Scenario: you printed 500 menu QR codes and the provider shut down
A restaurant owner I know printed table QR codes through a "free dynamic QR" service. Six months later the provider started charging $29/month to keep codes active. Every printed menu became a dead link overnight. That is the core problem with dynamic QR codes — your physical collateral depends on a third party staying online.Static QR codes encode your destination data directly into the black-and-white module grid. When someone scans, their phone reads the data from the pixels — no server involved. The code works forever.
Dynamic QR codes encode a redirect URL pointing to the provider's servers. Change the destination after printing? Yes. Provider goes offline? Every code you printed stops working.
For restaurant menus, business cards, product packaging, and event signage — static is almost always the right choice. PDFBucket's QR generator generates static codes only, using qrcode.js running entirely in your browser.
Error Correction Levels
QR codes have built-in redundancy through Reed-Solomon error correction. There are four levels:| Level | Data restoration | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| L (Low) | ~7% | Clean digital displays |
| M (Medium) | ~15% | General print use |
| Q (Quartile) | ~25% | Logos overlaid on code |
| H (High) | ~30% | Rough surfaces, outdoor |
Higher correction = more redundant modules = larger or denser code for the same data payload. The tool defaults to Level M — the right balance for most printed applications.
What You Can Encode
Wi-Fi credentials (iOS 11+ and Android 10+ auto-connect on scan):``
WIFI:S:NetworkName;T:WPA;P:YourPassword;;
`
vCard contact:
`
BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
FN:Your Name
ORG:Company Name
TEL:+919876543210
EMAIL:you@example.com
END:VCARD
``
Print Guidelines
Minimum size: 2 cm x 2 cm for a smartphone held at arm length. Every QR code requires at least 4 module-widths of clear white space on all four sides — the quiet zone. Do not crop it.Contrast: Black modules on white background is the canonical, highest-reliability combination. Avoid low-contrast color combinations.
Test before printing: Scan with three different apps before committing to a print order.