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--- Good QR code placement for a business card comes down to four decisions: how far away the person will be, how big the code is, how clear the space around it is, and whether the surface lets a phone camera read it. Get those right and a code on a van, a shop window, a box, a uniform, a lanyard or an email signature opens your MyInfo card in a second. Get them wrong and nobody scans it. This guide gives rules for each place, based on published QR guidance and the way phones actually behave, and it is honest about where we are giving practical judgement, not research.
Four rules that apply everywhere
Four rules explain almost every scanning failure.
Size follows distance. A widely used guideline is the 10 to 1 rule: the scanning distance should be no more than about ten times the width of the code. QR Planet gives the examples of a code about 2 cm wide for something held at around 20 cm, about 10 cm wide for a poster scanned from a metre, and about 1 metre wide for a billboard scanned from 10 metres. Our own QR code business card page suggests around 3 cm for print, which is a comfortable size for a hand-held card.
Leave a quiet zone. The QR standard, ISO/IEC 18004, requires a blank border around the code at least four modules wide, free of text, graphics and lines. A QRStuff explainer on the GS1 specification quotes that requirement. In practice, that means not putting a logo frame or a coloured box too close, and not cropping into the code.
Keep contrast high. Dark code on a light background is the safest combination. Avoid placing a code over a photo or a pattern, and avoid very pale colours.
Pick a flat, matte, reachable surface. The QR-Codes.com best practices guide advises placing codes at eye level, avoiding moving surfaces and confined spaces, and skipping curved or reflective surfaces, which cause scanning failures. It also says to test regularly. Those four themes show up in every section below.
Where does the code come from
Every MyInfo card has its own QR code, including on the free plan. Create your card if you have not yet, then tap Show QR Code, and take a screenshot to save the image; the steps are in share your card with a QR code. The code contains your card's address, not your details, so it never expires and it does not need replacing when you change your title, number or photo. That makes it safe to print on things that last, which matters for a van wrap or a window vinyl.
One caution: your card address is permanent once claimed, so choose it with care before anything is printed; see choose a card address that people remember.
Car and van
A QR code on a vehicle looks tempting, especially for trades, couriers and delivery fleets, but it is the hardest placement to get right.
First, the law. In the UAE, stickers and writing on a vehicle generally need prior approval. Dubizzle's explainer cites Federal Traffic Law No. 21 of 1995 and Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017, says companies must obtain approval for promotional stickers, and says the Roads and Transport Authority handles approvals in Dubai, with fines of AED 500 reported for unauthorised stickers. Rules differ by emirate and change, so check with the relevant traffic authority and your sign maker before ordering a wrap. We are not giving legal advice.
Second, the physics. A car is scanned from other cars, from pavements and from car parks, usually at a distance. By the 10 to 1 rule, a code scanned from 3 metres needs to be about 30 cm wide. Put it on a flat panel such as a van's rear door or side, not across a curve or a panel joint, and use a matt finish; glossy vinyl reflects sun and streetlights.
Third, safety. Do not encourage anyone to scan while driving, and do not place a code where it competes with brake lights or obstructs windows. A code is most useful on a parked vehicle, a delivery van at a customer's door or a service truck at a site.
Fourth, make the code a backup. Print your short card address in large text next to it, such as myinfo.ae/yourname, so someone can type it or remember it. A card address that is easy to say, covered in the article above, matters more on a vehicle than anywhere else.
Shop window
A shop window is a good place for a QR code because passers-by can scan at leisure, but glass creates its own problems.
Put the code at hand or eye height, not at the very top or the very bottom of the glass. The guidance to place codes at eye level applies here. A sticker on the inside of the glass, facing out, is protected from weather and cleaning. Check how it looks at different times of day, because sun glare and the reflection of passing traffic can make a code unreadable for hours. A matte vinyl and a white background panel behind the code help, and so does a light that does not shine directly on it at night.
Choose the size by where people stand. Someone on a pavement about a metre from the glass needs a code about 10 cm wide. A window on a wide walkway, where people stand further back, needs more. Add a short line, such as "Scan to save our contact", so people know what happens next. Make sure shelves, stock, posters or a queue line do not block the spot where people would stand, and if your glass is tinted or has security film, scan-test from outside before you print the final size.
For shops and restaurants, we suggest a second code on the counter, where people stand and wait. That is also where an NFC stand works well. See digital business cards for restaurants and cafes for more ideas.
Packaging and bags
Packaging works because the customer already holds your product. The QR code turns the box into a way to reach you again.
Find a flat area with no seam, fold, zip or curve. A code that straddles a crease can fail. The qr-codes.com guide warns that uneven packaging and glossy finishes cause failures, so choose a matte label or a matt area of the box. Keep the code at least about 2 cm wide, since QR Planet's guidance of 20 mm for a hand-held distance is a sensible floor, and give it a clear border.
Think about what the customer wants. A code on a food bag that links to your whole card is fine, but a line like "Scan to reorder on WhatsApp" is more compelling than a bare square. A MyInfo card can carry a WhatsApp button, a booking link and your business details; see best links to put on a digital business card and add a booking or payment link to your card.
If the packaging is printed in large runs, do not skip the proof. Print a sample on the real material, then scan it with two phones before approving the batch.
Uniform
A uniform code is useful for staff who meet customers face to face, such as delivery drivers, technicians, salon staff and reception teams.
Chest height is the most natural place, because a person holding a phone can reach it without a stoop. A back-of-shirt code is hard to scan unless the person is standing still, so we suggest using it only where people wait in a queue behind staff. Avoid sleeves, where the fabric curves and moves.
Printing method matters. Heat-transfer or screen-printed codes keep sharp edges. Embroidery can blur the small squares and is a poor choice for a code under about 5 cm. Fabric wrinkles, so test after the garment has been worn and washed once.
There is a people question too. Ask staff whether they are comfortable having a code on their uniform and which card it points to. A company card with a shared theme works well for uniform codes, while a personal card, for example one for a stylist who takes private bookings, suits individuals. Whichever you choose, check what each card shows publicly; see what is public on a digital business card.
Lanyard and badge
A lanyard is the standard way to carry an event badge, and it is a good place for a code, with a few traps.
A lanyard spins. If you print a code on one side of a badge, half the time it faces the wearer. Print on both sides, or use a badge holder that stays put. Keep the code clear of the clip, the hole and any fold, and give it a clean border; the sizing and contrast tips on our QR code business card page apply directly. A code about 3 cm wide fits on most standard badge cards and is easy to scan at arm's length.
For events, many people also keep the code on their phone, ready to show. Our guide to putting your QR code on a phone lock screen or badge covers it, and a digital card plan for GITEX puts it into a full event setup. Exhibition lighting can reflect off a laminated badge, so test it under the lights you will be using.
Email signature
The email signature is the odd one out, because a QR code is the wrong tool for most signature readers.
If someone reads your email on their phone, they cannot scan a code that is on the same screen. They need a link. If they read it on a desktop, a QR code can help, but only if their email client shows images, because some clients hide images until the reader allows them. For most people, a plain link such as "View my digital business card" is better, and it works on every device. Our guide to adding your digital business card to your email signature shows how to set it up.
If you still want a code in a signature, make it the right size for a screen, not a tiny thumbnail, and always place the text link beside it. For signatures, the link is the main route and the code is a bonus.
Add a call to action and check the destination
A bare code asks people to guess. A short line removes the guess: "Scan to save our contact", "Scan to message us on WhatsApp", or "Scan to see our menu". Choose one action and make sure your card delivers it as soon as it opens. In the UAE, a line in both Arabic and English reaches more people.
The destination matters as much as the code. Most scans happen on a phone, so the card page should be quick to load and clear at a glance. A card with a short bio, a few buttons and a Save Contact button is better than a long page. See what to put on a digital business card and digital business card mistakes to avoid.
Test, measure and maintain
Test every placement before you commit to a large print.
Scan with an iPhone and an Android phone. Scan from the distance a real person would use. Scan in daylight, in shade and at night where relevant. Scan after the item has been handled, washed or cleaned. A code that scans on your screen proof may fail on gloss vinyl.
If you want to know which placement works, create a separate card address for each, such as one for the van and one for the window, and compare visits using Premium analytics. Analytics show counts of visits, not who visited, so treat them as a guide. See duplicate a card for a second business and read your analytics. Because the code points to your card address, you can edit the card behind it any time without reprinting.
A phone screenshot is fine for a card, but enlarging a small image blurs its edges, so for posters, wraps and window vinyl ask your printer how to supply a sharp version and scan-test the proof. Re-test every few months, because stickers fade and vinyl peels. A broken code is worse than none.
Frequently asked questions
How big should a QR code be on a business card or sign?
For a hand-held printed card, about 3 cm wide is a comfortable size, and about 2 cm is a practical floor. For anything scanned from further away, use the 10 to 1 rule: the scanning distance should be no more than about ten times the code's width, so a code scanned from 1 metre should be about 10 cm wide. Always leave a clear border of at least four modules, use dark on light, and test with more than one phone.
Should I put a QR code on my car?
Only if it is permitted and sensible. Stickers and writing on vehicles in the UAE generally need approval, so check with the relevant traffic authority and your sign maker first. Put the code on a flat, matt area, make it large enough for the distance, and print your short card address beside it. Do not encourage scanning while driving. A code is most useful on parked vans and service vehicles at a customer's site.
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