A plain black-and-white QR code gets the job done, but a QR code with your company logo in the center looks professional, builds trust, and reinforces brand recognition every time someone scans it. The good news is that you do not need expensive software or a paid subscription to make one. With a free QR code maker with logo overlay capabilities -- using a two-step method -- you can create a branded QR code in just a few minutes.
In this guide, you will learn exactly how QR codes can survive having a logo placed on top of them, how to generate a logo-ready QR code for free, and how to overlay your logo using free tools like Canva or GIMP. We will also cover the best practices that ensure your branded QR code scans reliably every time.
Why Add a Logo to Your QR Code?
A QR code with a logo is more than a visual upgrade. It serves real business purposes that a plain QR code simply cannot match.
Instant Brand Recognition
When someone sees a QR code with your company logo embedded in the center, they immediately associate it with your brand. This is especially valuable in environments where multiple QR codes compete for attention -- trade shows, retail displays, restaurant tables, or printed marketing materials. A branded QR code stands out in a way that a generic black-and-white square never will.
Trust and Credibility
Scanning a QR code requires a small leap of faith from the user. They do not know where the code will take them until they scan it. A visible logo provides reassurance. When someone sees a familiar brand mark in the QR code, they are more likely to scan it because they trust the source. Studies on QR code engagement consistently show that branded codes receive more scans than unbranded ones.
Professional Appearance
A custom QR code logo improves the perceived quality of your printed materials. On a business card, product packaging, a poster, or a vCard QR code, a logo-embedded QR code signals that attention was paid to the details. It turns a utilitarian element into a deliberate design choice.
How Error Correction Makes Logos Possible
You might wonder: if a QR code encodes data in its pattern of black and white modules, how can you cover part of it with a logo without breaking it? The answer lies in a feature called error correction, which is built into the QR code specification (ISO/IEC 18004).
Every QR code includes redundant data that allows it to be scanned even if part of the code is damaged, obscured, or missing. This was originally designed to handle physical wear and tear -- scratches, dirt, fading -- but it also means a QR code can tolerate having a portion of its center covered by a logo.
There are four error correction levels, each allowing a different percentage of the QR code to be unreadable while still scanning successfully:
| Level | Recovery Capacity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low (L) | ~7% of data recoverable | Digital screens, clean environments |
| Medium (M) | ~15% of data recoverable | General printed materials (default) |
| Quartile (Q) | ~25% of data recoverable | Textured surfaces, moderate wear |
| High (H) | ~30% of data recoverable | Logo overlays, harsh environments |
For adding a logo to a QR code, High (H) error correction is essential. It allows up to 30% of the code to be damaged or covered and still scan correctly. Since a well-placed logo typically covers 10-20% of the QR code area, High error correction gives you a comfortable safety margin.
If you use Low or Medium error correction and then place a logo over the center, the QR code will likely fail to scan. This is the single most important technical detail to get right, and it is covered in more depth in our guide on how to create a QR code.
The Free Two-Step Method
Our free QR code generator creates high-quality static QR codes with full control over error correction levels. However, it does not include a built-in logo upload feature. That is a deliberate choice to keep the tool lightweight and privacy-focused -- everything runs in your browser with no server uploads.
The free method for creating a QR code with logo works in two steps:
- Generate a QR code with High (H) error correction using our free generator and download it as a PNG or SVG file.
- Overlay your logo onto the center of the QR code using a free image editor like Canva, GIMP, Photopea, or any tool that supports layering.
This two-step approach works with any free QR code maker with logo overlay done separately. It gives you complete control over the logo size, position, and background, and the result is a fully scannable branded QR code that costs nothing to create.
Step 1: Generate Your QR Code
- Go to the free QR code generator homepage or directly to the URL QR code generator (or whichever QR type you need).
- Enter your content -- a URL, WiFi credentials, contact details, or any other data.
- Set the Error Correction Level to High (H). This is critical. Without High error correction, placing a logo over the QR code will break it.
- Optionally choose a foreground color that matches your brand.
- Click the download button and save the QR code as PNG (for use in Canva or web) or SVG (for use in GIMP, Inkscape, or professional design tools).
Step 2: Overlay Your Logo
Open your downloaded QR code in an image editor and place your logo in the center. The sections below provide detailed instructions for Canva and GIMP, but the same principle applies to any editor: center the logo, keep it within 20-25% of the total QR code area, and optionally add a small white background behind the logo for contrast.
Step-by-Step: Add a Logo Using Canva (Free)
Canva is a free online design tool that works in any browser. No installation required. This is the easiest way to add a logo to a QR code if you are not familiar with image editing software.
- Open Canva and create a new design. Choose "Custom size" and set it to 1000 x 1000 pixels (square).
- Upload your QR code. Click "Uploads" in the left sidebar, then upload the PNG file you downloaded from our generator. Drag it onto the canvas and resize it to fill the entire 1000 x 1000 area.
- Upload your logo. Upload your company logo (PNG with transparent background works best). Drag it onto the canvas on top of the QR code.
- Resize the logo. Scale your logo so that it covers roughly 15-20% of the QR code area. For a 1000 x 1000 canvas, this means your logo should be approximately 150-200 pixels wide and tall. Do not exceed 250 pixels (25% coverage).
- Center the logo. Select the logo, then use Canva's alignment tools (click "Position" in the top toolbar) to center it both horizontally and vertically on the canvas.
- Add a white background pad (optional but recommended). Before placing your logo, add a white square or circle element behind it. This creates a clean "quiet space" between the logo and the QR modules, improving scan reliability and visual clarity. Make the white shape slightly larger than your logo (about 10-15% bigger on each side).
- Download. Click "Share" then "Download" and choose PNG format. Your branded QR code is ready.
- Test immediately. Scan the downloaded image with your phone camera. Test on at least two devices. If it does not scan, your logo is too large -- reduce its size and try again.
Step-by-Step: Add a Logo Using GIMP
GIMP is a free, open-source image editor available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It offers more precise control than Canva, making it a good choice if you need pixel-perfect placement or if you prefer working with desktop software.
- Open GIMP and go to File > Open. Select the QR code PNG you downloaded from our generator.
- Open your logo as a new layer. Go to File > Open As Layers, then select your logo file. Your logo will appear as a new layer on top of the QR code.
- Resize the logo layer. Go to Layer > Scale Layer. Set the width and height so the logo covers approximately 15-20% of the QR code. For example, if your QR code is 1000 x 1000 pixels, scale the logo to about 150-200 pixels on each side.
- Center the logo. Select the Move tool, then go to Layer > Layer to Image Size. Next, go to Layer > Align Visible Layers. Choose "Center" for both horizontal and vertical alignment. Alternatively, use the Align tool (Q shortcut) to center the logo layer relative to the QR code layer.
- Add a white background behind the logo (optional). Create a new layer between the QR code and the logo. Use the Ellipse or Rectangle select tool to draw a selection slightly larger than your logo in the center. Fill it with white using the Bucket Fill tool. This gives the logo breathing room against the QR code pattern.
- Flatten and export. Go to Image > Flatten Image to merge all layers. Then go to File > Export As and save as PNG.
- Test the result. Scan the exported image with your phone to confirm it works. If it fails, reduce the logo size or increase the white background pad.
Best Practices for Logo Placement
Following these guidelines will ensure your QR code with logo scans reliably across all devices and lighting conditions.
Always Place the Logo in the Center
The center of a QR code is the safest area to cover because the three large positioning squares (finder patterns) are located in the corners. These corner patterns are what scanners use to detect and orient the QR code. Covering the center affects only the data modules, which are protected by error correction. Never place a logo over the corner squares or along the edges.
Keep Coverage Under 30%
With High (H) error correction, the QR code can theoretically tolerate up to 30% coverage. In practice, aim for no more than 20-25%. This gives you a safety margin to account for the white background pad around the logo and minor scanning inconsistencies across different phone cameras. A logo that covers 15-20% of the QR code area is the sweet spot between visibility and reliability.
Maintain the Quiet Zone
The quiet zone is the white border around the outer edge of the QR code. It must remain at least four modules wide and completely unobstructed. Your logo goes in the center of the code, not near the edges. If your final image crops the quiet zone, scanners may fail to detect the code.
Use a White Background Pad
Placing a small white square or circle behind your logo -- slightly larger than the logo itself -- creates a clean boundary between the logo and the surrounding QR modules. This is especially important if your logo has dark elements that could visually merge with the black modules of the QR code. The white pad ensures the scanner can distinguish between the logo area and the data pattern.
Logo Size and Format Tips
The logo you overlay onto your QR code should meet certain criteria for the best results. Not every image works well as a QR code logo.
- Square logos work best. Since QR codes are square, a square or nearly-square logo fits most naturally in the center. Tall or wide rectangular logos require more coverage area to remain legible, increasing the risk of scan failure.
- Use a transparent PNG. A logo with a transparent background blends cleanly with the QR code and white background pad. If your logo has an opaque background, make sure it is white or matches the QR code background color.
- Keep it simple. Detailed logos with fine lines, gradients, or many colors may become illegible at the small size required for QR code overlays. A simplified version of your logo -- or just the icon/mark portion without the wordmark -- often works better than the full logo.
- High resolution matters. Start with a logo that is at least 500 x 500 pixels so it remains sharp when scaled down. A blurry or pixelated logo undermines the professional appearance you are trying to achieve.
- Avoid logos with thin lines. Very thin elements in a logo can merge visually with the QR modules at small sizes, creating confusion for both the scanner and the viewer. Bold, solid shapes scan most reliably.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the most frequent errors people make when creating a QR code with a logo. Avoid them, and your branded QR code will work flawlessly.
1. Making the Logo Too Large
This is the number one reason branded QR codes fail to scan. An oversized logo covers too many data modules, exceeding the error correction capacity. If your QR code does not scan after adding a logo, the first thing to try is reducing the logo size. Start at 15% coverage and increase gradually while testing after each adjustment.
2. Using the Wrong Error Correction Level
If you generate a QR code with Low (L) or Medium (M) error correction and then place a logo on top, the code will almost certainly break. Low error correction only tolerates 7% damage, and Medium tolerates 15% -- neither leaves enough room for a visible logo. Always use High (H) error correction when you plan to add a logo.
3. Poor Contrast Between Logo and QR Code
A dark-colored logo placed directly on dark QR modules without a white background pad can confuse scanners. The scanner cannot tell where the logo ends and the data pattern begins. Always include a white background pad behind the logo, and ensure your logo has sufficient contrast against the white pad.
4. Covering the Finder Patterns
The three large squares in the corners of a QR code (called finder patterns) are used by scanners to locate and orient the code. If your logo or any part of it overlaps these corner elements, the code becomes unscannable. Keep the logo strictly in the center area.
5. Not Testing Before Printing
Every phone camera and QR scanning algorithm behaves slightly differently. A QR code that scans perfectly on one device might struggle on another, especially when operating near the error correction limit. Always test your branded QR code on at least two different devices (one iPhone, one Android) before committing to print. Test at the actual print size and from the expected scanning distance.
6. Using Inverted Colors
A light-colored QR code on a dark background is harder for most scanners to read, and adding a logo to an already challenged color scheme compounds the problem. Stick with dark modules on a light background for maximum reliability.
Want Built-In Logo Support? Try ElkQR
The two-step method described above works well and produces professional results, but it does require some manual effort with an external image editor. If you create branded QR codes regularly, or if you want a faster workflow with a built-in free QR code maker with logo upload capability, ElkQR is worth considering.
ElkQR offers a native logo upload feature as part of its QR code creation flow. You upload your logo directly in the QR code editor, and the platform automatically places it in the center with the correct sizing and error correction settings. No external tools required, no manual overlay, no guesswork about coverage percentages.
In addition to built-in logo support, ElkQR provides:
- Dynamic QR codes -- change the destination URL after printing without creating a new QR code.
- Scan tracking and analytics -- see how many times your QR code is scanned, when, from where, and on which devices.
- Geographic insights -- view scan data by country, city, and region.
- Branded short links -- use your own domain for the redirect URL.
- Bulk QR generation -- create hundreds of QR codes at once from a spreadsheet.
If you need a one-off branded QR code, the free two-step method with our free QR code generator and Canva or GIMP is the most cost-effective approach. If you create branded QR codes at scale, ElkQR's native logo support and dynamic code features will save you significant time.
Start Creating Branded QR Codes Today
Adding a logo to a QR code is straightforward once you understand the underlying mechanics. Set the error correction to High, generate your code, overlay your logo in the center using any free image editor, and test before printing. That is all there is to it.
To get started right now, head to our free QR code generator, select your QR code type, set error correction to High (H), and download your code. Then open it in Canva or GIMP, drop your logo in the center, and you will have a professional branded QR code in minutes -- completely free.
For a native, all-in-one solution with built-in logo upload, scan tracking, and dynamic QR codes, start a free trial with ElkQR.