Quick answer
You can put a logo in the middle of a QR code because QR codes have built-in error correction that rebuilds the covered part. Keep the logo in the center and no wider than about 30% of the code, keep strong contrast, and test a printed copy with more than one phone before printing many.
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A logo in the middle of a QR code tells people at a glance that the code belongs to your business. The good news is that a logo doesn’t have to break the code. You just need to understand how much space it’s allowed to take and give it a fair test before you print.
Why a QR code still works with a logo on it
Every QR code has error correction built in. Part of the code stores backup information, so a phone can still read it even if some of the small squares (called modules) are missing, dirty or covered.
There are four levels of error correction:
| Level | Roughly how much damage it can recover from |
|---|---|
| L | about 7% |
| M | about 15% |
| Q | about 25% |
| H | about 30% |
A logo placed over the code covers modules on purpose. The phone treats that area as damage and rebuilds the missing data using the backup information. That works, but it uses up the margin that would otherwise protect the code from a scratch, a fold or a reflection.
That’s why KeptLink switches your code to the highest level, H, as soon as you add a logo. It gives the logo the most room to work with.
How big can the logo be?
Smaller is safer. A logo that covers a modest area in the center leaves plenty of error correction for real-world wear. A logo that covers too much leaves nothing spare, and the code may fail as soon as the print is slightly blurry or the light is poor.
KeptLink limits logos to 30% of the code’s width. If you upload a bigger image, it shrinks the logo to fit and tells you. You can always go smaller than the limit, and for small prints like business cards, a smaller logo is a good idea.
A few other size tips:
- Keep the logo in the center. Never place it over the three large squares in the corners (the finder patterns). Phones use them to locate the code.
- If your code is dense, for example a contact card with lots of fields, the modules are smaller and a logo hides more of them. Consider a shorter link or fewer fields.
- A code with a logo benefits from being printed a little larger. Our QR code size guide has a chart to help.
Give the logo room and contrast
The logo itself doesn’t need to be scanned, but it shouldn’t make the code around it harder to read.
- Use a simple version of your logo. A symbol, monogram or icon works better than a full wordmark with a tagline. Small text becomes unreadable at 1 inch wide anyway.
- Leave a little clear space around it. A logo with a small built-in margin looks cleaner and doesn’t cut modules in half along its edges.
- Keep the code itself high contrast. Dark modules on a light background matter far more than the logo’s colors. If you’re using brand colors for the code, read our guide to QR code colors that work.
- Don’t stack every effect at once. A logo, a light gradient and unusual dot shapes each take a little away from scanning reliability. Together they can add up.
Adding a logo in KeptLink
Adding a logo takes less than a minute, and there’s no signup.
- Open the website QR code generator and enter your link.
- Upload your logo as a PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG file.
- Check the preview. If the logo was shrunk to fit the 30% limit, you’ll see a note.
- Adjust colors, dots and corner styles if you want, keeping the contrast strong.
- Download as PNG, SVG or PDF.
Your logo stays in your browser. The code is generated on your device, and nothing you type or upload is sent to KeptLink’s servers. SVG logos are cleaned of scripts, and every logo is converted to a PNG image inside the code, so a crisp, reasonably large source file gives the best result.
Test before you print
The preview shows a live scan check. When it says “Scans reliably in our check”, that means it could read the code on your screen. It’s a good sign, but a screen isn’t paper.
Before printing a full run:
- print one copy at the final size
- scan it with at least two different phones, including an older one if you can
- try it at the distance and in the light your customers will actually have
Remember that a static QR code can’t be edited after it’s printed, so this five-minute test is worth it. If the printed copy struggles, make the logo smaller, print the code larger, or see our list of fixes for a QR code that won’t scan.
Frequently asked questions
Does adding a logo make a QR code harder to scan?
A little. The logo covers part of the code, and the code relies on its built-in error correction to fill in the gap. That leaves less margin for smudges, glare and poor light, so keep the logo small and test a printed copy.
How big can a logo be in a QR code?
Keep it to about 30% of the code's width or less. KeptLink won't place a logo wider than that. If you upload a larger one, it shrinks it and tells you.
What file format should my logo be?
You can upload PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG. SVG logos are cleaned of any scripts, and every logo is converted to a PNG image inside the code, so start with a sharp, reasonably large file.
Can I put my logo over the corner squares?
No. The three big squares in the corners are how phones find the code. Covering or crowding them is one of the quickest ways to make a code unreadable. The logo belongs in the center.