QR codes for business cards — the complete free guide

A QR on your business card lets the person you just handed it to open your LinkedIn, portfolio, or booking page from their lock screen. Use qr.paps.jp to generate one for free, and follow the sizing / layout rules below so it actually scans on printed card stock.

Why use a QR code

Fastest bridge from paper to web

The moment someone receives your card, they are one scan from your canonical web presence. The URL never has to be typed, so follow-up rates after a meeting rise sharply.

Long URLs don't wreck the design

LinkedIn and company bio URLs are 60-100 characters, which forces a dense QR that stops scanning at business-card size. qr.paps.jp short URLs are under 20 characters, so the QR stays clean and scans at 1.5 cm square.

Change the destination later without reprinting

A card you print now lives for years. If you move, join a new company, or redesign your site, the destination URL changes but the printed QR cannot. qr.paps.jp lets you redirect the short link to a new destination without touching the printed card.

Step by step

Pick the destination URL
LinkedIn profile, portfolio site, personal bio page — pick the single URL the recipient should land on.
Create the short URL on qr.paps.jp
Paste the URL and click Create. Use a custom slug like qr.paps.jp/your-name so even if the QR fails, the typed URL is still readable.
Download the QR PNG
qr.paps.jp emits a print-quality PNG the moment the short URL is created.
Customise colour / logo (optional)
Match the QR's foreground colour to your card. Embed a logo in the centre if the design calls for it.
Place on the card layout
Back or front of the card at 1.5-2.0 cm square, with at least 2 mm of quiet-zone white space on every side.

Specification

Recommended size	1.5-2.0 cm square (printed)
Error correction level	H (required when a logo is embedded)
Contrast	At least 3:1 luminance (dark modules)
Quiet zone	At least 2 mm all round
Resolution	600 DPI or higher
Background	White or light solid preferred

Tips from the field

Destinations change — use a shortener where the redirect can be updated after the card ships. qr.paps.jp supports this.
Logo embedding costs 5-10% in scan reliability. For bulk cards you plan to hand out widely, go logo-free.
On a dark card design, drop a white plate under the QR so contrast is preserved.
Always test the printed proof against two different phones before approving the print run.

Frequently asked

Q. How big should a business card QR be?

A. 1.5-2.0 cm square printed. Smaller and scan rates drop; larger crowds the layout. Short URLs via qr.paps.jp keep the QR legible even at 1.5 cm.

Q. Can I change where the QR goes later?

A. Yes — qr.paps.jp accepts destination-change requests on your own short links. The printed card doesn't need to be reprinted.

Q. Do coloured QR codes still scan?

A. Yes, provided the contrast ratio against the background is at least 3:1. White background with a dark-coloured foreground scans best.

Create a business card QR for free

Create QR code →

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