Export · PNG

PNG QR code generator

The format that works everywhere. Lossless compression keeps the edges hard, which is exactly what a decoder needs.

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Commercial use

Short answer

A PNG QR code is a lossless bitmap image. Unlike JPG, PNG never introduces compression artefacts around the module edges, so codes stay crisp and scannable. Export up to 4000 pixels wide, with an optional transparent background.

Which pixel width to export

Use	Export width	Why
Website or email	600 px	Sharp on a retina screen at typical display size
Office printer, A4 flyer	1000 px	Comfortably above 300 dpi at 40 mm
Business card	1200 px	Small physical size, high density needed
Poster, A2–A0	2400 px	Keeps 300 dpi at 200 mm wide
Exhibition banner	4000 px	Large-format printers often work at 150 dpi

The arithmetic: pixels needed = width in inches × dpi. A 40 mm code is 1.57 inches, so 300 dpi means 472 pixels minimum. Exporting well above the minimum costs nothing but disk space — but if the final size is over about 100 mm, use SVG instead and stop thinking in pixels.

Why JPG is the wrong choice here

JPG uses lossy compression tuned for photographs. It handles smooth gradients well and hard black-and-white edges badly, producing faint ringing artefacts — mosquito noise — around every module boundary. At normal sizes a scanner copes. Shrink the image, or save it a second time after an edit, and the artefacts compound until the threshold between light and dark modules becomes ambiguous.

Format	Compression	Edge quality	Use for QR
PNG	Lossless	Perfect	Yes
SVG	Vector, no pixels	Perfect at any size	Yes, best for print
JPG	Lossy	Artefacts around edges	Only when a platform demands it
WebP lossless	Lossless	Perfect	Fine, but less universally supported

The one legitimate reason to export JPG is a platform that rejects PNG uploads. The generator offers it for that case.

Frequently asked

What resolution should a printed QR code PNG be?

At least 300 dpi at the final printed size. A 40 mm code needs roughly 472 pixels; exporting at 1000 gives you comfortable headroom.

Is there a watermark on the download?

No. The file contains your code and nothing else.

Can I get a transparent background?

Yes — tick the transparent option in design settings before exporting. PNG supports full alpha transparency.

Why does my PNG scan on screen but not in print?

Usually size or contrast. Check the printed width against the module size guidance, and confirm the printer has not scaled the image down.

Keep going

Last reviewed 24 August 2026 · Checked by the QR Code Builder team