QR codes on billboards and out-of-home ads
A QR code on a motorway billboard is a waste of ink: drivers can't and shouldn't scan. Codes on out-of-home ads work where people are on foot and standing still: bus shelters, station platforms, shopping centres, escalator panels and waiting areas.
Out-of-home is also hard to measure, which is where dynamic codes earn their keep. One code per site, each counted separately, tells you which sites drove action.
What to link from QR codes on billboards
Platform and shelter ads
People waiting for a train or bus have time and a phone in hand. A clear offer behind a code converts well here.
App installs
One code that opens the right app store for each phone.
Launches and teasers
A teaser poster that opens a countdown or waitlist, repointed to the product on launch day.
Local businesses
Shopping-centre and street-level panels that open directions and the current offer.
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.
Dynamic code per site
Measure every site separately, add UTM parameters on Pro, and repoint the code when the campaign changes.
Create a dynamic codeApp download page
Shows the App Store button on iPhones and the Google Play button on Android.
App campaigns with one code for App Store and Google Play.
Build it in the dashboardCoupon page
An offer with a code or barcode, validity dates, terms and a copy button.
A redeemable offer for nearby stores, counted per code.
Build it in the dashboardHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Bus shelter panel | 2 m (7 ft) | 23.2 cm (9.1 in) |
| Platform poster across the tracks | 6 m (20 ft) | 69.6 cm (27.4 in) |
| Large street-level billboard | 15 m (49 ft) | 1.74 m (5.7 ft) |
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
- Only add codes to sites where people stop or walk slowly; skip roadside sites aimed at drivers.
- Size for the real distance: from 6 m, about 70 cm; from 15 m, well over 1.5 m. If that's not possible, choose a closer site.
- Lower is better: put the code in the bottom third of the panel, where the people closest to it can see it.
- Test on site at different times of day; backlit panels and reflections behave differently at night.
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:
- Scan to get 20% off your first order
- Get the app: scan here
- Scan for directions
- Join the waitlist
QR codes on billboards: FAQ
How big should a QR code be on a billboard?
Roughly a tenth of the scanning distance, a little more for a short link: about 70 cm from 6 m, and over 1.7 m from 15 m. Most billboards aren't scanned from further than that.
Do QR codes on billboards work?
On walk-by and waiting sites, they can. On roadside billboards seen from a moving car, they don't, and you shouldn't encourage drivers to scan.
How do I measure billboard QR code scans?
Use one dynamic code per site. QRdx counts scans per code with time and city, so you can compare sites and times of day.