PDF QR code generator
Paste your PDF link and download a free code that never expires. Or make it art and dynamic: change the link after printing and see every scan.
Upload the PDF to Google Drive, Dropbox or your website and copy a public "anyone with the link" share link.
Make it art and keep it editable
The free code above prints your link as-is. With Art QR Codes you get a painted code that three decoders test before you see it, a link you can change after printing, and a count of every scan.
Tips for PDF codes
- Check the link in a private browser window: if it asks you to sign in, scanners will see that too.
- With a dynamic code you can replace the PDF with a new version under the same printed code.
- Print at least 1 in wide for arm's length, 2 in on tables, 8 in or more on signs read from a distance.
Garden Path
Estate wedding venue, Hudson Valley NY, 2026
Formal garden artwork over a QR code, error correction H.
- Prints
- 1.25 in to 12 in
- Tested
- 10 of 10 core, 5 of 6 stress
- Opens
- a page that counts your scan
Suggested style for PDF: Ink & paper.
PDF QR codes: the facts
- What the code holds
- A link to the PDF, not the file itself. Host it on your site, Google Drive (shared as "Anyone with the link") or Dropbox, and paste that link.
- Print size
- 1 in on handouts, 2 in on counter and table cards, 4 in on signs.
- Scan distance
- In hand for handouts; 3 to 5 ft for signs.
- What breaks it
- Sharing settings and file size. A Drive file switched to "Restricted" shows a sign-in page to everyone who scans; a 20 MB PDF stalls on a phone. Keep it under about 2 to 5 MB.
Questions
Can a QR code hold a PDF file?
No. A QR code holds at most about 3 KB, so it holds a link to the PDF. The phone opens the PDF from that link.
How do I update the PDF without reprinting?
With a dynamic code, upload the new file and point the code at it. On Google Drive you can also use "Manage versions" to replace the file under the same link.
Can I change where my PDF QR code goes after printing?
Yes, if you make it dynamic. The printed code points at a short link we keep for you, and you can change the destination any time from your dashboard. A free static code prints the link itself and can never change.
Can my PDF QR code look like art?
Yes. We paint it in a style you choose, then test it with three decoders under 16 print and phone conditions before you can download it.
Does it expire?
Free static codes never expire. Dynamic codes keep redirecting to your last link even if you cancel your plan.