Put a logo inside a QR code for a packaging insert

A QR code on a packaging insert can send customers to setup instructions, product support, or a contact page. Adding your logo helps the code match your packaging, but a logo that covers too much of the pattern can make the code harder to scan.

Use the QR Code Generator to create a code with your destination and logo. Then test a printed proof at the size and on the paper you plan to use, not just on your screen.

Make a QR code with your logo

1. Open the QR Code Generator and choose the type of information for the code. For a packaging insert, a link to setup instructions, product support, or a contact page is often useful.
2. Enter the destination or information. Check the URL carefully, including any letters, numbers, and punctuation. If the QR code will be printed on many inserts, use a destination that you expect to keep available.
3. Add your logo using the logo option. A simple, high-contrast image is easier to recognize at a small size. Keep the logo centered and modest in size so it does not cover a large part of the QR pattern.
4. Choose colors that keep the code easy to distinguish. A dark pattern on a light background is a dependable starting point. Avoid making the pattern and background similar in brightness, or adding decoration that touches the code's clear border.
5. Scan the generated code with a phone camera. Save the QR image, place it in a draft of the insert at its intended printed size, then scan that proof before approving the full print run.

Keep the printed code away from folds, cut lines, and areas that may be covered by a label or sticker. Leave a clear margin around the pattern so a camera can identify where the code begins and ends.

What the scan result means

The code scans quickly and opens the right page

The logo, colors, and printed size are working together for that proof. Check the destination one more time and keep a copy of the final QR image with the approved insert artwork. If you change the destination or redesign the code, scan the new version before printing it.

The code scans only when the phone is very close

The pattern may be too small, the logo may cover too much of it, or the print may not have enough contrast. Try a larger printed code first, then reduce the logo if needed. Test from the distance a customer is likely to hold the insert.

The camera detects the code but opens the wrong thing

The scanner is reading the QR code, but the information encoded in it may not be what you intended. Check the entered URL or text, including similar-looking characters and any trailing punctuation. Scan the final printed proof again after correcting it.

The code does not scan at all

Check that the printed pattern has a clear border, strong contrast, and no smudges or glare. A logo that overlaps too many of the small squares can also interfere. Remove or shrink it, then make and test another proof.

How to improve a QR code that is hard to scan

1. Make the logo smaller. The logo should be recognizable without taking over the center of the code. If scanning improves when you remove it, use a smaller version or print the QR code without a logo.
2. Increase the printed size. A code that scans on a large monitor may be too small on an insert. Increase its size in the layout, then test another print at the final size.
3. Improve contrast. Use a dark code on a light background and avoid gradients, transparent areas behind the pattern, or colors that look similar when printed. Check the actual proof because ink and paper can change how colors appear.
4. Keep a clear margin. Do not place text, borders, or artwork directly against the QR pattern. Move nearby design elements away and make sure the code is not clipped by trimming.
5. Simplify the destination if the pattern is dense. Long URLs and large amounts of text create more complex patterns. If you can, link to a concise, stable page rather than encoding a long message directly.
6. Check the paper and finish. Glossy material can reflect light into the camera. Test the insert under ordinary indoor lighting, and try a less reflective paper if glare makes scanning unreliable.

Why a logo can affect scanning

A QR code stores information in a grid of dark and light squares. Many QR codes include error correction, which can help a scanner recover information if part of the pattern is obscured or damaged. It does not make the code immune to a large logo, poor contrast, blur, or a badly printed pattern.

The right balance is a logo that is visible but does not dominate the code. A small logo may work well on a large, high-contrast print, while the same logo can prevent a tiny code from scanning. That is why the physical proof matters more than the preview alone.

Check the destination before printing

A QR code stores the information entered when it is made. If it contains a web address and that address later changes, the printed code still points to the original address. Test that the page opens on a phone and that it works for someone who is not signed in to your own account. If the insert will be used with future products, make sure the destination will remain available.

Approve the insert only after you can scan the final-size proof and confirm that it opens the intended destination.