How to make a QR code for a restaurant menu

A QR code on a table or at the entrance can take guests straight to your restaurant menu. The important part is linking to a menu page or file that customers can open on their phones, not to a file stored only on your computer.

Use TooLab's QR Code Generator to make a code for the menu link. Then scan it yourself and check the printed version before putting it out for guests.

Make a QR code for your menu

1. Open the QR Code Generator and choose a link option. Use the public web address for the menu page or PDF.
2. Paste the complete address, including https://, into the link field. Check for missing letters or extra spaces. If the menu is a PDF, make sure the link opens that file directly or leads to a page where guests can find it.
3. Generate the QR code. If you change its colors or add a logo, keep the code easy to read: use a dark pattern against a light background and avoid covering too much of the code.
4. Save the generated image using the available download or export option. Scan it with your phone before printing, then scan the printed copy at its actual size and from the distance a guest will hold their phone.

Use the full menu address rather than a link that only works after you sign in. Open it in a private or signed-out browser window to check that a new customer can view it. If the menu is meant to be available only inside the restaurant, test it using a phone that is not connected to your staff Wi-Fi.

Choose what the code should open

A menu page on your restaurant website

A page is usually a good choice if you update prices or dishes often. You can edit the page while keeping the same address, so an existing printed QR code can continue to work. Check that the page is readable on a phone and that the menu is visible without requiring an account or an extra app.

A PDF menu

A PDF can preserve the layout and make it easy to share a menu designed for printing. Make sure the file is publicly accessible and not just saved on your device or behind a sign-in prompt. If you replace the PDF later, keep its address the same when possible, then scan the QR code again to confirm it still opens the updated menu.

A code with your logo or brand colors

The generator can create codes with colors and a logo. Keep a strong difference between the dark code and the light background. A logo may make the design feel familiar, but it should not obscure the pattern guests' cameras need to read. For more on choosing colors and contrast, see How to choose QR code colors that still scan.

A fixed address or an editable destination

A QR code made for a link normally contains that link. If the address changes, the printed code still points to the old address. You can update the menu content without reprinting if the page keeps the same address, but changing the address itself means making and distributing a new code. See Static vs dynamic QR codes for how these approaches differ.

Make the code easy to scan

1. Keep contrast high. Use a dark code on a plain light background. Avoid pale colors for the code or a patterned background behind it.
2. Leave clear space around the pattern. Do not crop the code close to its outer edge or place text, borders, or illustrations over the surrounding blank area.
3. Make it large enough for its location. A small code may work when a guest holds a phone close to a table card, but a code on a wall or sign needs to be larger. Print a sample and try scanning it from the position where guests will stand or sit.
4. Use a clean, sharp image. Avoid stretching a small image until its edges look blurry. If you resize the code for a print layout, check that the individual squares remain crisp.
5. Check glare and placement. Glossy lamination, dim lighting, a steep viewing angle, or a fold through the code can make scanning harder. Move the sample or change its finish if the camera struggles.

If a camera does not recognize the code, try the basic checks in QR code not scanning? Fix size, contrast and layout. Also confirm that the code links to the correct page, since a QR code can scan successfully and still open a broken or outdated menu.

Put the code where guests need it

For table service, place a copy on each table or make sure the code is visible from every seat. At a counter, put it near the ordering area without blocking other information. If you use a printed menu as well, keep it available for guests who cannot or do not want to scan a code.

Add a short instruction beside the code, such as “Scan to view the menu.” Keep the instruction outside the code's clear space. Test the final layout after printing, and repeat the scan check whenever you change the menu link, artwork, or print size.