A vCard QR code for contact info turns a 5-second handshake into a saved contact. The scanner opens the digital card directly on their phone — name, phone, email, company, and address saved in one tap as a visiting-card QR code, no typing, no errors. This guide covers the vCard format, print sizing, logo overlay, and how to make a code that actually gets scanned.
How vCard QR codes work
A vCard QR code encodes contact details in the standard vCard 3.0 format (RFC 2426): name (N, FN), organisation (ORG), title, phone (TEL), email (EMAIL), website (URL), and address (ADR). Scanning on iOS opens the Contacts app to save; on Android, it opens the contact card in the default contacts app.
No app is required. Both iOS 11+ and Android 8+ natively decode vCard QR codes from the built-in camera. The contact is saved locally on the device — nothing is uploaded to a server.
The QRPress vCard generator builds the payload from structured fields and exports as PNG or SVG. Add your company logo with error correction level H (30% recovery) so the code still scans with the centre obscured.
Print sizing for business cards
Business cards are typically 3.5 cm × 2 inches (8.9 cm × 5.1 cm) or 3.5 cm × 3.5 cm (Indian standard). The QR code should be:
- Minimum 2 cm × 2 cm for reliable close-range scanning
- 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm recommended for comfortable scanning
- Position: bottom-right corner or back of card, with at least 2 mm quiet zone on all sides
Export the QR as vector SVG from the generator — SVG scales to any print size without pixelation. Raster PNG works at 300 DPI for standard card sizes.
Logo overlay and brand identity
Adding your company logo to the centre of the QR code makes it recognisably yours. The QRPress generator supports PNG, JPEG, and SVG logo upload up to 2 MB, composited at approximately 22% of the QR size.
Error correction level H ensures the code remains scannable even with the logo covering up to 30% of the modules. Do not exceed this coverage — the code will fail to scan.
Test the printed code before ordering a bulk card print. What looks clean on screen may have contrast issues on certain card stocks.
Why vCard QR beats a printed phone number
A printed phone number requires the contact to manually type it — introducing errors and friction. A vCard QR code transfers the complete contact record in one scan:
- Zero typing errors
- Includes all fields (phone, email, address, website, title)
- Saves directly to the phone’s contact book
- Works on any modern smartphone without an app
For networking events, trade shows, and sales teams, vCard QR codes on business cards consistently outperform manual entry on follow-up rates.