# 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.

Source: https://useqr.app/qr-codes-on/stationery · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

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| 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](/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](/pix-qr-code) 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.

## Try it

- https://useqr.app/url
- https://useqr.app/size-calculator
- https://useqr.app/validate