What size should a QR code be on a real estate sign rider?

The rule is 10 to 1. A code reads from about ten times its own width, so the size you need comes from where the person stands.

Size by where it is read from

• At the sign, about 4 feet: 5 inches (13 cm). This fits a 6-inch rider with a margin.
• From the sidewalk, about 7 feet: 8 inches (20 cm). Too tall for a rider, so it goes on the main panel.
• From the curb or a stopped car, about 10 feet: 12 inches (30 cm).

The QR code size calculator gives the number for your own distance, with some headroom added.

A rider code is a walk-up code

Nobody scans a 5-inch code from a moving car. If you want the read from the street, put the code on the main panel at 8 to 12 inches, and let the rider carry the words: "Scan for price and photos".

Four things that matter as much as size

• Margin. Keep the white border around the code clear. Do not let the sign shop crop it or run a line through it. This border is the quiet zone.
• Contrast. Print a dark code on a light background. A light code on a dark sign can fail on some phones.
• A short link. A code that holds a short link has bigger squares at the same printed size, so it reads from farther away. A TangoQR code holds a short link, whatever the length of the listing address.
• A flat, matte surface. Glare from a gloss finish in sunlight can hide part of the code.

Which file to give the sign shop

The SVG. It is a vector file, so it stays sharp at any size. Keep the PNG for small things.

Test before the print run

Print the code on paper at the final size, tape it to a sign, and scan it in daylight from where a buyer will stand. Try an old phone too. It takes five minutes, and it finds the problem before the signs are made.

The real estate guide covers the rest of the job: one code per rider, and what it costs.