How to create a QR code for your restaurant menu (for free)
Since 2020, the QR code on the table has become the standard for bars and restaurants: it saves printing costs, lets you change prices instantly, and customers are used to it. Best of all, you can set it up completely free in under half an hour.
Step 1: put your menu online
The QR code is just a "bridge" to your menu, so first your menu needs a web address. Free options:
- PDF on Google Drive: upload the PDF, click "Share → Anyone with the link" and copy the link. The fastest route.
- Your own website: if your restaurant already has a site, upload the menu as a page or PDF and use that URL. The most professional option and the best for Google rankings.
- Canva or Google Sites: both let you lay out a visual menu for free with a public link.
Important: use a link you control. If you rely on free "QR menu" platforms, the day they shut down or switch to paid plans, every QR code you printed stops working.
Step 2: generate the QR code
- Open our generator and choose "Link (URL)".
- Paste your menu's link.
- Select the "Print (1000 px)" size so it stays sharp on paper.
- Download the PNG.
Step 3: print it properly
- Minimum size: 3 × 3 cm (1.2 × 1.2 in) to scan comfortably from a seat; 2 × 2 cm is the absolute limit.
- Contrast: dark QR on a light background. Never invert it or print it over photos.
- Margin: leave a white border around it (the "quiet zone"); our generator already includes it.
- Laminate it or put it under acrylic: it will survive spills and cleaning.
The fixed-link trick (a free "editable" QR)
Want to update the menu without reprinting your QR codes? Point the code to a fixed URL on your own site (for example yourrestaurant.com/menu) and change that page's content whenever you like. The printed QR never changes; the menu does. Same effect as a paid dynamic QR — for free.
💡 Try it yourself: use our QR code generator — free, no sign-up, no watermarks.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid subscription to have QR menus?
No. A static QR code pointing to your online menu is free forever. Paid subscriptions add scan statistics and destination editing — useful, but not essential for most venues.
What happens when I change menu prices?
If the QR points to a PDF on Drive or a page on your site, just replace the PDF or edit the page while keeping the same link: printed codes keep working without reprinting anything.
Should I still offer physical menus?
It is wise to keep a few: older guests or customers with a dead battery appreciate it, and some local consumer regulations require an accessible menu on request.
How big should the QR code be on the table?
At least 3 × 3 centimeters, with good contrast and a white margin. As a rule of thumb, the comfortable scanning distance is about 10 times the width of the code.