QR codes in emails
In an email, a link is usually better than a QR code: the reader can just tap it. QR codes earn their place when the reader is on a desktop and the action happens on the phone, such as installing an app, adding a pass, joining Wi-Fi or showing a code at an event.
Email clients block images by default, scale them unpredictably and strip some formats, so treat the code as a convenience next to a normal link, never as the only way in.
What to link from QR codes on emails
Install the app
A desktop reader scans the code with their phone to open the right app store.
Event confirmation
A code that opens the event page or venue map on the phone people bring to the event. Entry tickets still come from your ticketing system.
Wi-Fi for guests
Hotel or co-working welcome emails with a Wi-Fi code to scan from the laptop screen.
Continue on mobile
Hand off a sign-up or verification step that works better on a phone.
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.
App download page
Shows the App Store button on iPhones and the Google Play button on Android.
Opens the App Store or Google Play depending on the phone that scans it.
Build it in the dashboardWi-Fi QR code
Lets guests join the network by scanning the email on their laptop.
Open the Wi-Fi generatorEvent page
Date, time, venue, organiser and add-to-calendar links, plus an .ics file for any calendar app.
The event details, map and calendar buttons on the phone they'll carry.
Build it in the dashboardHow big to print it
| Where people scan | Distance | Minimum code width |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop screen | 50 cm (20 in) | 5.8 cm (2.3 in) |
| Desktop monitor | 70 cm (28 in) | 8.1 cm (3.2 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
- Embed the code as a PNG at 2× its display size (for example 400 px displayed at 200 px) so it stays sharp on high-density screens.
- Always add alt text and a normal link next to the code, for blocked images and mobile readers.
- Avoid SVG in email: many clients don't render it.
- On a screen, a code about 6 to 8 cm wide on screen scans comfortably from a laptop.
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:
- On your computer? Scan to get the app
- Scan to join the Wi-Fi
- Your event details on your phone
- Continue on your phone
QR codes on emails: FAQ
Should I put a QR code in a marketing email?
Only when the action belongs on the phone and many readers are on desktop. Otherwise a button converts better, because mobile readers can't scan their own screen.
What format should an email QR code be?
PNG, at twice the display size, with alt text. SVG and some CSS tricks don't render in many email clients.
Can I track scans from an email QR code?
Yes, with a dynamic code. Use a separate code from your print campaigns so the email's scans are counted on their own.