Making a QR code for a website takes about a minute. Making one that still works next year, sends people to the right page, and tells you whether anyone scanned it takes a little planning. This guide is written for website owners, small businesses, schools and event organizers who want a QR code that points to their own site and does a real job.
If you only need to turn any URL into a code quickly, our shorter guide on how to make a QR code for a link covers the basics. Here we focus on the website-owner side: choosing the page, controlling the URL, measuring results and keeping the code alive.
Step 1: Decide where the code should land
The most common mistake is pointing every QR code at the homepage. A homepage is built for visitors who arrived on purpose and want to browse. Someone scanning a flyer has a specific reason, and the page should match it.
| Where the QR code appears | Better destination |
|---|
| Restaurant table or window | Your menu page, not the homepage |
| Product packaging | The product's page, setup guide or warranty form |
| Event poster | The event page with date, place and a ticket button |
| Business card | An "about me" or contact page |
| Shop counter | A review page, loyalty sign-up or current offers |
| Real estate or trade sign | A page about that specific property or service |
Ask yourself: what does the person want to do in the next 30 seconds? Send them to the page where that is easiest.
Step 2: Make the landing page mobile-ready
Nearly everyone scans with a phone, so the page behind your code has to work well on a small screen. Before you create the code, open the page on your own phone and check:
- It loads over HTTPS. Many phones warn about insecure pages.
- It loads quickly on mobile data, not only on your office Wi-Fi.
- The headline matches the poster. If the flyer says "Get 10% off", the page should say that too, right at the top.
- There is one clear button, such as "Book now", "View menu" or "Call us".
- No big pop-ups cover the content the moment the page opens.
- No login wall blocks the content you promised.
The QR code only opens the page. It cannot fix a slow, confusing or desktop-only website.
Step 3: Create a short, permanent URL on your own domain
The URL you encode is the one thing you cannot change after printing, because QR Studio makes static codes: the address is stored inside the pattern itself. That is good news for privacy and reliability, since there is no account or subscription that can expire. It just means the URL deserves a moment of thought.
The best approach for a website owner is a short, dedicated path on your own domain, for example:
https://yoursite.com/menuhttps://yoursite.com/qrhttps://yoursite.com/spring-event
Short URLs create simpler codes with bigger squares, which scan more easily when printed small. A path on your own domain also keeps working as long as you own the domain, and you never depend on a third-party QR service staying in business.
Turn that short URL into a redirect you control
Here is the trick that gives a static code most of the flexibility of a paid "dynamic" code: make the short path a redirect that forwards visitors to the real page. If the real page changes later, you update the redirect, and the printed code keeps working.
Most website platforms let you set up redirects:
- WordPress: a redirect plugin, or your host's redirect settings
- Shopify: the URL redirects section in your store settings
- Squarespace, Wix and similar builders: the URL redirects or URL mappings settings
- Cloudflare Pages, Netlify and other static hosts: a
_redirects file, for example /qr /spring-sale 302
A 302 (temporary) redirect is usually the better choice for QR codes you might repoint, because browsers are less likely to remember it. Use a 301 (permanent) only if the destination will never change.
Step 4: Add tracking so you know it works
If you use a website analytics tool, you can tell scans apart from other visits by adding UTM tags to the destination URL, such as:
https://yoursite.com/spring-sale?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=spring-flyer
Long URLs like this make a QR code denser, so do not encode it directly. Instead, point your short /qr path at the long tagged URL using the redirect from Step 3. The printed code stays simple, and your analytics show visits from "qr / print" separately.
Use a different short path or campaign name for each placement (flyer, table card, packaging) if you want to compare which one brings more visitors.
Step 5: Generate the code in QR Studio
- Open the free QR code generator and choose URL mode.
- Paste your short URL, including
https://. - Keep dark modules on a light background. You can use a brand color for the foreground as long as it is clearly darker than the background.
- Add a small logo in the center if you like. QR Studio switches to high error correction when a logo is added, but keep the logo modest.
- Set a large pixel size for print and click Download PNG.
Everything is generated in your browser, so your URL is not uploaded anywhere.
Step 6: Test, size and place it
Before printing a batch, scan a test print with at least one iPhone and one Android phone, in normal light, from the distance people will actually stand. Confirm it opens the right page and that your analytics records the visit.
For print sizing, the general rule of thumb is that a code should be roughly one-tenth of the scanning distance. Our QR code size guide and QR code size for print post go into detail. Always leave a clear margin, the quiet zone, around the code.
Add a short call to action next to it, like "Scan to see today's menu". People scan more confidently when they know what they will get. If a code gives you trouble, run through our QR code not scanning checklist.
Keep your website QR code alive
- Renew your domain on time. If the domain lapses, every printed code breaks.
- Do not delete the short path when you redesign your site; update the redirect instead.
- Check it every few months, especially after website changes or platform moves.
- Keep a simple list of every short URL you have printed and where it appears.
Other QR types for your business
A website code is not always the best fit. For guests at your venue, a WiFi QR code lets them join your network with one scan. For networking, a vCard QR code saves your contact details straight to their phone. The how to make a QR code guide compares all types.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a QR code for my website for free?
Yes. QR Studio creates static website QR codes for free, with no account and no watermark. The code keeps working as long as the website address it points to works.
Can I change where my website QR code goes after printing?
Not the encoded URL itself, but you can point the code at a short path on your own domain and redirect that path wherever you need. Update the redirect and the printed code follows.
Should I link my QR code to my homepage?
Usually not. A page that matches the reason someone scanned, such as your menu, event or offer page, works better than a general homepage.
How can I see how many people scanned my QR code?
Point the code at a short redirect that adds UTM tags, then look for those tags in your website analytics. Static codes do not count scans on their own.
Why is my website QR code not working?
Common causes are a typo in the URL, a missing https://, a page that was moved or deleted, a code printed too small, or low contrast colors. Test the page on a phone first, then the code.
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