# How to make a branded QR code with logo (free) — Taproo > Step-by-step guide to making a branded QR code with your logo and colours that still scans. Includes the error-correction trick and a free generator. Source: https://www.taproo.com/help/how-to-make-a-custom-qr-code-with-logo Help Centre · QR design # How to make a custom QR code with your logo A branded QR code with your logo in the middle, your brand colours, and a reliable scan every time — here's the exact recipe (and the error-correction trick most generators get wrong). Open the free branded QR generator On this page What a branded QR isThe error-correction trickSix-step recipeColour & contrast rulesPrinting & sizingFAQs ## What a "branded" QR code actually is A branded QR code is a normal QR with three things changed: your logo sits in the middle, the colours match your brand, and the module shape (the little squares that make up the code) is often softened — rounded, dotted or pill-shaped. Underneath, it still encodes the same bits a black-and-white QR would, so any phone reads it the same way. The reason most homemade branded QRs fail to scan isn't the logo or the colour — it's that the generator wasn't told to use error-correction level H. That's the trick. ## The error-correction trick Every QR code has a built-in error-correction layer that lets phones still read it when part of the code is missing or covered. There are four levels: - L (Low) — ~7% recoverable. Don't add a logo at this level. - M (Medium) — ~15%. The default for most generators. A small logo might work; bigger ones break. - Q (Quartile) — ~25%. Better, but still risky once you add brand colours and a logo together. - H (High) — ~30%. The right choice for any branded QR. A 20–25% logo sits well within the recoverable area. Taproo's branded QR generator uses level H by default. If you're using a different tool, check the settings — the option is usually called "ECC", "error correction" or "redundancy". ## Six-step recipe - ### 1. Pick what the QR should open Most branded QRs point at a website, vCard, Instagram profile, menu, Wi-Fi join page or review prompt. Decide first — the destination URL determines the QR's data length and final density. - ### 2. Choose error-correction level H Level H (highest) tolerates ~30% of the QR being damaged or covered. That headroom is what lets a centred logo work without breaking the scan. Always pick H when adding a logo — never L or M. - ### 3. Add your logo (centred, 20–25% wide) Drop your logo into the middle of the QR. Keep it within 20–25% of the total width — bigger and you eat into the data area; smaller and it looks like an accident. A square or circular logo with a small white padding ring scans best. - ### 4. Set brand colours (with enough contrast) Pick a dark foreground colour (your brand primary) on a light background. Aim for at least 40% contrast — phones with cheap cameras struggle with low-contrast or inverted (light-on-dark) QRs. - ### 5. Test on three real phones before printing Generate the final PNG or SVG, display it on a screen at the actual print size, and scan with one iPhone, one modern Android, and one older Android. If any phone hesitates, increase the size or contrast. - ### 6. Download — or upgrade to dynamic Export a high-res PNG or vector SVG for free. If there's any chance the destination URL will change later, switch to a dynamic Taproo QR before printing — the printed code stays the same, but you can re-target it from your dashboard whenever you like. Shortcut: the free Taproo branded QR generator defaults to level H, lets you drop in a logo, set brand colours, and exports PNG/SVG/PDF — no signup required. ## Colour & contrast rules - Dark on light wins. Phone QR readers are tuned for dark modules on a light background. If you must invert, test obsessively. - ≥40% contrast. Use a contrast checker. Pastel-on-pastel and "tone-on-tone" branded QRs are the #1 reason scans fail. - No gradients on the modules. Gradients on the background are fine. Gradients on the actual data modules confuse some camera apps. - Quiet zone matters. Keep ~4 modules of empty space around the QR. Don't crop right up to the edge or overlay text on top. ## Printing & sizing The minimum reliable size is roughly scan-distance ÷ 10. So a QR scanned from 1 metre needs to be at least 10 cm wide; a poster scanned from across the room (3 m) needs about 30 cm. Branded QRs need a touch more — round up to the next 5 mm. For print, always export SVG (or PDF) so the code stays sharp at any size. PNGs are fine for digital use (Instagram bio, email signatures, slide decks). ### Business card 20–25 mm wide. Test at actual size before ordering 500 cards. ### Table card / menu 30–40 mm wide. Comfortable scan from arm's length. ### Window / shop sign 8–12 cm wide. Scannable from the pavement. ### Wall poster 25–35 cm wide for posters scanned from across a room. ## Frequently asked questions ### Will adding a logo stop my QR code from scanning? ### What size should the logo be inside the QR? ### Can I use any colour for a branded QR? ### What's the difference between a static and dynamic branded QR? ### What file format should I export — PNG or SVG? ### Do I need an account to make a branded QR code? ### Can I add a logo to a Wi-Fi or vCard QR too? ### How big should I print the QR code? ## What should your branded QR open? A QR is just a redirect — the destination is what people remember. Browse 13 ready-made templates, or pick one of the most popular below. Digital business card →Restaurant menu →Instagram / link-in-bio → See all 13 use cases → ## Try the free branded QR generator Logo, brand colours, level-H error correction, PNG/SVG export — all free, no signup, no watermark. Open the generatorOr order printed smart tagsBack to Help Centre