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QR code SVG or PNG: which file to download

Print: SVG. Screen: PNG.

1 min readLast reviewed

In short

Download SVG for anything printed — business cards, posters, packaging — because it is vector and stays perfectly sharp at any size. Download PNG for screens, slides, emails and documents, choosing a size larger than you need. In both cases, keep the white margin around the code.

Key takeaways

  • SVG: vector, sharp at any size, ideal for print.
  • PNG: pixels, universal, ideal for screens.
  • Never remove the white margin.

SVG

An SVG describes the code as shapes, not pixels. A printer or design software can enlarge it to a poster without blur. Most design tools and printers accept it.

PNG

A PNG is a grid of pixels. It is accepted everywhere — email, presentations, word processors, websites. Enlarging a small PNG makes it blurry, so download a large size, such as 1,024 or 2,048 pixels, and let it be scaled down.

Rules for any format

  • Keep the quiet zone: a white border of about four modules around the code.
  • Keep strong contrast: dark code on a light background.
  • On paper, at least 2 × 2 cm; larger if it will be scanned from a distance.

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