.
- In a front corner on a minimalist card.
- Away from the trim line, foil and spot gloss, which reflect light.
On a business card, the label on a frame ends up tiny. Skip the frame and put one line of text next to the code in the card design instead.
Files for the printer
Print shops prefer vector files. Free gives you SVG (plus PNG, JPG and WEBP up to 2048 px), and Pro adds PDF and EPS. A vector stays sharp at any size, so your designer can set the code to exactly 0.8 in. More on formats in SVG QR code generator.
From link to print file
Paste your link into The link to turn into a QR code
The creator is at the top of this page, and the preview appears right away.
Match your brand colors
On the Colours tab, under Code colour, choose Custom colour and type your brand color into HEX code. Keep the code clearly darker than the background, or you'll see Not enough contrast with a Fix button.
Keep the logo small
On a code 0.8 in wide, a big logo covers too much. If you add one, keep Logo size low and wait for Scans correctly.
Download an SVG
Click Download QR code and save the code to a free account. Then choose SVG under Format and click Download SVG.
Scan a test print
Print the design at 100% on an office printer and scan it with two different phones before you order the full run.
linqr doesn't produce CMYK or Pantone files. If your printer needs them, your designer converts the colors while laying out the card.
New job, same cards
Details change faster than a box of cards empties. A linqr QR code for business cards goes through a short link, so you change where it points in My codes with Change link. It's live right away, with no new file and no reprint.
Example: a real estate agent hands out 500 cards that open her listings page. When she moves to another brokerage, she changes the link in linqr, and all 500 cards open her new page.
It matters for LinkedIn too. If you change your custom profile URL, LinkedIn's help says the old one stays linked to you for six months. A code with the old URL printed directly can lead nowhere after that, while a linqr code takes a minute to update.
Teams: one code per person
Give everyone on the team their own code, pointing to their profile or their page on the company site. Name each code so it's easy to find in My codes, like “Card: Jordan Lee”.
The Free plan includes 3 active codes, enough for a small team. Larger teams need Pro ($4.99 a month), with no limit on codes. All codes live in one account: linqr has no separate team seats, so whoever manages the account makes the changes.
When someone leaves, point their code to your main contact page. The cards still in clients' wallets then lead to your company, not to an outdated profile.
Questions
What should a business card QR code link to?
One page that tells people who you are and how to reach you: your website's contact page, your LinkedIn profile, your portfolio or your booking page. Pick the one that leads to the next step you want from the person holding your card: a call, a meeting or a look at your work.
What size should the QR code be on a business card?
As a rule of thumb, at least 0.8 in (2 cm) wide, and 1 in (2.5 cm) is more comfortable, because people scan cards from their hand. Keep an empty margin of 4 modules around it, stay away from the trim line, and scan a test print at 100% before ordering.
Can it save my contact details to a phone?
No. linqr doesn't make vCard codes; every code opens a web page. The upside is that your details stay current: you update the page or change the link, and the printed cards stay the same. If you need a code that saves a contact, use a vCard generator, and expect to reprint whenever your number changes.
Can I change the link after printing?
Yes, any time and as often as you like, on the Free plan too. In My codes, choose Change link, paste the new address and confirm. It works right away and the printed code stays the same, so there's no new file to download and no new print run. Earlier links stay in the code's history.
Which file should I send to the printer?
An SVG, which you can download on the Free plan. It's a vector, so the printer can set any size without losing sharpness. Pro adds PDF and EPS, which some print shops prefer. For a small card, a 2048 px PNG also works. linqr doesn't produce CMYK or Pantone files.
Should the QR code go on the front or the back of a business card?
Usually the back, where there's room for a code of at least 0.8 in (2 cm) and a short line like “Scan for my portfolio”. The front works on minimal cards, next to the name. Either way, keep it away from the trim line and leave a blank margin around it.
Can I use my LinkedIn profile as the business card QR code link?
Yes. Copy your public profile address, such as linkedin.com/in/yourname, and paste it into the linqr creator. The profile opens in the LinkedIn app or browser after scanning. If you later move to a personal website, use Change link and the printed cards follow.
Can I put my company logo in a business card QR code?
Yes, on the linqr Free plan too. Upload it under Logo; with error correction on Auto, the code moves to the highest level so it still scans. On a small card, keep the logo small and simple, and wait for Scans correctly in the creator before you download.
Can a business card QR code be printed in brand colors?
Yes, if there's enough contrast. A dark brand color on white or light card stock scans well; pale colors and metallic foils often don't. linqr lets you set the colors and checks the code with a real decoder while you design, but always scan a printed proof too.
Can I tell how many people scanned my business card?
Yes. Each linqr code shows total and unique scans, a 30-day chart, top countries and devices, on the Free plan. It can't tell you who scanned. Pro adds 365 days of history, cities and CSV export, useful if you give out cards at trade shows.
Can I use the same QR code on my business card and email signature?
You can, but a code in an email is hard to scan from the screen someone is reading on, so add a plain link there too. Using separate codes for the card and other materials shows which one people actually scan, since each code has its own stats.
Sources
Keep reading
- QR code size guideWhat size should a QR code be? Minimum sizes for business cards, flyers, posters and signs, the 10:1 distance rule, the quiet zone and pixel sizes.
- SVG QR code generatorDownload your QR code as SVG, PNG, JPG or WEBP up to 2048 px free. Pro adds 4096 px and print-ready PDF and EPS. Sharp on business cards and billboards.
- QR code for InstagramMake a QR code for your Instagram profile, post or reel with your own logo and colors. Track scans and point it to a new handle any time.