A plain black-and-white QR code works, but it doesn't say much about your brand. Adding your logo to the center makes it instantly recognizable and more trustworthy — people are more likely to scan a branded QR code than a generic one.
Here's how to do it without breaking the QR.
Why It Works
QR codes have built-in error correction. They can lose a portion of their data and still scan successfully. The highest error correction level (H) allows up to 30% of the code to be obscured. This is what makes logo insertion possible: the logo covers the center, and error correction compensates for the missing modules.
Method 1: Use a QR Generator with Logo Support
The easiest approach. Some QR generators let you upload a logo during creation. The tool places the image in the center and adjusts error correction automatically.
Steps:
1. Create your QR code (URL, vCard, or whatever type you need)
2. Upload your logo in the customization panel
3. The generator centers the logo and sets error correction to H
4. Preview and test — scan with your phone before downloading
5. Download in SVG or high-resolution PNG
This is the safest method because the tool handles the technical details.
Method 2: Overlay Manually in a Design Tool
If your QR generator doesn't support logos, you can add one manually in Figma, Illustrator, Canva, or any design tool.
Steps:
1. Generate your QR code and download as SVG or high-res PNG
2. Open it in your design tool
3. Place your logo in the center
4. Make sure the logo covers no more than 20-25% of the total QR area
5. Add a small white padding around the logo so it doesn't blend with the QR modules
6. Export and test by scanning
This method gives you more control over placement and sizing, but you need to be careful not to cover too much of the QR code.
Logo Size Guidelines
The logo should cover no more than 20-25% of the QR code area. Going beyond this risks making the code unscannable, even with high error correction.
For a 300×300 px QR code, the logo should be roughly 70×70 px to 80×80 px. For a 600×600 px QR code, aim for 140×140 px to 160×160 px.
Always add a white (or background-colored) border around the logo — about 5-10 px. This creates visual separation between the logo and the QR modules.
Logo Format Tips
Use a simple logo. A detailed logo with thin lines will be hard to see at small QR sizes. If your logo is complex, use a simplified version or just the icon mark.
Transparent background. Use a PNG with transparent background so the logo blends naturally with the QR code's background color.
Square or circular. Square and circular logos work best in the center of a QR code. Wide rectangular logos need to be resized and may not fit well.
High contrast. Make sure the logo is visible against the QR code's color scheme. A dark logo on a dark QR code will disappear.
Common Mistakes
Logo too large. Covering more than 30% of the QR code will break it. Even 25% is risky on dense QR codes with lots of data.
No white space around logo. Without padding, the logo pixels blend with QR modules and confuse scanners.
Not testing after adding the logo. Always scan the final result with at least two different phones. A QR code that works on your iPhone might fail on an older Android.
Low error correction. If you're adding a logo manually to a QR code generated with low error correction (L or M), it's much more likely to break. Make sure the QR is generated with error correction level H.
Create Your Branded QR Code
At qree.app, you can customize your QR code colors and styles. Logo insertion is coming soon — in the meantime, you can use Method 2 with our SVG exports for perfect print quality.