# Version

> A QR code's version is its size: version 1 is 21 × 21 modules and each step adds 4 modules per side, up to version 40 at 177 × 177. The encoder picks the smallest version that fits your data at your chosen error-correction level.

Source: https://useqr.app/glossary/version · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

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## The formula

Modules per side = **17 + 4 × version**.

| Version | Modules | Version | Modules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | 10 | 57 |
| 2 | 25 | 15 | 77 |
| 3 | 29 | 20 | 97 |
| 5 | 37 | 30 | 137 |
| 7 | 45 | 40 | 177 |

## Version is not a format revision

This is a common misreading. "Version" here means physical size, not a specification
revision. There is no "newer version" of a QR code to upgrade to.

## Why you should care

Version drives everything downstream: more modules mean smaller modules at the same
printed size, which means a higher-resolution camera or a closer scan. Shortening the
payload is the cheapest way to make a code scan better, because it drops the version.