QR Codes on Menus: Best Practices

Use a mobile-friendly web page, not a PDF

The most common mistake is linking the QR code to a PDF of the printed menu. PDFs require zooming, don't reflow on small screens, and load slowly on weak restaurant WiFi. A simple mobile-friendly web page loads in under a second and reads naturally on any phone.

If you must use a PDF (for example, a fine-dining tasting menu with specific typography), make sure it's optimized to under 500 KB and rendered for portrait phone screens.

Always use a dynamic QR code

Menu items, prices, and availability change constantly. A dynamic QR code points to a short redirect URL that you can update at any time. That means you can swap out the menu page, add seasonal items, or fix typos without reprinting a single table tent.

Static QR codes lock the destination into the printed image. If you reprint your menu every time it changes, you're using the wrong type of code.

Sizing for table tents and menus

• Table tent: 1.5 in × 1.5 in minimum
• Printed menu page: 1 in × 1 in minimum
• Window sticker (sidewalk view): 4 in × 4 in
• Hostess stand sign: 2 in × 2 in

Add a short instruction

"Scan to view our menu" or "Scan to order from your table" significantly increases scan rates compared to a code with no label. Keep the text in a clean sans-serif font directly under the code.

Test on both iPhone and Android before printing

Different phones handle QR scans slightly differently. Always scan your final design with an iPhone and an Android device before printing 500 table tents. Verify the destination loads quickly and the page is readable.

Track which tables get the most scans

If you use one QR code per section or table, you can see which areas of the restaurant generate the most digital engagement. PV QR Codes gives you per-code analytics — total scans, unique devices, scan times, and device types.