How to Add a Logo to a QR Code Without Breaking It
A logo in the middle of a QR code looks sharp and builds trust — but do it wrong and the code stops scanning. Here’s how to add one safely.
Published February 5, 2026 · LinkQRPro
A plain black-and-white QR code works, but a small logo in the centre makes it look intentional and branded — people are noticeably more willing to scan a code that clearly belongs to a business they recognise. The catch is that a logo covers part of the data, and if you cover too much, the code becomes unreadable.
Why you can cover part of a QR code at all
QR codes carry built-in error correction. The pattern repeats enough of its own data that a scanner can rebuild what’s hidden behind a logo, a coffee stain, or a crease. There are four levels of this redundancy, from Low (about 7% recoverable) up to High (about 30%). When you add a logo, you’re relying on that spare capacity.
The three rules that keep it scannable
- 1Turn error correction up to High (H) before adding the logo. This gives the scanner the most room to recover the covered modules.
- 2Keep the logo small — roughly a fifth to a quarter of the code’s width at most. It’s tempting to go bigger, but that’s where codes start failing.
- 3Leave a little clear padding around the logo so it doesn’t bleed into the surrounding pattern. A simple white box behind the logo does the job.
Practical tips that make a difference
- A simple, high-contrast logo reads better than a busy one with thin lines.
- Keep strong contrast in the code itself — dark modules on a light background — even after branding it with colour.
- A transparent PNG sits cleanly on the code; a logo with its own white background usually looks fine too.
The single most important step comes last: test it. Scan the finished code with two or three different phones, in the lighting where it will actually be used, before you print a single copy. A logo that looks perfect on screen can fail on a matte sticker or under shop lighting, and two minutes of testing saves an expensive reprint.
The LinkQRPro generator lets you upload a logo, adjust its size with a slider, and set error correction to High — then download and test before you commit.