A text QR code holds plain text instead of a link. When someone scans it, their phone shows the text — it does not open a browser, dial a number, or trigger any other action.
This is useful for serial numbers, coupon codes, short instructions, or notes you want a colleague to scan from a printout instead of retyping.
The code is generated by JavaScript running on your device. We don't host it, log it, or send it anywhere. Close the tab before downloading and nothing is left behind.
At a glance
| QR standard | ISO/IEC 18004 (2015) — ISO/IEC 18004 |
|---|---|
| Maximum capacity | 7,089 numeric · 4,296 alphanumeric · 2,953 bytes (version 40, level L) |
| Practical print limit | ~300 characters for a code that scans reliably from paper |
| Character encoding | UTF-8 (de-facto default); ECI headers for explicit charsets |
| Symbol sizes | 40 versions, from 21×21 to 177×177 modules |
| Error correction | 4 levels — L 7% · M 15% · Q 25% · H 30% damage recovery |
“ISO/IEC 18004 defines the requirements for the symbology known as QR Code: its characteristics, data character encoding methods, symbol formats, dimensional characteristics, and error correction rules.”
What text QRs are good for
Common uses: warehouse pickers reading SKUs into a scanner, coupon codes a customer copies into a checkout form, lab samples that need a serial number, signage with a short reference number.
If you want the phone to do something with the text (open a website, send a message, save a contact), pick the matching type instead — URL, SMS, vCard. A plain text QR is intentionally inert.
Character limit
QR codes can hold thousands of characters in theory, but a denser code scans less reliably from paper. Keep text under about 300 characters for a code that scans well from a printed sticker.
Unicode is supported. Emoji and non-Latin scripts work, but they take more bits and make the QR denser.
Frequently asked questions
- Will my text be sent anywhere?
- No. The text is encoded by JavaScript in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or logged.
- Can a text QR contain line breaks?
- Yes. Multi-line text is encoded as-is. Scanner apps display it with the breaks preserved.
- Why does a long string make the QR look denser?
- More data needs more dots. The QR's grid resolution grows in steps; very long inputs jump to a larger grid that has finer-looking dots.