Branded QR Codes: Custom Colors, Logos & Design Guide
Guides10 min read

Branded QR Codes: Custom Colors, Logos & Design Guide

MMarc (Product)
February 15, 2026
10 min read

A plain black-and-white QR code works — but it does nothing for your brand. Custom branded QR codes with your colors, logo, and design style get scanned up to 80% more often and instantly tell people who they're connecting with. Here's how to create them for free.

Why Branded QR Codes Get More Scans

Research consistently shows that customized QR codes outperform generic ones. When people see a branded code, they trust it more — and trust drives action.

Higher scan rates

Branded QR codes see 50-80% more scans than plain black-and-white codes. Color and logos signal legitimacy and attract attention.

Instant brand recognition

Your customers recognize your brand before they even scan. That split-second recognition builds trust and reduces hesitation.

Professional appearance

A custom QR code on your packaging, business card, or poster looks intentional — not like an afterthought pasted on at the last minute.

Better tracking insights

When paired with dynamic QR codes, branded designs help you track which campaigns, locations, and materials drive the most engagement.

Consistent brand experience

Every touchpoint matters. A branded QR code ensures your offline materials match your digital presence — same colors, same logo, same feeling.

Competitive differentiation

Most businesses still use generic codes. A branded QR code immediately sets you apart and signals that you care about details.

QR-Verse Customization Tools

QR-Verse gives you a full design studio for your QR codes — no design degree required. Every feature works on the free plan with no watermarks.

Color Picker & Presets

Choose exact foreground and background colors with hex codes, or pick from curated color presets designed for maximum scannability.

Logo Upload

Upload your company logo (PNG, JPG, SVG) and it's automatically centered in the QR code with proper padding to maintain scan reliability.

Eye Style Selector

Customize the three corner eyes of your QR code with different shapes — rounded, dots, diamond, leaf, and more — to match your brand aesthetic.

Frame Designer

Add a branded frame around your QR code with custom text like 'Scan Me' or your tagline. Choose frame style, colors, and font to match your brand.

Pattern Selector

Change the dot pattern of your QR code: squares, rounded, dots, classy, or extra-rounded. Each pattern gives a distinctly different feel.

AI Art Generator

Go beyond colors and logos — transform your QR code into AI-generated artwork with 130+ style presets. Your code becomes a conversation piece.

Create a Branded QR Code in 5 Steps

The entire process takes under two minutes. No account required for standard QR codes.

1

Choose your QR type

Select what your QR code should do: open a URL, share WiFi credentials, display a vCard contact, link to social media, or any of 10+ supported types.

2

Enter your content

Type or paste the information — a website URL, WiFi network name and password, contact details, or whatever your QR type requires.

3

Pick your colors

Set your brand's foreground color (the dots) and background color. Use the hex color picker for exact brand colors, or choose from presets. Tip: maintain at least 40% contrast for reliable scanning.

4

Add your logo and style

Upload your logo, select an eye style and dot pattern, then add a frame with custom text if you want. Preview updates in real-time so you see exactly how it looks.

5

Download and deploy

Download your branded QR code as PNG or SVG. SVG is perfect for print (infinitely scalable), PNG works great for digital. Both are free, no watermark.

Ready to brand your QR codes?

Create a custom QR code with your colors, logo, and style in under 2 minutes. Completely free, no account required, no watermarks.

Create Your Branded QR Code

Branded QR Codes by Industry

Restaurants & Hospitality

Put branded QR codes on table tents, menus, and receipts. Match your restaurant's color scheme so the code feels like part of the decor, not a tech intrusion. Link to your digital menu, WiFi, or Google Reviews page.

Retail & E-commerce

Add branded codes to product packaging, swing tags, and receipts. Link to product registration, warranty info, or exclusive online content. Consistent branding across physical and digital touchpoints builds trust.

Marketing & Events

Use branded QR codes on posters, flyers, business cards, and event badges. Each campaign can have its own branded code tracked separately. Drive people to landing pages, sign-up forms, or exclusive content.

Real Estate

Branded QR codes on property signs, brochures, and business cards. Link to virtual tours, floor plans, or your booking calendar. Professional-looking codes signal a professional agent.

Healthcare & Fitness

Add branded codes to appointment cards, gym passes, and patient intake forms. Link to booking systems, health portals, or feedback forms. Clean, professional design builds patient confidence.

5 Branded QR Code Mistakes to Avoid

Low contrast colors

A light gray code on a white background looks sleek but won't scan. Maintain at least 40% contrast between foreground and background. Test with 3+ different phones before printing.

Oversized logo

Your logo should cover no more than 30% of the QR code area. Bigger logos destroy too many data modules, making the code unreliable or unscannable.

Inverted colors

QR scanners expect dark modules on a light background. Inverting this (light code on dark background) works on some scanners but fails on older devices. Stick to dark-on-light.

Too small for print

Branded QR codes with logos and custom eyes need more space than plain codes. Print at minimum 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm (1 inch). For scanning at distance, increase proportionally.

Using static when you need dynamic

A branded QR code on 10,000 flyers that links to a broken URL? Disaster. Use dynamic QR codes for anything printed — you can update the destination URL anytime without reprinting.

Forgetting to test

Always scan your branded QR code with at least 3 different phones (iPhone, Android, older model) before sending to print. What looks perfect on screen can fail in the real world.

Building a QR Code Brand Guide

If your team creates QR codes regularly, document your branded QR standards just like you would any other brand asset. Specify exact hex colors, approved logo files, preferred eye styles, and minimum sizes.

With QR-Verse's design templates, you can save your branded configuration and reuse it across all your codes. Every new QR code automatically matches your brand — no redesigning each time.

Consistency compounds. When customers see the same branded QR style across your packaging, marketing, and in-store materials, it reinforces recognition. Over time, people learn to trust and scan your codes without hesitation.

Your brand deserves better than black and white

Join thousands of businesses using QR-Verse to create on-brand QR codes. Free forever — colors, logos, custom styles, no watermarks.

Start Designing Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the branded QR code generator free?

Yes. QR-Verse's full customization suite — colors, logos, eye styles, frames, patterns — is completely free with no watermarks or scan limits. You don't even need an account for static QR codes.

Will adding a logo make my QR code unscannable?

Not if done correctly. QR codes have built-in error correction that allows up to 30% of the code to be obscured. QR-Verse automatically sizes and positions your logo within safe limits. Always test before printing.

What's the best file format for printed branded QR codes?

SVG. It's a vector format that scales to any size without losing quality — from a business card to a billboard. QR-Verse offers free SVG downloads for all QR codes.

Can I change a branded QR code after printing?

If you created a dynamic QR code, yes — you can update the destination URL, track scans, and even swap the content type. The printed code stays the same. Static codes cannot be changed after creation.

What colors work best for branded QR codes?

Dark foreground on light background works most reliably. Your brand's primary color as the foreground with white or light background is a safe bet. Avoid yellow, light pastels, or neon colors as the foreground — they lack contrast.

How small can a branded QR code be printed?

Minimum 2 cm × 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) for codes without logos. With a logo, go at least 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm. For scanning at distance (posters, signage), increase the size proportionally — roughly 1 cm per 10 cm of viewing distance.

Can I use the same branded design for all my QR codes?

Absolutely. QR-Verse lets you save design templates so every QR code your team creates follows the same brand standards automatically.

Do branded QR codes work on all phones?

Yes. Every modern smartphone (2017 and newer) can scan branded QR codes natively through the camera app. Custom colors, logos, and eye styles don't affect compatibility — as long as there's sufficient contrast.

What's the difference between branded QR codes and AI art QR codes?

Branded QR codes use your colors, logo, and design elements on the standard QR grid. AI art QR codes go further — they transform the entire code into AI-generated artwork using Stable Diffusion and ControlNet. Both are available free on QR-Verse.

Can I track scans on branded QR codes?

Yes, if you create a dynamic QR code. QR-Verse tracks total scans, unique visitors, device types, locations, and referral sources — all from your free dashboard. Static QR codes do not support tracking.

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