QR Code With a Logo: How to Add One That Still Scans
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Can you put a logo on a QR code?
Yes. A QR code can carry a logo in the center because of built-in error correction, which lets a scanner rebuild the part the logo covers. The rules are simple: keep the logo centered and small (use a small mark and leave the structural patterns clear), keep strong contrast, leave the three corner squares clear, and test it. A logo that is too large removes data the QR code needs and stops it from scanning.
Why a logo works at all: error correction
Every QR code carries redundant data so it can still be read when part of it is dirty, damaged, or covered. That is error correction, and it comes in four levels. Higher levels can recover more damaged data codewords. This is not a percentage of image area you can safely cover.
| Error correction level | Approximate recoverable data codewords | Logo guidance |
|---|---|---|
| L | about 7% | avoid logos |
| M | about 15% | a tiny mark at most |
| Q | about 25% | a small logo |
| H | about 30% | a small-to-modest centered logo |
A logo sits on top of the QR code and relies on this recovery to fill in the gap. That is why a branded QR code should be generated at level H. The only cost is a slightly denser pattern, so print it a little larger.
How much logo is safe
- Center only. Put the logo in the middle, where the recovery data can cover for it.
- Never cover the corners. The three large squares in the corners are finder patterns. A scanner needs them to locate the QR code. Keep them clear.
- Keep the mark small. There is no universal safe logo-area percentage. Use the builder’s artwork checks and test the final file.
- Use level H error correction.
- Keep contrast. The logo should not blur the light-and-dark difference the camera depends on.
Color, style, and the thing that actually breaks branded QR codes
Color can make a branded QR code difficult to read even when the logo is small. Scanners read brightness, not hue, so a QR code and background that look boldly different to you can read as the same gray and disappear. If you use color, keep the QR code much darker than what sits behind it, and judge the brightness difference, not the palette. The full breakdown, with side-by-side examples, is in why QR codes don’t scan.
The checklist for a logo QR code that scans
- Logo centered, corners clear.
- Small enough to preserve the structural patterns and pass the artwork check.
- Error correction set to H.
- Strong contrast between QR code and background.
- Scanned on more than one phone before you print.
The Graklink designer checks artwork and contrast; test the final file before printing. And because it is a dynamic QR code, you can repoint it forever without touching the design. More on that here: static vs dynamic QR codes.
Common questions
Can I put my logo in the middle of a QR code?
Yes. A modest logo in the center is fine, because a QR code's built-in error correction lets a scanner rebuild the part the logo covers. Keep it small and never cover the three corner squares.
Will a logo stop my QR code from scanning?
A logo can interfere with data and structural patterns. Keep it small, preserve contrast and the finder patterns, and test the final artwork. A percentage of image area alone cannot guarantee readability.
What error correction should I use with a logo?
Level H provides the highest QR error correction, approximately 30% of data codewords. That is not a 30% logo-area allowance. It can make the pattern denser, so test the final size.
Can a QR code be my brand color?
Yes, as long as the QR code stays much darker than its background. Scanners read brightness, not hue, so two colors that look different to your eye can read as the same shade and fail. Judge the contrast, not the color.
Does Graklink check that my logo QR code still scans?
Yes. The designer checks artwork and contrast; test the final QR code at its intended size and placement.
Sources and verification dates
Source links, check dates and available archived copies are listed below.
- DENSO WAVE: QR code margins
Checked September 15, 2026.
A clear margin four modules wide is required on each side.
Live page; no archived copy supplied.
- DENSO WAVE: error correction
Checked September 15, 2026.
Recovery percentages refer to codewords, not an allowable logo area.
Live page; no archived copy supplied.
- Graklink terms
Checked September 15, 2026.
Purchased products, subscription cancellation, trial conditions and service continuity.
Graklink’s published product information.