How to Add a Custom Logo to a QR Code Without Breaking Scan Reliability

1. The 30% Damage Budget

Embedding a company logo inside a QR code relies on Reed-Solomon error correction. At Level H, up to 30% of the symbol's codewords can be completely obliterated while still permitting 100% mathematical recovery.

However, good engineering requires you to never consume the entire 30% budget with your logo: * Recommended Logo Area: Keep your central logo within 15% to 20% of the total surface area. * Reserve Safety Headroom: Leaving 10% to 15% of unused error correction capacity protects against physical dirt, surface scratches, and lens flare.

2. Forbidden Zones: Never Obscure Finder or Timing Patterns

Never place logos or graphics over: 1. The three corner Finder Patterns or their 1-module separators. 2. The horizontal and vertical Timing Tracks along row 6 and column 6. 3. The Format Information Bits bordering the finder patterns.