QR code with logo

Why error correction matters

QR codes have built-in error correction. At level H, up to ~30% of the code can be obscured and it still scans — which is exactly what lets you cover the center with a logo. GenHub suggests H automatically when you add a logo.

Best practices

• Keep the logo under ~28% of the code area.
• Use high contrast between the dots and the background.
• Always test the printed size with a real phone before mass printing.

Error correction levels explained

QR codes have four error-correction levels: L (~7% recoverable), M (~15%), Q (~25%) and H (~30%). Higher levels add redundant data, which makes the code denser — more modules — but able to tolerate more damage, dirt, or, in this case, a logo covering part of the pattern. GenHub defaults to M for plain codes and automatically suggests H the moment you add a logo.

Choosing colors

Keep strong contrast between the foreground dots and background — scanners rely on that contrast to distinguish modules. Very light foregrounds on light backgrounds, or two similar mid-tones, are the most common cause of a code that photographs fine but won't scan on a phone camera in bad lighting.

Before you print at scale

• Print a real physical copy at the actual size you'll use — screen previews are misleading.
• Test-scan it with at least two different phone models and camera apps, not just your own.
• Test in the actual lighting it'll be viewed in — a dim restaurant reads differently than a bright storefront window.

What kind of logo works best

A simple, high-contrast mark reads better than a detailed logo lockup with fine text — remember the logo is sitting on top of dense black-and-white modules, competing for the eye's attention. A single icon or letterform, on a background color close to your QR's own background, tends to blend in cleanly rather than looking like a sticker slapped over the pattern.

Logo QR codes and the data limit

Adding a logo doesn't reduce how much data the code can hold, but it does eat into the error-correction budget that would otherwise absorb print defects or a dirty surface. For codes carrying a lot of data — a long URL or a vCard — keep the logo modest and test more carefully than you would for a short link.

FAQ

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