QR codes in books
Printed books can't be updated, but the pages a QR code opens can. Textbooks link to exercises and corrections, cookbooks to technique videos, travel guides to current opening times, and novels to the author's newsletter.
Books also have long lives on shelves and second-hand markets. A dynamic code keeps the link working through publisher website changes, and keeps the book selling the author's next one.
What to link from QR codes on books
Audio and video extras
Pronunciation in language books, techniques in cookbooks, exercises in fitness books.
Errata and updates
A code on the copyright page that opens corrections and updates for that edition.
Author pages
A code on the back page that opens the newsletter, the series list or the next book.
Reader resources
Worksheets, templates and discussion guides for book clubs and classrooms.
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 extras with a playlist per chapter, for language and music books.
Build it in the dashboardVideo page
A YouTube or Vimeo embed, or an uploaded MP4.
Technique videos for cookbooks and how-to books.
Build it in the dashboardLink list page
A mobile page of buttons: website, socials, booking, reviews and more.
The author page: newsletter, series, socials and reviews.
Build it in the dashboardHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Book open in the hand | 35 cm (14 in) | 4.1 cm (1.6 in) |
| Cover on a bookshop table | 60 cm (24 in) | 7.0 cm (2.7 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
- Keep codes away from the gutter, where the page curves into the binding.
- About 4 cm on a page is comfortable at reading distance; the back cover has room for a larger one.
- Don't place the code near the ISBN barcode on the back cover.
- Print the short URL under the code for readers of the paper edition who don't scan.
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:
- Hear it pronounced
- Watch the technique
- Corrections for this edition
- Get the next book first
QR codes on books: FAQ
Will the QR codes in my book still work in ten years?
Static codes always work, but the URL they hold may not. Dynamic codes let you change the destination if your site moves, and QRdx keeps them redirecting on every plan.
Can I see which chapters readers scan?
Yes, with one dynamic code per chapter or extra. Scans are counted per code, which shows which material readers use.
Do QR codes in books work in black and white printing?
Yes. Black codes on white paper are ideal. Avoid grey tints and halftone screens behind the code.