Which Export Format Should You Choose for a QR Code
The format you export a QR code in decides whether it survives the journey from your screen to the printed page. A QR code is a grid of perfectly sharp squares, and any format that softens those edges makes the code harder to read. Vector formats keep edges mathematically sharp at every size, while raster formats store a fixed grid of pixels that can blur when enlarged. Understanding that single distinction will prevent most export mistakes, because the right choice is almost always the format that preserves sharp edges at the size you will actually print.
SVG is the best choice for professional print, signage, packaging, and anything that might be resized later. Because SVG describes the code as shapes rather than pixels, a designer can place it on a business card or a billboard without any loss of sharpness. It also stays tiny in file size and can be recolored or edited in design software. The main limitation is that some simple tools, such as basic office programs or social media uploaders, do not accept SVG. In those cases, export a PNG at a generous pixel size instead of fighting the tool.
PNG is the right choice for web pages, slides, documents, and quick proofs. Pick the pixel size from the final use, not from habit. A good rule is to multiply the printed size in inches by 300 to get the pixels you need: a code printed two inches wide needs about 600 pixels, so the 1024 pixel export covers it comfortably. Exporting a 512 pixel PNG and stretching it to six inches wide is one of the most common ways to produce a blurry, slow-scanning code. When in doubt, export larger than you need, because shrinking a sharp PNG is harmless while enlarging a small one is not.
PDF is the right choice when you need a single self-contained page to print or email: a handout, a table tent, a noticeboard sheet, or a proof for a client. The PDF from this tool places one code on an A4 page with its content printed above it and a short scan note below, which makes it easy to check and file. For a full production print run, however, give the printer the SVG or a high-resolution PNG and let them place it in the layout, because a one-code-per-page PDF is a proofing format, not a press format. Avoid JPEG entirely for QR codes: its compression smears the sharp edges between black and white squares.
Whichever format you choose, finish with the same verification. Open the exported file, not just the on-screen preview, and confirm the code looks crisp at its final size. Print one copy if it will be printed, and scan it with a real phone in the lighting where it will live. Check that the quiet zone survived the export: some design tools crop images to their content box, which can silently trim the white margin. If the margin looks thin or uneven in the exported file, add padding before you send it anywhere, because a cropped quiet zone is a broken code.