Brochures and catalogs
Hand out one small card instead of a thick booklet. The full catalog opens on the phone.
PDF QR code generator
Upload your PDF and get a code that opens it on any phone. When the document changes, upload the new version. The printed code stays the same.
Design and preview with no account. Downloads start with a 7-day trial for $1.00, then $39.99 every 4 weeks until you cancel.
- PDFs up to 20 MB
- Replace the file after printing
- Open and download buttons on the page
How a PDF QR code works
A PDF is far too big to fit inside a QR code. So the code holds a short link instead, and the link opens a page we host with your document on it. People read it in the browser or save it to their phone.
Because the code only points to that page, you can upload a corrected or updated PDF whenever you like. Anyone who scans last year's flyer gets this year's file.
Documents that work well behind a code
Manuals and instructions
Put a code on the box or the device itself. Owners find the manual years later without searching for it.
Price lists and rate cards
Update prices in the PDF when they change. Printed signs and cards do not have to be redone.
Reports and handouts
Add a code to the last slide of a talk or the back of a printed summary, so people take the full report home.
Forms and checklists
Let visitors download a form before they arrive, or read the house rules at the door.
Make a PDF QR code in three steps
- 1
Upload the PDF
Pick a file up to 20 MB and give the page a title and a short description, like "Spring catalog".
- 2
Design the code
Choose colors and a frame with a call to action such as "Scan to read". Add your logo if you like.
- 3
Download for print
Get the code as PDF, SVG or EPS for a sharp print at any size, or PNG for email and slides.
Create a PDF QR code
No account needed to design and preview.
Getting the document and the print right
More in the printing guide.
Keep the file light
A PDF under 5 MB opens quickly on mobile data. Export photos at screen resolution, not print resolution.
Design for a small screen
A single column with large text reads better on a phone than a wide two-page spread.
Name the file clearly
People who press Download keep your file name. "Harbor-catalog-2027.pdf" beats "final_v3.pdf".
Leave space around the code
Keep a blank margin at least as wide as four of the small squares. Text or graphics pressed against the code make it harder to read.
Say what is behind it
A short line like "Scan for the full price list" gets more scans than a bare code on its own.
Two different PDFs: the document and the code
The PDF you upload is what people see after they scan. The QR code itself can also be downloaded as a PDF. That second file is for your printer. It is a vector file, so the code stays crisp on a business card and on a poster.
If your designer works in Illustrator or InDesign, send them the SVG or EPS. For a quick print at the office, the PDF of the code is the simplest choice. See the printing guide for sizes.
One plan, every feature
Dynamic codes, scan stats, your logo and frames, hosted pages and every file format are in every plan. Plans renew until you cancel.
See plans and terms- 7-day trialthen $39.99 every 4 weeks$1.00
- Quarterlyevery 3 months, about $29.99 a month$89.99
- Annualevery year, about $19.99 a month$239.99
Questions
Still stuck?
Read the help center or email [email protected].
How big can my PDF be?
Up to 20 MB per file. Smaller files open faster, so compress large scans or photos before you upload.
Can I replace the PDF after the code is printed?
Yes. Open the code in your dashboard and upload the new file. The printed code keeps working and opens the new version right away.
Do people need an app to open it?
No. The phone camera reads the code and the PDF opens in the browser. There is a button to download it as well.
Can I see how many people opened my PDF?
Yes. Every scan is counted with the time, the country and city, and the kind of phone. You can export the numbers as a CSV file.
Can I protect the PDF with a password?
Yes. Add a password in the access rules. People must enter it before the page or the file opens.
What does it cost?
Downloading the code needs a plan. Start with a 7-day trial for $1.00, then it is $39.99 every 4 weeks until you cancel. If the plan ends, the code shows an inactive page instead of your PDF.
Still stuck?
Read the help center or email [email protected].
Related QR codes
- Menu QR code
Upload your menu as a PDF and put the code on every table. When a dish comes off or prices change, upload the new menu and the table cards stay put.
- Business card QR code
Paper cards get lost. Saved contacts do not. One scan opens your digital card, and one tap on Save contact puts you in their phone with your name spelled right.
- Dynamic QR codes
A dynamic QR code holds a short link instead of your final address. You decide where that link goes, and you can change your mind long after the code is printed.
- Image QR code
Show more than fits on paper. One scan opens an album of your photos, full screen, with no app to install and no sign-in for the person scanning.
Make your PDF QR code now
Create a PDF QR code
Design and preview with no account. Downloads start with a 7-day trial for $1.00, then $39.99 every 4 weeks until you cancel.