Download your QR code as PNG, SVG, PDF or vector
Raster for screens, vector for print. Transparent backgrounds, resolutions to 4096px and CMYK colour when the job goes to a commercial printer.
PNG free. SVG, PDF, CMYK and high resolution on paid plans.
Which format for which job
| Format | Type | Best for | Avoid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Raster | Web, email, slides, social, short-run digital print | Large-format print, any scaling up |
| SVG | Vector | Print artwork, signage, packaging, anything resized | Email clients and older CMS uploads |
| Vector | Sending to a commercial printer, embedding in InDesign | Web use | |
| EPS | Vector | Legacy print workflows that require it | Modern digital work |
| JPEG | Raster | Rarely the right answer for a QR code | Anything — compression artefacts blur module edges |
The short version: if it is going on paper, use SVG or PDF. If it is going on a screen, use PNG. Avoid JPEG for QR codes entirely — lossy compression softens the sharp edges the scanner depends on.
Transparent backgrounds
PNG and SVG both carry an alpha channel, so you can place a code over a coloured panel, a photograph or a textured background without a white box around it.
Two cautions. First, whatever sits behind the code still needs to give at least 4:1 contrast against the code itself — a transparent code over a busy photograph usually will not scan. Second, the quiet zone still applies even when it is invisible; leave four modules of clear space around the code regardless of whether that space is white or transparent.
Resolution and size
For raster downloads, choose the pixel dimensions to match the final printed size at 300 DPI rather than downloading once and resizing later.
| Final printed size | Pixels needed at 300 DPI | Recommended download |
|---|---|---|
| 2 cm (business card) | ~240 px | 512 px |
| 3 cm (menu, packaging) | ~350 px | 512 px |
| 10 cm (window sticker) | ~1,180 px | 1024–2048 px |
| 30 cm (poster) | ~3,540 px | 4096 px |
| 1 m+ (banner, billboard) | ~11,800 px | Use SVG or PDF instead |
Past roughly 30cm there is no sensible raster answer — switch to vector. See the print guide for sizing by scan distance.
Colour mode: RGB or CMYK
RGB is correct for anything viewed on a screen and is what you get by default.
CMYK matters when the job goes to offset or litho printing. A pure black in RGB converts to a four-colour build in CMYK, and if the press registration is even slightly off, the module edges blur and scan reliability drops. Supplying CMYK artwork with a single-channel black avoids the problem entirely. CMYK downloads are available on paid plans.
What each plan can download
| Free | Paid plans | |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Yes, 512px | Yes, up to 4096px |
| JPEG | No | Yes |
| SVG (vector) | No | Yes |
| No | Yes, A4 to A0 | |
| Colour modes | RGB | RGB and CMYK |
| Transparent background | Yes | Yes |
Paid plans start at $5/month, and every plan begins with a 7-day trial that does not ask for a card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I download my QR code as PNG or SVG?
Use SVG for anything going to print, because it is vector and stays sharp at any size. Use PNG for websites, email, slides and social media, where a raster image is simpler to place and file size matters.
Can I get a QR code with a transparent background?
Yes. PNG and SVG both support transparency, which is what you want when placing a code over a coloured panel or a photograph. Keep enough contrast behind it — a transparent code over a busy image usually fails to scan.
What is the largest size I can download?
Up to 4096 x 4096 pixels on paid plans, which covers everything up to large-format print. On the free tier downloads are PNG at 512px, which is fine for screens and small print but not for posters.
Do I need CMYK or RGB?
RGB for anything shown on a screen. CMYK for commercial offset or litho printing, so the black in your code prints as a single true black rather than a registration-sensitive four-colour build. CMYK downloads are available on paid plans.
Can I edit an SVG QR code in Illustrator?
Yes. The SVG is a normal vector file — you can recolour it, place it inside artwork and scale it freely. Avoid editing individual modules in the pattern itself, and never alter the three corner finder patterns.
Does the file format affect whether the code scans?
Indirectly. The format does not change the data, but a low-resolution raster file scaled up for print loses edge definition and starts failing to scan. That is the main reason to use vector for print.
Download in the format your job needs
One code, every format. Vector for the printer, PNG for the deck, transparent for the overlay.
PNG free. SVG, PDF, CMYK and high resolution on paid plans.