Contact QR code generator

What happens when someone scans it

The code holds a vCard, the standard format for contact details. When it is scanned, the phone shows a preview of the contact and offers to add it to the address book. The person can check the details before saving, and everything is read straight from the code, without an internet connection.

Filling in the fields

Fill in only what you want to share; empty fields are left out of the code. Enter the phone number in international format, such as +49 30 1234567, so it works for people from other countries. Spaces, dashes and brackets are removed for you. For the website, https:// is added if you leave it out. Every field you add makes the pattern denser, so on small cards the essentials (name, phone and email) scan most reliably.

Where contact codes work well

• Business cards, so new contacts don't have to type your details
• Name badges at conferences and trade fairs
• Email signatures, CVs and portfolio PDFs
• Reception desks and shop counters, for a direct line to the right person

If your details change, make a new code. Printed cards keep the old details, so it is worth keeping a few blank cards for updates.

Designing a contact code

Contact codes hold more data than a link, so their patterns are denser. On a business card, make the code as large as the layout allows, keep the white border around it and use dark ink on a light card. A short call to action such as “Save my contact” tells people what the code does. If you add your logo, error correction rises to H, which makes the pattern denser still, so test the printed card with a phone. Download an SVG or PDF to hand to your printer.