Quick answer
Point your menu QR code at a web address that stays the same when the menu changes, like yourrestaurant.com/menu, and update that page instead of reprinting codes. Print it about 1.5 to 2 inches wide on table tents, label it clearly, and keep paper menus available for guests who prefer them.
On this page
A menu QR code lets guests pull up your menu on their own phone, from the table, without waiting. Setting one up is quick. The decisions that matter are where the code points, how you print it, and what happens when the menu changes.
Where the code should link
Your QR code is only as good as the page it opens. Before you make the code, decide where your menu will live online.
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| A menu page on your website | Easy reading on phones, text fits the screen | You need a website you can edit |
| A PDF of your menu | Quick to set up from the file you already print | Guests may need to pinch and zoom, and large files load slowly |
| A page on your ordering or reservation platform | Menus that are already kept up to date there | Make sure the address is a permanent one |
A few tips whichever you choose:
- Use real text, not a photo of the menu. Text can be zoomed, resized and read by screen readers. A photo of a printed page often can’t.
- Keep PDFs light. Export at a sensible size so the file opens quickly on a phone with weak signal.
- Match the printed menu. Prices, specials and allergen notes should say the same thing online and on paper.
Plan for menu changes
This is the step that saves you a reprint later. KeptLink makes static QR codes, which never expire but can’t be edited after printing. The code will always open the exact address you put in it.
So point the code at an address that stays the same when the menu changes, like yourrestaurant.com/menu, and update what’s on that page. If you use a PDF, check that your website or file host keeps the same link when you upload a new version. Some services create a brand new link for each upload, and that would break your printed code.
A KeptLink dynamic code can also be pointed somewhere new after printing, so a new menu link never means new table signs. Our static vs dynamic QR codes guide explains the difference.
Keep a printed menu for guests who prefer it
A QR code should be an option, not the only way to see your menu. Some guests simply prefer paper. Others have a phone with a dead battery, no data plan, poor signal inside your building, or eyesight that makes small screens hard to read.
- Keep a stack of printed menus at the host stand
- Add a line to your table tent like “Paper menus available, just ask”
- Train staff to offer one without making it awkward
Guests who want the code will use it, and guests who don’t will still feel welcome.
Table tents and placement
Table tents are the most common home for a menu code, but the same ideas work for stickers, coasters and check presenters.
- Put it where it’s seen. The center of the table or next to the condiments, facing the seats.
- Label it clearly. A frame with call-to-action text like “SCAN FOR MENU” tells guests what the code does before they scan. KeptLink’s frames let you add this text right around the code.
- Print on both sides of a tent so everyone at the table can reach it.
- Mind the glare. Glossy lamination can reflect overhead lights straight into the camera. A matte finish scans more easily.
- Replace worn copies. Stains, scratches and bent corners make codes harder to read.
If you also offer guest WiFi, a second code on the other side of the tent works well. See our WiFi QR code guide.
Size and design
Guests usually scan a table tent from 12 to 20 inches away, so the code should be about 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) wide. For a sign at the door or a poster by the host stand that people scan from a few feet away, go bigger. The QR code size guide has a full chart, and our generator includes a calculator that works out the size from the scanning distance.
You can match the code to your brand with colors, gradients, dot styles, corner styles and your logo. Keep these in mind:
- Dark on light scans best. KeptLink blocks color pairs below 4.5:1 contrast and warns if you use a light code on a dark background. Our QR code colors guide explains why.
- Keep the white border. Phones need the quiet zone around the code to find it.
- Download for print. Use SVG or PDF so the code stays sharp. PDFs come at exactly 1, 2 or 3 inches wide.
Before you print for every table, print one tent, set it on a table in your dining room, and scan it with a couple of different phones in your actual lighting. When the preview shows “Scans reliably in our check” and it works at the table, you’re ready.
Make your menu code with the website QR code generator. It’s free, with no signup and no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Should my menu QR code link to a PDF or a web page?
A web page is usually easier to read on a phone because the text fits the screen. A PDF works too, but guests may need to pinch and zoom. Either way, link to an address that will stay the same when you update the menu.
What size should a QR code on a table tent be?
About 1.5 to 2 inches (4 to 5 cm) wide. Guests usually scan a table tent from 12 to 20 inches away, and the code should be about one tenth of that distance.
Do I need a new QR code every time my menu changes?
Not if the code points to a page or file address that stays the same. Update the menu at that address and the printed code keeps working. You only need a new code if the address itself changes.
Should I still have paper menus?
Yes. Some guests prefer paper, and others may have a dead battery, no data signal, or trouble reading small screens. Keep printed menus available and let guests know they can ask.