# PNG QR code generator

> Download a QR code as a PNG at up to 4000 px. Lossless, sharp edges, optional transparent background. Free with no watermark.

Source: https://qr-code-build.com/qr-code-png/  
Last reviewed: 2026-08-24  
Publisher: QR Code Builder

## Summary
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](/qr-code-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 questions
### 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.

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Licence: this page may be quoted with attribution to QR Code Builder (https://qr-code-build.com/qr-code-png/).