QR codes for product packaging
Packaging is the least forgiving surface you'll ever print — long runs, curved surfaces, and no second chances. It's also where a QR code earns the most: manuals, registration, reorder links, and recall notices, all reachable from the box. Get the geometry right once, keep the destination editable forever.
example carton code at EC level H — points back at this page
In the editor: Pick the URL type and switch on Dynamic. Point it at the product page today; if regulations, manuals, or ownership change mid-shelf-life, the printed run follows your edit.
Three tips from the print shop.
Send vector to the press
Flexo and offset printing want EPS or PDF, not pixels. Export the code as true vector so the modules hold their edges at any scale — a fuzzy PNG on a million boxes is an expensive lesson.
Respect the curve and the quiet zone
On bottles and tubes, keep the code on the flattest face and under a third of the circumference. Leave a quiet zone of at least four module widths clear on all sides.
Use error correction H if you add a logo
Level H tolerates up to 30% damage — enough for a centered logo and the scuffs of a supply chain. The editor raises it automatically when you drop a logo in.
Asked before every print run.
Which export format does my printer want?
Ask, but it's almost always vector — EPS for prepress workflows, PDF or SVG otherwise. QRForge exports all three on Pro, generated from the exact module geometry.
How small can the code go on a box?
Keep it at or above 1.5 × 1.5 cm for close-range scanning, larger if the surface is curved or textured. Always run a test print and scan it with several phones before the full run.
Can I change where the code points after production?
With a dynamic code, yes — instantly and for every unit in the field. That's the difference between a recall notice reaching customers and a dead link on a million boxes.
Also printing for restaurant menus, wi-fi, business cards or instagram?
Print it once. Point it anywhere.
Design the code in the editor, export it print-ready, and keep the destination in your hands long after the ink dries.