Practical guide
Restaurant QR codes: where should they go and how large should they be?
Place the QR code where a guest can hold their phone steadily: table, counter, printed menu or entrance. Validate its size at full scale for the intended distance, code density and material. Keep a clear margin and test the finished support before the full print run.
Which placements work?
| Situation | Useful placement | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Table service | Table stand or a clear area on the menu | Wet coaster or curved edge |
| Counter ordering | Near the queue, before the decision point | Behind staff or too high |
| Window or entrance | Readable height with a clear instruction | Direct glare and excessive distance |
| Takeaway | Receipt, flyer or durable packaging | Temporary address with no context |
How should size be determined?
Print several samples from the same file at full scale and scan them from the expected distance. A denser QR code, because its address contains more characters, may require more surface area than a simpler pattern.
Paper quality, printing method, lamination and lighting also affect the result. A single dimension cannot replace testing on the finished support.
Which visual rules must be preserved?
- Dark pattern on a light background, or an equivalent tested contrast.
- An untouched quiet zone on every side.
- No text, logo or artwork over useful modules.
- A square that is not stretched by the layout.
- A short instruction and identifiable destination.
- A public destination that opens without signing in.
What should happen before printing?
- Create the public menu and stabilise its address.
- Generate the QR code from that exact address.
- Place it in the artwork without cropping or stretching.
- Print a prototype with the intended finish.
- Test several phones over Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Only then approve the full print run.
What should be checked after installation?
- The support remains clean and unscratched.
- The destination still responds over HTTPS.
- The content matches the menu currently served.
- Scans from the entrance and table open the expected experience.
- A redirect is prepared before any domain or address change.
Frequently asked questions
Does every table need a different QR code?
Not when every table opens the same menu. Separate codes are useful only when a feature or measurement genuinely needs to identify the location.
Sources and review
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