QR codes for museums and galleries
Wall labels in a museum hold about 60 words. Curators have far more to say, and visitors want different things: a child wants a story, a student wants the provenance, a blind visitor wants an audio description. A small code on the label can offer all three without crowding the wall.
Exhibitions rotate, loans come and go and research updates the text. Dynamic codes on labels and in the exhibition guide keep the content current without reprinting.
QR code ideas for museums and galleries
Audio and long-form labels
Each object label opens a page with an audio commentary, extra images and the curator's longer text.
Accessibility
Audio descriptions for blind and partially sighted visitors, transcripts for deaf visitors and easy-read versions, all from the same label.
Exhibition guide and map
A code at the entrance replaces the paper guide, with a gallery map and today's talks.
Membership and donations
A code by the exit or donation box opens your membership or donation page at the moment visitors feel most generous.
Which QR code to use
Static codes are free and need no account, but can't be changed after printing. Dynamic codes and hosted pages can be edited at any time, count every scan, and keep working on every plan, even if you cancel.
Audio page
An audio player with cover art and a playlist.
Audio commentary and audio descriptions per object, with a playlist for the whole room.
Build it in the dashboardImage gallery
A grid of photos with a full-screen viewer.
Detail shots, the back of a painting or an X-ray: images visitors can't see on the wall.
Build it in the dashboardEvent page
Date, time, venue, organiser and add-to-calendar links, plus an .ics file for any calendar app.
Talks, late openings and workshops with add-to-calendar buttons, on posters in the foyer.
Build it in the dashboardHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Object label | 50 cm (20 in) | 5.8 cm (2.3 in) |
| Gallery wall panel | 1.2 m (4 ft) | 13.9 cm (5.5 in) |
| Foyer poster | 2.5 m (8 ft) | 29.0 cm (11.4 in) |
For a dynamic short link such as https://qrdx.dev/q/aB3dE5f at error correction Q, without the blank margin. Static Wi-Fi, vCard or long URL codes hold more data and need to be larger. Check yours with the print size calculator and the scan checker.
Placement tips
- Gallery lighting is low to protect objects. Print labels with strong contrast and a matte finish; test under the actual lux levels.
- Put the code in the same corner of every label so visitors learn where to look.
- Mount labels at a height that works for wheelchair users and children (around 90 to 120 cm to the centre), and include a short room or object number for audio-guide users without phones.
- Codes on labels can stay small: about 6 cm works from half a metre with a short link, less if visitors lean in.
Call-to-action copy
A code with a reason to scan beside it gets more scans than a bare code. Lines to print next to yours:
- Listen to the curator
- Audio description of this work
- Gallery map and today's talks
- Support the museum
QR codes for museums and galleries: FAQ
Do museum QR codes replace audio guide devices?
For many visitors, yes: they use their own phone and headphones. Keep a few devices or printed guides for visitors without a smartphone, and make sure the audio works without logging in.
How do I know which exhibits visitors engage with?
Give each label its own dynamic code. QRdx counts scans per code and shows them over time, so you can compare objects and rooms, and see when visitors scan.
What happens to the codes when an exhibition closes?
Repoint them. Labels that travel with a loaned object can point at the next venue's page, and closed-exhibition codes can open a page about the collection online.