QR Code Generator

A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional barcode invented in 1994 to track car parts in Japanese factories. Today, they are scanned billions of times a day for restaurant menus, payment links, event tickets, app downloads, contact info, and Wi-Fi sharing. They are universally readable by every modern phone camera without needing a special app.

ToolHub QR Code Generator creates clean, scannable QR codes for any text, URL, or contact info. You can customize colors, size, and download as PNG or JPG. Generation is instant and entirely local.

1. 1

   Type your content

   Paste a URL, type plain text, or use one of the sample formats (email, Wi-Fi, SMS). The QR preview updates in real time on the right.
2. 2

   Adjust size if needed

   Default 512 by 512 pixels works well for most uses. Increase to 1024 for printing, decrease for email signatures or small inline displays.
3. 3

   Pick colors (optional)

   Black on white scans most reliably. You can change foreground and background colors to match your brand, but keep strong contrast or scanning may fail.
4. 4

   Download

   Download as PNG (transparent background possible) or JPG (smaller file, white background). The image is generated locally and downloads immediately.

URL or website link

The most common use. Any URL starting with http:// or https:// is recognized by phone cameras and opens the link with a single tap.

Plain text

Up to about 4,000 characters. Useful for sharing notes, instructions, or text snippets without typing them out.

Email

Use the format mailto:hello@example.com to open a new email draft. You can pre-fill subject and body too: mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Hi&body=Hello.

Phone or SMS

Use tel:+12345678900 to start a phone call. smsto:+12345678900:Hello opens a draft SMS with body already typed.

Wi-Fi credentials

Format: WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:Password;;. Phones recognize this and offer to join the network with one tap. Perfect for guest Wi-Fi at home or in cafes.

Contact card (vCard)

Encode a full contact in vCard format. Phones offer to add it to contacts directly.

• Keep contrast strong. Dark foreground on light background scans best. Avoid light-on-light or dark-on-dark combinations.
• Leave a quiet zone (margin) of at least 4 modules around the code. Do not crop right to the edge.
• When printing, generate a high resolution version (1024 or higher) so the QR stays crisp at large sizes.
• Test before mass printing. Scan with multiple phones (Android, iPhone) to confirm it works.
• Use short URLs when possible. Shorter content makes denser, easier to scan QR codes.
• Avoid placing QR codes on shiny or reflective surfaces. Glare blocks scanning.

A QR code is just a container for a short piece of data. These are the types people encode most often with a free QR code generator.

There are two ways a scan code generator can work, and the difference matters if you plan to print the code.

Static QR codes

A static code encodes your data directly inside the image. The link, text, or Wi-Fi details live in the pattern itself, so the code keeps working forever and depends on nothing outside your phone. The trade-off is that you cannot edit it later. If the content changes, you generate a new code. ToolHub creates static codes.

Dynamic QR codes

A dynamic code stores a short redirect link instead of your real content. When someone scans it, that link forwards them to wherever you point it, and you can change the destination or count scans without reprinting. The catch is that a dynamic code only works while the redirect service stays online. If that third-party service shuts down or starts charging, every printed code can break at once. For anything you print and cannot easily replace, a static code is the safer choice.

A printed QR code needs to be large enough for a phone to lock onto from a comfortable distance. A simple rule of thumb: the code should be at least one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from.

• Business card or flyer, scanned from roughly 30 cm away: about 3 cm wide is plenty.
• Table tent or product box, scanned from about 60 cm: aim for 6 cm or more.
• Poster or shop window, scanned from 2 to 3 metres: make it 20 to 30 cm across.
• Billboard, scanned from far away: scale the code up so it stays at least a tenth of the viewing distance.

Export a high resolution image (1024 pixels or more) before printing so the edges stay sharp when scaled up. Keep a clear white margin around the code and do not stretch it out of square.

Do QR codes expire?

A static QR code never expires. The data is baked into the image, so it will still scan years from now. What can stop working is the thing it points to. If the link leads to a page you take down, or to a dynamic redirect service that shuts off, the scan lands nowhere. Point static codes at URLs you control to keep them alive.

What size should I print a QR code?

Follow the one tenth rule: the code should be at least a tenth of the distance people scan it from. That works out to roughly 3 cm on a business card, around 6 cm on a table tent, and 20 cm or more on a poster. When in doubt, print it a little bigger and leave a white margin around it.

Is this QR code generator free?

Yes. ToolHub generates unlimited QR codes for free, with no sign-up, no watermark, and no limit on scans. The QR format itself has been patent-free since 2002, so the codes are free to use for personal or commercial projects.

Can I make a Wi-Fi QR code?

Yes. Enter your network name and password in the Wi-Fi format WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:Password;; and the generator builds a code that lets guests join with one tap, no typing required. It works well for home guest networks, offices, and short-term rentals.

Will the QR code expire?

The QR code itself never expires. It is just an image encoding static text. If the URL it points to is later taken down or moved, the QR no longer works. For long-lived QR codes, point them at URLs you control.

How much data can a QR code hold?

Up to about 4,296 alphanumeric characters or 2,953 bytes of binary data. Less data means a simpler, easier-to-scan code. URL shorteners help when you need to encode a very long link.

Can I track scans of my QR code?

Not from the QR itself. To track scans, point the QR at a URL with analytics on it (like a UTM-tagged link or a custom redirector).

Do I need to pay for commercial use?

No. The QR code format is patent-free since 2002 and free to use for any purpose, personal or commercial.