QR Code for Business Cards

How to add a QR code to your business card

1. Choose what the code doesvCard saves your contact details; URL opens your website or portfolio; Social links to LinkedIn or Instagram.
2. Enter your detailsFor a vCard, keep it to name, phone, email, company and website so the code stays small.
3. Match your card designUse your brand color for the dots and download the SVG for your designer or print shop.
4. Size it right and testPrint it at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide and scan a printed proof before ordering.

vCard or link: which should your card use?

Many people use the vCard on the back of the card, and print their website as text on the front.

Business card QR code checklist

1. Size: at least 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in). A standard card is 85 × 55 mm (3.5 × 2 in), so there's room for a 2.5 cm code on the back.
2. Quiet zone: leave a clear border around the code. Don't let text or the card's edge touch it.
3. Contrast: dark dots on a light background. Metallic foils, embossing and spot-UV on the code itself can make it unreadable.
4. Vector file: send the SVG to your printer so the code is razor-sharp.
5. Paper: matte stocks scan more reliably than glossy ones under bright light.
6. Proof: scan the printed proof with both an iPhone and an Android phone.

Make it look intentional

Add a small call to action next to the code, such as "Scan to save my contact", and match the dot color to your brand. A rounded dot style and your logo in the center make the code part of the design rather than an afterthought. If you need print-ready files with crop marks, try our printable templates, which include a front-and-back business card layout.

NFC business cards

Want tap-to-share as well? NFC cards contain a chip that sends your link when tapped against a phone. A QR code is still the universal fallback, because every smartphone camera can read it, no NFC needed.

Layouts that work

• Back of the card, centered: a 2.5 cm code with a short line underneath ("Scan to save my contact"). The cleanest option.
• Front, bottom corner: a 2 cm code next to your contact details. Leave a clear margin between the code and the text.
• Both sides: a vCard code on one side and a LinkedIn or portfolio code on the other, each clearly labeled.

Print-ready files in minutes

Our printable templates include a business card sheet with 10 cards per A4 or Letter page, crop marks, and a back side that lines up when you print double-sided. It's ideal for small runs and testing. For a professional run, send your printer the SVG of the code and let them place it in their template.

When your details change

A vCard code stores your details permanently. If you change jobs or phone numbers often, consider a link to an online profile you can update instead. A good compromise: put your stable details (name, mobile, personal website) in the vCard and leave out the job title.

NFC + QR

NFC business cards are popular, but not every phone reads NFC and many people don't know how. A QR code on the same card means everyone can save your contact. If you order NFC cards, print the QR code on them too.

Checklist

1. Name, phone, email and website spelled correctly.
2. Code at least 2 × 2 cm with a clear margin.
3. Dark dots on a light background, with no foil on the code.
4. Proof scanned with two phones.
5. "Save contact" tested: the contact appears with the right fields.

Frequently asked questions

Related free tools

Last updated October 27, 2026 by the QR Code Haven team. Found a problem? Tell us.