How to Add a Logo to a QR Code (and Keep It Scannable)

To add a logo to a QR code, use a generator that lets you upload an image and sets the error correction to its highest level (H). Keep the logo small, put it in the center, and give it a plain background. Then test the finished code on a few different phones before you print. The logo works because QR codes are designed to survive missing pieces, but the room for missing pieces is limited, so a logo that’s too big breaks the code.

Why you can put a logo on a QR code at all #

Every QR code carries extra data for error correction, which lets a scanner rebuild the contents even when part of the code is dirty, torn or covered. Denso Wave, which invented the QR code, lists four levels, from L, restoring about 7% of the code, up to H, restoring about 30%.

A logo in the middle is, from the scanner’s point of view, damage. The scanner reads around it and uses the error correction to fill in what’s hidden. That’s why the level matters:

Denso Wave also notes the trade-off: higher error correction makes the code bigger, with more squares, because it stores more backup data. More on this in QR code error correction levels.

Rules for a logo that doesn’t break the code #

1. Use error correction level H. Most generators set this automatically when you add a logo. If yours has a setting, check it.
2. Keep the logo well under the limit. The 30% recovery at level H isn’t all available for your logo. The same allowance also covers smudges, glare and printing flaws, so use a fraction of it and leave the rest as safety margin.
3. Put it in the center. The three big squares in the corners, called finder patterns, are how phones locate the code. Never cover them or the lines connecting them.
4. Give it a plain background. A small white or light border around the logo separates it from the code’s squares.
5. Use a simple, square logo. An icon or a monogram works better than a wide wordmark squeezed into a square.
6. Keep the data short. A long web address makes a dense code with small squares, and a dense code has less room for a logo. Shorter content gives the logo more space.
7. Test before printing. Scan it with an iPhone and an Android phone, at the distance people will use, in normal light.

How to add a logo to a QR code on your phone #

QR Handler has an Add logo button on its Create tab that works with every code type: link, text, Wi-Fi, contact, email, phone and SMS.

1. Open the Create tab and pick the kind of code.
2. Enter the content, like your web address.
3. Tap Add logo and choose a square image from your photos.
4. Pick one of the six dark color presets if you want the code in a brand color.
5. Tap Generate QR code.
6. Save to Photos or Share it.

When a logo is added, the app switches the code to error correction level H for you, so you don’t need to find a setting. Tap Remove logo to go back to a plain code. The finished code is saved in your history with the logo, so you can come back for another copy later. It’s free, with ads, and needs no account.

How to add a logo to a QR code on the web #

Many free generator websites support logos. QR Code Monkey, for example, lets you upload a logo as PNG, JPG, GIF or SVG, customize colors and shapes, and download the result as PNG, SVG, PDF or EPS. It says its codes are static and don’t expire. A vector download (SVG, PDF or EPS) is useful if a printer needs to scale the code up for a sign or banner.

When you use a website, make sure you’re creating a static code. Some sites steer you toward “dynamic” codes that route through their servers and may require a paid plan later. See best free QR code generator for how the main options compare.

Common mistakes with logo QR codes #

• A logo that’s too big. The most common failure. If the code only scans on some phones, shrink the logo first.
• Covering a corner square. Phones use the three corner squares to find the code, so a logo there makes it unreadable.
• Low contrast colors. A pale brand color for the code, or a colored background behind it, stacks a second problem on top of the logo. Keep the code dark on a light background.
• No margin. A QR code needs a blank border. Denso Wave says a space four modules wide around the code, where a module is one of the small squares.
• Testing only on your own phone. Cameras and scanning software differ. A code that scans on your new phone may fail on an older one.

If a printed code won’t read, work through our guide to a QR code not scanning.

Does a logo make a QR code look more trustworthy? #

It can make a code look more official, which is exactly why scammers copy logos too. A logo in the middle says nothing about where the code leads. If you’re scanning someone else’s code, read the address, not the logo. If you’re printing your own, a clear caption like “Scan for our menu” helps people know what to expect.

Frequently asked questions #

Can you put a logo in any QR code? #

Yes, as long as the code uses a high enough error correction level and the logo is small, centered and clear of the corner squares. Level H is the usual choice.

How big can a logo be in a QR code? #

There’s no fixed number that works for every code, because it depends on the error correction level, how much data the code holds and how it’s printed. Stay well under the limit, and test with several phones. If some phones fail, the logo is too big.

Does adding a logo make a QR code bigger? #

Usually. Switching to error correction level H stores more backup data, which adds more squares to the code. The logo itself just covers part of the pattern.

Is it free to add a logo to a QR code? #

Yes. Free apps and websites let you add a logo to a static QR code. QR codes themselves are free to use; Denso Wave says no license is needed.