PNG vs SVG QR codes for printing — which should you use?

A 4-minute guide • QR Studio

When you export a QR code you'll usually be offered PNG or SVG. Pick the wrong one and your code can come out blurry on a poster or annoyingly huge in a file. Here's the simple way to decide.

The core difference

• PNG is a raster (pixel) image. It has a fixed resolution. Blow it up beyond its native size and the edges get soft and jagged.
• SVG is a vector image. It's described by math, not pixels, so it scales to any size — business card or billboard — and stays perfectly crisp.

When to use PNG

• On screens: websites, emails, slide decks, social posts.
• Quick prints at a known size: a flyer or sticker, as long as you export at a high enough resolution (see below).
• When a tool only accepts images: some apps won't import SVG.

When to use SVG

• Any professional printing: hand an SVG to a designer or print shop and it will always be sharp.
• Large format: posters, banners, signage, packaging.
• When you don't yet know the final size: SVG future-proofs you.

If you must use PNG for print, size it right

Print quality is measured in DPI (dots per inch); 300 DPI is the print standard. So multiply the printed size (in inches) by 300 to get the pixels you need:

• Business card code (~1 in): export ~300–600px.
• Flyer / menu code (~2 in): export ~1024px.
• Poster code (~6 in): export ~2048px or, better, use SVG.

QR Studio lets you export PNG up to 4096px for exactly this reason — but when in doubt for print, just use SVG and stop worrying about resolution.

Quick decision rule

Screen → PNG. Print → SVG. That covers 95% of cases. The only time you'd choose PNG for print is when the destination can't accept a vector file.