The five codes most restaurants need
- Menu, on every table.
- Google reviews, at the till and on the bill.
- Guest WiFi, on tables or the wall.
- Ordering or reservations, in the window and on takeaway bags.
- Payment or tipping, where your payment provider supports it.
You don't need all five on day one. Start with the menu and reviews; they bring the quickest returns.
1. The menu QR code
PDF or web page?
A PDF menu is quick: export it from Word, Canva or your designer's file, upload it, done. But PDFs designed for A4 are hard to read on a phone. If you go this way, make a phone-friendly version: one column, large text, no tiny two-page spreads, and keep the file under about 2 MB so it opens quickly on mobile data.
A web page menu (on your own website, or via a menu builder) fits every screen, loads faster, and search engines can index the dishes, so people searching for "vegan ramen near me" can find you.
Use a link you control
The most expensive mistake in restaurant QR codes is linking to something you can't update or don't own:
- Linking directly to
menu-autumn-final2.pdfmeans a new code every season. - Using a "free" QR service whose code stops working after a trial means every table card dies at once.
Instead, link to a permanent address on your own domain, like yourrestaurant.com/menu. When the menu changes, update that page or replace the file behind it. Your table cards keep working. Make the code with a static generator like our restaurant menu QR code tool, so nothing can expire. (We explain the trap in detail in Do QR codes expire?)
Keep paper menus
Some guests don't have a smartphone, have a flat battery, or simply prefer paper. A handful of printed menus avoids awkward moments, and in some places accessibility rules expect you to offer one.
2. The Google review QR code
Reviews drive restaurant choice more than almost anything else, and most happy customers never think to leave one. A QR code that opens the review form directly removes nearly all the friction.
Make it with the Google review QR code generator: paste your Place ID (the page shows how to find it with Google's free Place ID Finder) and print the ready-made "Review us on Google" stand.
Where it works best:
- On the bill folder or receipt: "Enjoyed your meal? Tell others."
- At the till, where staff can mention it while customers pay.
- On takeaway bags.
Ask in person at the right moment, after a compliment or a good conversation. Never offer discounts for reviews and don't only ask happy customers: both break Google's rules.
3. The guest WiFi QR code
Guests asking for the WiFi password interrupt service dozens of times a day. A WiFi QR code on each table lets them connect in two seconds. Our printable WiFi table card puts four cards on one page with the network name and password underneath for anyone whose phone can't scan.
Use a separate guest network so customers can't reach your till, cameras or office computers. Change its password occasionally and reprint the cards.
4. Ordering and reservations
- In the window: a large code to your booking page, so passers-by can reserve for later. Make it at least 15–20 cm wide; people read windows from the pavement.
- On takeaway bags and flyers: a code to your online ordering page. Ordering directly saves you the 15–30% commission delivery platforms charge.
- On tables, if your system supports order-at-table: one code per table with the table number in the link (
?table=12). The bulk generator creates all of them at once from a list.
5. Payments and tips
If your payment provider supports QR payments, show its code at the counter. In India, a UPI QR code lets any customer pay from their banking app without fees for small merchants. Check payment codes regularly to make sure nobody has stuck a fake code over yours; this is a known scam (see How to spot a fake QR code).
Placement and printing
| Spot | Code size | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Table tent / table card | 3–5 cm | Facing the seats, not the aisle |
| Table sticker | 4–6 cm | Matte, wipeable laminate |
| Bill folder / receipt | 2.5–3 cm | Printed on the receipt if your till allows images |
| Wall or counter sign | 8–15 cm | At eye level, good lighting |
| Window | 15–25 cm | Inside the glass, away from glare |
The printable templates include a menu table tent that folds in half and reads from both sides, plus the review stand and WiFi cards. Print on 200–300 gsm card, or laminate with a matte film; glossy laminate reflects ceiling lights straight into the camera. For more detail on sizes, see the QR code size guide.
Design tips
- Brand the codes: your logo in the middle, your colors for the frame. A branded code also makes a scammer's sticker easier to spot.
- Keep contrast high. Dark dots on a light background. A dim restaurant at night is a hard environment for a camera.
- Say what the code does: "Menu", "Free WiFi", "Leave a review". Unlabeled codes get fewer scans.
- One code per purpose. Don't try to make one code do everything; a menu code that opens a page of ten buttons gets abandoned.
Measure what works
Static codes don't count scans themselves, but your website can. Add a tag to each link, for example yourrestaurant.com/menu?utm_source=table and ?utm_source=window, and Google Analytics shows how many visits each placement brings. For reviews, watch your review count in the Google Business Profile.
Checklist
- Menu online, at a permanent address on your domain
- Menu QR code on every table, tested with two phones
- Google review code at the till and on bills
- Guest WiFi network with a table card
- Booking or ordering code in the window
- A few paper menus for guests without phones
- Monthly check that no codes are damaged or covered
Frequently asked questions
Do restaurant menu QR codes cost money?
Not if you use a static code that links to your own menu. Our generator and templates are free and the codes never expire.
How do I update my menu without changing the QR code?
Link the code to a permanent page such as yourrestaurant.com/menu and update that page whenever the menu changes.
What size should a table QR code be?
About 3–5 cm (1.2–2 in) for table tents and stickers viewed from a seat.