Yes, you can put a logo in the middle of a QR code — and it will still scan, as long as you do it right. The trick isn’t magic; it’s a feature called error correction that’s built into every QR code. Used well, a centred logo makes a code look intentional and trustworthy. Used carelessly, it makes the code unreadable. Here’s how to land on the right side of that line.
Why a logo doesn’t break the code
Every QR code stores its data with built-in redundancy so it can still be read when part of it is dirty, damaged, or obscured. That redundancy is the error-correction level, and at the highest setting a code can lose roughly 30% of its area and still scan. Placing a modest logo over the centre uses up some of that budget on purpose — the scanner reconstructs the hidden modules from the redundant data. If you want the full breakdown of the levels (L, M, Q, H), see QR code best practices.
The design rules that keep it scannable
- Set error correction to H. This is the single most important step before adding any logo.
- Keep the logo small. Cover the centre only — aim for well under a quarter of the code’s area. Bigger is riskier.
- Stay off the corners. The three large squares in the corners are finder patterns the scanner needs; never cover them.
- Keep strong contrast. Dark modules on a light background still applies. A pale or low-contrast code with a logo is a double handicap.
- Don’t over-style. Heavy gradients, rounded dots, and tight colour schemes each chip away at readability. Restraint scans better.
How to make a QR code with a logo
- Open the builder and enter your destination.
- Set the error-correction level to H.
- Upload your logo; keep it centred and modest in size.
- Export as a vector SVG so it stays sharp at any print size — from a business card to a poster.
- Scan the final version with two or three phones before you send it to print.
Static or dynamic — a logo works on both
Branding and editability are separate choices. A logo can sit on a free static code or on a dynamic one. If the destination might ever change — and for anything you print, it usually will — choose dynamic so you can repoint it later without redesigning and reprinting your branded code. Either way, make it in the builder.