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QR codes for flyers, posters and brochures

A QR code on a flyer takes readers straight to your offer, sign-up form or ticket page, and linqr gives you print-ready files plus scan stats for every print run. You can change the link any time, so a typo in the URL or an expired promo doesn't mean reprinting the whole batch.

Your code will appear here

What to link

A flyer code works when it promises something the paper can't hold. Good destinations:

  • An offer or coupon: a page with the promo code, not your homepage.
  • An event: schedule, tickets, directions; after the event, the recap or next year's date.
  • A sign-up: a class, a free trial, an appointment, even a QR code for a Google Form.
  • A video: a product demo or a message from the owner.
  • A menu, price list or catalog PDF: host the file on your site or a cloud drive; the code opens its link.

Example: a yoga studio pins flyers on coffee shop bulletin boards, and the code opens a page to book a free first class instead of the homepage.

Call to action and frames

A bare square says very little; the words next to it tell people what they get for scanning. Keep them short and specific: “Scan for 10% off,” “Get tickets,” “Book your free class,” “See the menu.”

In linqr, the Frame tab puts that line on the code itself: pick a style such as Label below, Bubble or Ticket and type your Frame text (up to 24 characters; the default is “SCAN ME”). The frame is part of the file, so your designer doesn't have to add it.

Also say where the code leads, like “class schedule at yourstudio.com,” so people know what opens and can type the address instead.

Size by viewing distance

Rule of thumb: make the code about one tenth as wide as the scanning distance. A flyer is read in the hand; a poster from 3 to 6 feet away.

Where it goesTypical distanceCode width
Flyer or door hanger (half letter or letter size)12-16 in1.2-1.6 in (3-4 cm)
Tabloid poster, 11 × 17 inabout 3 ftabout 4 in (10 cm)
Large poster, 18 × 24 or 24 × 36 in5-6 ft6-7 in (15-18 cm)
Banner or yard sign6-10 ft7-12 in (18-30 cm)

Don't go below about 0.8 in (2 cm) even on a small flyer, and add a margin of safety for glossy stock or dim light. For the quiet zone and pixel math, see our QR code size guide.

One code per placement or print run

One code everywhere only tells you the total. A separate code per placement shows what works: door hangers or the coffee shop poster, the September run or October's. Name each code when you save it, like “Door hangers, Sept, north side,” and its Stats tab shows scans, unique scans and a chart for that code.

The Free plan includes 3 active codes, so you can compare three versions at a time; Pro removes the limit and adds cities, scan times by hour and CSV export. See what's measured on our QR code tracking page, and add UTM tags and Google Analytics with how to track QR code scans.

Fix a wrong link after printing

The flyers are back and the URL has a typo, or the promo page is gone. With a static code, that means a reprint. A linqr code goes through a short link: open My codes, click Change link, enter the New destination link and save. Every printed copy follows the change right away.

When the promo ends, point the code at your current offer instead of an error page. To switch a code off for a while, use Pause: scanners see a page saying it's temporarily disabled, and Resume turns it back on.

Files for printers

Vector files suit flyers and posters: one file prints sharp from half letter to 24 × 36 in. SVG is on the Free plan; PDF and EPS come with Pro. Formats, resolution and transparency are covered on our SVG QR code generator page.

  1. Check the preview

    You should see Scans correctly next to the code. If not, apply the suggested fix.

  2. Add a call to action

    A frame label or a line of text that says what will open.

  3. Download a vector file

    SVG, PDF or EPS. Don't crop the empty margin: phones use that quiet zone to find the code.

  4. Print one proof

    At full size, scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone.

  5. Open the link on cellular data

    Check the destination while logged out, the way a customer will see it.

Questions

What size should a QR code be on a poster?

Roughly one tenth of the scanning distance. An 11 × 17 in poster read from about 3 feet needs a code around 4 in wide; an 18 × 24 or 24 × 36 in poster read from 5 to 6 feet needs about 6 to 7 in. Bigger never hurts, while too small makes people walk up close. Print it from a vector file.

What size on a flyer?

On a half-letter or letter-size flyer, a code 1.2 to 1.6 in (3 to 4 cm) wide is usually enough, since people hold flyers 12 to 16 inches away. The minimum is about 0.8 in (2 cm). Leave an empty margin around it: in linqr that's Margin (quiet zone), 4 modules recommended, already part of your download.

How do I track how many people scanned my flyer?

Every linqr code has a Stats tab with total scans, unique scans (each person counted once a day), a 30-day chart, top countries and devices. Bots and link previews aren't counted. Give each flyer version or print run its own code to compare them side by side. Pro adds cities, scan times by hour and CSV export.

Can I fix a wrong link after printing?

Yes. A linqr code goes through a short link, onsonara.com/q/…, and you only change where that link redirects. In My codes, choose Change link, enter the correct address and save. The fix works immediately on every printed flyer, and link changes are unlimited, even on the Free plan.

Which file do printers want?

Usually a vector file, because the printer can scale it freely. In linqr that's SVG on the Free plan, or PDF and EPS on Pro. If the print shop has a file spec, follow it. The files use RGB colors; if CMYK is required, your designer or the printer can convert them.

Do I need a call to action next to the code?

Yes, it helps. The code alone doesn't say what opens; a short line like “Scan for 10% off” or “Get tickets” tells people why to scan. In linqr you can add it as a frame of up to 24 characters, so the text is part of the code file. Add the web address too.

Should the QR code go on the front or the back of a flyer?

Put it on the front when scanning is the main thing you want people to do, next to the offer it unlocks. Lower right is a common spot, because the eye finishes there. Keep it off folds, perforations and the edge that gets trimmed, and keep the empty margin around it. On a door hanger, use the side that faces the street.

Can I use the same QR code on flyers and posters?

Yes. One linqr file scales from a flyer to a poster, especially an SVG, as long as you size it for the viewing distance. The trade-off is measurement: one code only shows the total. If you want to know whether the poster or the flyer brings more scans, give each its own code. The Free plan allows 3 active codes.

What happens when someone scans my flyer after the event is over?

The code keeps opening whatever link you set last, because linqr codes have no expiry date. So after the event, use Change link to point it at the photos, the recap or next year's date instead of a dead ticket page. If there's nothing to show yet, Pause the code: scanners see a page saying it's temporarily disabled until you choose Resume.

Will a QR code scan on colored or glossy flyer paper?

Yes, if the code keeps strong contrast and the print isn't hidden by glare. On colored stock, keep the code's white background instead of making it transparent, so it sits on a light panel. Glossy coating reflects overhead lights, so matte paper or a matte varnish scans more reliably. Print one proof on the real paper and scan it with two phones.

Can I design my flyer in Canva and add a linqr QR code?

Yes. Download the code from linqr as SVG or PNG, upload it in Canva's Uploads tab and place it on your flyer without cropping the margin. You change the link later in linqr, so the Canva design and the printed flyers stay the same. The full walkthrough is in our guide to a dynamic QR code in Canva.

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