A plain black-and-white QR code works, but a code with your logo in the middle looks like part of your brand — and people are more likely to trust and scan it. The catch: a logo covers part of the pattern, so add it carelessly and the code stops scanning.
Why a QR code can still scan with a logo on it
A QR code isn't just the data — it also contains extra redundant data called error correction. If part of the code is dirty, torn or covered, the scanner uses that redundancy to rebuild what's missing. A logo in the center is really just a deliberate, tidy "damage" the code is built to survive.
There are four error correction levels:
| Level | Roughly recovers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L (Low) | ~7% of the code | Clean, simple codes with no logo |
| M (Medium) | ~15% | General use — the usual default |
| Q (Quartile) | ~25% | Codes with a small logo |
| H (High) | ~30% | Codes with a logo, or printed on rough surfaces |
Higher levels survive more damage, but they also pack in more redundant data, so the pattern becomes denser. That's the trade-off: more protection, more visual "noise".
How big can the logo be?
Keep it smaller than you think. As a rule of thumb, based on the width of the QR code:
- Level L: up to about 10% of the width
- Level M: up to about 15%
- Level Q: up to about 20%
- Level H: up to about 25%
Anything larger and you risk covering more of the code than error correction can rebuild. When in doubt, choose level H and keep the logo well under the limit.
How to add a logo to your QR code
- Open the QR Code Generator and pick a content type — most people choose URL.
- Enter your link or details.
- Upload your logo (PNG, JPG or SVG) and adjust its size. The tool automatically recommends a higher error correction level and flags a logo that's too large.
- Set your colors if you like, keeping strong contrast between the code and its background.
- Download the result as PNG for screens or SVG for print.
Everything happens in your browser, so your link and your logo are never uploaded anywhere.
Common mistakes
- Making the logo too big. The most frequent cause of a code that won't scan.
- Low contrast. Light-grey code on a white background, or a dark code on a dark background, is hard for cameras to read. The pattern should be clearly darker than the background.
- Inverting the colors. Some scanners struggle with a light code on a dark background. If you do it, test it on more than one phone.
- Skipping the test. Always scan the finished code with at least two different phones before printing it on anything.
- Printing too small. Even a perfect code fails if it's a few millimetres wide. A common guideline is at least 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) per side for a code scanned at close range.
FAQ
Will a logo stop my QR code working? Not if it's small enough and the error correction level is high enough. A well-sized logo on a level Q or H code scans just as reliably as a plain one.
What's the best error correction level for a logo? Level H gives the most headroom, and Q is a good middle ground. Level L and M leave little room for a logo.
Should I download PNG or SVG? Use PNG for websites, slides and social posts. Use SVG for anything printed — it's a vector format, so it stays sharp at any size, from a business card to a poster.
Does a QR code with a logo expire? The code made by this generator is static: the link is encoded directly in the pattern, so it keeps working as long as the page it points to exists.
Make your own
Ready to try it? Open the QR Code Generator — free, no sign-up. To check a code you've already made, use the QR Code Scanner.
Related reading
Planning a code for a shop or cafe? See 5 Tips for Creating Professional QR Codes for Small Businesses. Browse the full blog for more guides.