How do I add a logo to my QR code without breaking it?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Open the QR Design step of the wizard, expand Add Logo, and either pick one of the built-in logos or drag in your own image — up to 2 MB. Set Logo size between 20% and 50% of the code's width and choose a Logo background. The moment a logo is present we raise error correction to its highest level (H) and clear the dots underneath it, which is what keeps the code readable with part of the pattern covered.
Steps in the wizard
- Create or edit a QR code and go to the third step, QR Design.
- Expand Add Logo ("Central logo image").
- Pick a logo. There is a row of ready-made marks — WhatsApp, Link, Location, WiFi, ID Card, Email, Scan Me, QR Icon, Phone, Food, PayPal and Bitcoin — or drag your own file into the upload area, or click it to browse. The first button in the row is None, which clears the logo again.
- Drag the Logo size slider. It runs from 20% to 50% of the QR width and the current value is shown next to it.
- Choose a Logo background: Auto, Card, Circle or None.
- Finish the wizard. The design is saved with the code, so every file you download later has the logo on it.
Your file must be under 2 MB. Anything larger is rejected with the message "Logo must be under 2 MB". This cap is separate from your plan's general upload limit.
What the Logo background options do
| Option | What you get | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | A clean white card behind photos; transparent logos are left untouched | You are not sure — this is the safe default |
| Card | A white rounded square behind the logo | A square or rectangular mark, or a logo with a busy edge |
| Circle | A white circle behind the logo | A round mark, or a monogram you want centred in a disc |
| None | The logo floats straight on the pattern | A single-colour mark with plenty of built-in space around it |
A separate control sits in the Advanced section: Clear dots behind logo. Leave it ticked and we remove the dots the logo covers, with a Clear margin around logo slider from 0 to 20 px for breathing room. Untick it and the logo sits directly on the dots — a look some brands prefer, but test it before you commit.
Why the code still scans with a logo on it
QR codes carry redundant data so they survive damage. There are four levels of that redundancy, and with a logo present we lock yours to the highest — H, roughly 30% recovery. In the Advanced section the other levels are greyed out with the note "Locked to H while a logo is present — the covered dots need the extra recovery budget." You cannot lower it while a logo is on the code, and you should not want to.
That budget is not unlimited. Past about 45% the slider label turns amber and warns you to test a printed copy before mass production. In practice:
- 20–30% — safe on almost anything, including small print.
- 30–45% — fine for screens and medium print; scan a proof first.
- 45–50% — only for large print you can test, and never on a code that also uses a dense pattern.
For the wider argument about logos and scan reliability, see our guide to QR codes with logos.
Common problems
The logo disappears into the background
A white or very light logo with Logo background set to None will vanish on a white code. Switch to Auto or Card, or supply a darker version of the mark.
The code scans on my phone but not on an older one
Shrink the logo. A 50% logo on a dense pattern leaves very little for a weaker camera to work with. Drop Logo size to 30%, keep Clear dots behind logo ticked, and re-test.
My logo has a transparent background and looks odd
Auto leaves transparent logos exactly as they are, which is usually right. If the mark then reads poorly against your dot colour, pick Card or Circle to put a white backdrop behind it.
I want the logo on a code I already printed
Edit the code, add the logo on the QR Design step and save. The new file looks different from the one you printed, but on a dynamic code both patterns lead to the same destination, so anything already in the wild keeps working. Use the new file from the next print run onwards. A static code cannot be changed at all.
Frequently asked questions
What file types can I upload as a logo?
Any standard image file, including PNG, JPEG and SVG, as long as it is under 2 MB. SVG logos are converted to an image when the code is rendered so the result opens correctly everywhere.
Can I lower error correction to make the code less busy?
Not while a logo is on the code — it is locked to H. Remove the logo and the L, M, Q and H buttons become selectable again in the Advanced section.
Does the logo appear in every download format?
Yes. JPEG, PNG, SVG and PDF are all rendered from the same saved design, so the logo is in all of them.
How big can the logo be?
Up to 50% of the code's width. Above 45% the wizard warns you to test a printed copy first, because that much coverage leans hard on the error-correction budget.
Can I use a logo on a static QR code?
Yes. Logos are a design setting and apply to static and dynamic codes alike. Bear in mind a static code cannot be edited afterwards.
Related articles
How do I change the colours, dot style and corners of a QR code?
Everything lives in the wizard's QR Design step: Themes for a one-click look, QR Code Style for dot pattern and colours, Corners for the three eyes.
What do error correction and pattern density do?
Error correction sets how much damage a code survives; density sets how many modules it is drawn with. Both live in Advanced on the QR Design step.
How do I test a QR code before sending it to print?
Scan the exported file and then the printer's physical proof with at least two phones, check the destination on mobile, and check the margin and contrast.
How do I add a "Scan me" frame or label to a QR code?
Open Frame on the QR Design step, pick one of 20 frames, then set the colours and type your own text in CTA Text. Frames come through in every download format.
Can I download my QR code as SVG, PDF or another vector format?
Yes. Open the code, click Download, and pick SVG in the Save as... dialog. JPEG, PNG and PDF are there too. Paid plans and the free trial get all four.
Still stuck?
Email support@qrcodestack.com with the email on your account and, if it is about one code, its name or short link. A person replies within one business day, usually sooner.