QR code menu for restaurants: best practices (and how to avoid bad scans)
A QR menu can reduce printing costs, update instantly, and increase upsells.
It can also annoy guests if the scan fails, the WiFi is slow, or the page is unreadable.
This guide is the no-fluff playbook to make your QR code menu scan reliably and convert.
TL;DR
- Use a dynamic QR code so you can change the menu link later without reprinting.
- Print large enough: start at at least 2.5 cm / 1 inch on tables, bigger on posters.
- Respect the quiet zone and high contrast.
- Point scans to a fast mobile landing page, not a PDF.
- Test on 3-5 real phones, in real lighting, from real distances.
What makes a QR menu work
A QR menu is a funnel:
- Guest sees the code.
- Guest scans.
- Phone opens the page.
- Guest finds the right section fast.
- Guest decides.
Most failures happen in steps 2 to 4.
If you fix scan reliability and page speed, conversion improves.
Static vs dynamic QR code menus
A static QR code bakes your menu URL into the QR image. If your URL changes, the printed code is dead.
A dynamic QR code points to a short redirect URL you control, so you can:
- update the destination anytime (new menu page, seasonal menu, temporary notice)
- track scans over time (what works, what tables scan, which posters perform)
- add UTMs for campaigns
If you are printing anything, dynamic is the safer default.
Internal reading:
QR code menu design checklist (print)
1) Size: do not underprint
Small QR codes are the #1 reason scans fail.
Practical sizing rules:
- Table tent, tabletop sticker: 2.5 to 4 cm
- Wall poster: 6 to 10 cm
- Window signage: 10 cm+
If the guest might scan from far away, scale up.
2) Contrast: black on white wins
Fancy colors look good on Instagram and fail in real lighting.
Use:
- dark QR modules (black or near-black)
- light background (white or near-white)
Avoid:
- low contrast greys
- glossy reflections
- busy patterns behind the QR
3) Quiet zone: leave the margin
The quiet zone is the empty border around a QR code.
If you crowd the QR with text or graphics, scanners struggle.
Use a proper quiet zone. If you are not sure what that means, read:
4) Add a short label (CTA)
People scan more when you tell them why.
Examples:
- “Scan for menu”
- “Order and pay”
- “View allergens”
Do not overthink the copy. Make it obvious.
5) Do not stretch the QR
Keep it square. Do not warp it to fit a design.
The landing page matters more than the QR
A QR menu is useless if the page is slow or hard to read.
Avoid PDFs as the main destination
PDF menus are common and usually bad on mobile:
- slow to load on restaurant WiFi
- hard to scroll
- tiny text
- no search
If you must use a PDF, put it behind a simple landing page with:
- big buttons: “Menu”, “Drinks”, “Allergens”
- lightweight previews
- clear language
Make the page fast
A 2 second load feels instant. A 6 second load feels broken.
Fast page checklist:
- compress images
- avoid heavy fonts and sliders
- keep the page simple
Internal reading:
Structure the menu for scanning (human scanning)
People do not read. They scan.
Do:
- make sections obvious (Starters, Mains, Drinks)
- show best sellers near the top
- keep item names short
- highlight allergens and dietary tags
Scan reliability testing: do this once
Before you print 500 stickers, run a real test.
Test on:
- iPhone + Android
- low light + bright light
- 30 cm distance and 1 m distance
- your actual print material (glossy tables behave differently)
Common failures and fixes:
- fails in low light: increase contrast, increase size
- fails on glossy: move location, reduce glare, increase quiet zone
- scans but loads slowly: fix landing page speed
Tracking and changing the menu link later
Restaurants change menus all the time.
A dynamic QR menu lets you:
- update the menu URL instantly
- redirect to a “closed today” page if needed
- run a seasonal menu for a month, then revert
If you do promos, add tracking so you know what works.
Internal reading:
Where QRShuffle fits
QRShuffle is built for printed QR codes that need to keep working.
You can create a QR code menu that:
- stays editable after printing
- supports redirects and campaign links
- helps you avoid scan failures with sane defaults
If you are printing table tents, stickers, or posters, a dynamic QR code is usually the fastest path to fewer problems.
CTA: Create your QR code in minutes at https://qrshuffle.com and keep the link editable after you print.