Guide
The right way to set up a QR code depends heavily on what it's for. A menu QR code has different requirements than one on a shipping label, which has different requirements than one on a business card. This guide walks through six common use cases, with specific guidance on code type, error correction level, placement, and the pitfalls particular to each.
Menu QR codes need to survive table-level handling — spills, grease, constant reuse — and should route to a mobile-optimized page rather than a PDF. Dynamic codes let a restaurant update seasonal items or pricing without reprinting table tents.
A vCard QR code on a business card lets a contact save your details directly, without typing. Getting the format and error correction level right matters more here than almost any other use case, since the print area is small and often sits near a logo.
Ticketing QR codes have a different job than most: they need to be unique per attendee, scannable quickly under time pressure, and secure enough to resist duplication. This covers how ticketing systems typically structure that.
Packaging codes face the harshest physical conditions of any use case — shrink wrap, warehouse handling, printing directly onto uneven materials — and often need to carry serious weight for compliance, authentication, or traceability.
A yard sign QR code needs to be legible from a moving car, at a distance, in direct sunlight — a different design problem than a code meant to be scanned up close.
Donation QR codes carry a trust burden that most other use cases don't — people are about to hand over payment information, so the destination and framing matter as much as the code itself.