Surface guide
QR codes on letterheads and stationery
A QR code on business stationery should be 1.5–2 cm in the footer. Keep it out of the fold and out of the window area of a windowed envelope, and always print the URL as text as well.
| Typical scan distance | 20–30 cm |
|---|---|
| Minimum code width | 1.5–2 cm |
| Error correction | M |
Placement
- Footer, aligned with the other contact details.
- At least 10 mm from the trim edge — office printers drift, and a code clipped by a margin is dead.
- Never across the fold. A letter folded in three has creases at roughly 99 mm and 198 mm on A4; keep the code and quiet zone clear of both.
- If the letter goes into a windowed envelope, keep the code out of the window area — it will be read as part of the address block by automated sorting.
Invoices are the strongest use
An EPC QR code on a European invoice prefills the IBAN, amount and creditor reference. That removes transposed digits and speeds reconciliation — a genuine operational win, not a marketing gesture.
In Brazil, the equivalent is a PIX code with copia e cola printed alongside.
Office printing reality
Stationery is usually reprinted on a laser printer with the letter content. Toner spread on uncoated paper closes small gaps, so keep modules at 0.5 mm or above — which for a short URL means about 1.5 cm of code.
Always print the URL as text. Half of your correspondence is read on screen after scanning, where the code is useless.