QR code size, printing and placement for restaurant tables

A QR code that takes a guest three attempts to scan is worse than no code at all. The guest tilts the phone, moves the candle, gives up and waves for a paper menu, and your waiter now has two jobs instead of one. Nearly every scanning problem comes down to four physical things: the code is too small for the distance, the contrast or margins are wrong, the surface reflects light, or it sits somewhere the guest cannot see it.

This guide gives you numbers to work with. It covers how big a code needs to be for each spot in your restaurant, how to prepare the file for printing, which materials survive daily cleaning (and a summer on the Sahel), how to deal with dim lighting, and a ten-minute test to run before you print a hundred of anything.

1Size: the distance rule

The widely used rule of thumb is that a QR code scans reliably from a distance of about ten times its width. A 3 cm code scans comfortably from about 30 cm; a 20 cm code from about 2 metres. Measure the real distance from the guest's eyes (and phone) to where the code will sit, then size it.

Placement	Typical scan distance	Minimum code width	Comfortable width
Table tent or stand	40 to 60 cm	4 cm	5 to 6 cm
Sticker flat on the table	40 to 60 cm, at an angle	5 cm	6 to 7 cm
Bill folder or receipt card	25 to 30 cm	2.5 cm	3 to 4 cm
Counter or till	60 to 80 cm	6 cm	8 cm
Wall or menu board by the queue	1.5 to 2 m	15 cm	20 cm
Front window for passers-by	1 to 1.5 m	10 cm	15 cm

Flat stickers need to be larger because the guest views them at a slant, which squashes the code in the camera's view. That is also why a stand or tent that holds the code upright usually scans faster than a sticker on the tabletop.

2Preparing the file for print

Most printing problems start in the file, before the printer ever sees it.

• Export as vector (SVG or PDF) if you can, or as a PNG at a size that prints at 300 dpi or more. Never screenshot a code and paste it into a design.
• Keep the quiet zone. The QR standard requires a clear margin around the code of four modules (four of its small squares). Designers love to crop this or put a border right against it. Leave it blank.
• Dark on light. Black or very dark colour on white or cream. Light-on-dark (inverted) codes are not read by some older scanner apps, and low-contrast brand colours (gold on beige, grey on black) fail in dim rooms.
• Logo in the middle only with high error correction. A logo covers part of the pattern. Generate the code at a higher error-correction level (Q or H) and keep the logo small. If your generator does not tell you the level, test extra carefully.
• Print the short address under the code so guests whose camera refuses can type it.
• Add a call to action in Arabic and English: "Scan for the menu" / "امسح الكود لعرض المنيو". A code with no label reads as decoration.

If each table has its own code (needed when guests order or call a waiter from the table), print the table number clearly next to the code as well. It helps staff put the right card back on the right table after cleaning.

3Materials that survive service

A code that works on day one and is scratched, faded or peeling by month three will quietly stop working. Match the material to what the spot goes through.

Material	Good for	Watch out for
Printed card in an acrylic stand	Indoor tables; easy to swap the card	Glossy acrylic front can reflect overhead lights; angle it or choose matte
Engraved or UV-printed acrylic block	Premium dining rooms, bars	Engraved codes on clear acrylic often have poor contrast; test before ordering a batch
Laminated vinyl sticker	Tables, counters, bar tops	Harsh cleaning sprays and scouring wear the surface; use matte, heavy lamination
Wooden or metal plaque	Outdoor terraces, beach venues	Laser engraving on wood can be too low-contrast; print on a panel set into the wood instead
Paper table tent	Short-term, soft launch, events	Grease and spills; replace weekly

For outdoor seating in Hurghada, Sharm or the Sahel, strong sun fades ordinary inks within a season. Ask the printer for UV-resistant ink or lamination, and keep a few spares because wind and sand take their toll.

4Lighting: the problem nobody tests for

Owners test codes at 11am with the lights on. Guests scan at 9pm in a lounge lit by candles and warm pendants. Phone cameras struggle in low light, and a code that scans instantly at lunch can take several seconds at dinner.

• Put the code where light falls on it, not in the shadow of a napkin holder or the shisha.
• In dark bars and lounges, consider a backlit stand or a small lamp near the code, or use larger codes with bold contrast.
• Avoid spotlights directly above glossy or acrylic stands; move the stand or tilt it so the reflection falls away from the seat.
• Check both service periods. Daylight through a window can create glare at lunch that disappears at dinner, and the reverse.

5Placement: where guests actually look

On the table

• Face the seats. On a two-top against a wall, the stand faces the open side of the table. On a four-top, place it at the edge between two seats rather than in the centre, where plates, bread and shisha end up covering it.
• One code per table of up to four, two on larger tables (one at each end) so nobody has to reach across.
• Bar counters: a code every two or three stools, at the back edge of the counter where drinks will not sit on it.

Tabletop vs wall-mounted

For seated guests, codes on the table win: the guest scans at the moment they sit down, without getting up or craning. Wall codes are useful where people stand: queues at the counter, the waiting area at the entrance, a takeaway window. Use both if you run both kinds of service, but do not rely on a single wall code to serve a dining room.

Beyond the table

• Entrance or window: lets passers-by and people waiting for a table browse before they sit.
• Host stand: a card the host hands over, for guests who do not see the tent.
• Delivery bags and takeaway cups: a code that opens the menu for the next order.

For the case for unique codes per table, and how to set them up, see our guide to table-specific QR codes. If you might change menu platforms one day, read static vs dynamic QR codes before you print, so you know who controls where the code leads.

6Test before you print a batch

Print one or two codes on your chosen material and run this test during evening service.

1. Use three phones: an older, cheaper Android, a recent iPhone, and one mid-range Android. Use the normal camera app, since that is what guests use.
2. Sit in each seat type: the corner seat, the seat furthest from the code, the bar stool.
3. Time each scan from raising the phone to the menu opening. It should be about two seconds. Anything that needs repositioning is a fail.
4. Test on mobile data with Wi-Fi off, since that is what many guests will be on.
5. Fix and retest: bigger size, matte finish, moved stand, higher contrast.

After launch, your analytics tell you what the test cannot. If you use Menyo, codes can carry your logo and brand colours, and table-level scan analytics show which tables are scanning. A table that scans far less than its neighbours usually has a placement or lighting problem. Note the QR code allowance by plan: 3 on Starter, 15 on Growth and 50 on Professional. More on the rollout itself in how to roll out a digital menu without disrupting service.

7Frequently asked questions

What is the smallest QR code size for a restaurant table?

For a stand or tent at normal seated distance, about 4 cm wide is the practical minimum and 5 to 6 cm is more comfortable, especially in dim light. Flat stickers on the table should be a little bigger.

Can I put my logo in the middle of the QR code?

Yes, if the code is generated with a higher error-correction level and the logo is small. Always test a logo code on an older phone in low light before printing a batch.

Why does my QR code scan at lunch but not at dinner?

Low light, glare from overhead lights on a glossy surface, or both. Switch to a matte finish, move the code where light falls on it, and make it larger with stronger contrast.

Should the QR code be on the table or on the wall?

On the table for seated guests, on the wall or counter for queues and takeaway. Wall codes alone make seated guests get up or strain to scan.

8Measure, print one, test, then print the rest

Size the code for the real distance, keep the margin and the contrast, choose matte materials that survive cleaning, and test in evening light on an old phone. It is an hour of work that saves months of waiters fetching paper menus.

Menyo generates a menu QR code automatically and lets you create branded and per-table codes, from $19 a month. Create your menu and download your codes.