vCard QR code generator

What is a vCard?

A vCard is a standard file format for contact details (file extension .vcf). Smartphones, Outlook, Apple Contacts and Google Contacts all understand it. Put a vCard into a QR code and a single camera scan is enough: the phone shows the contact and saves it with one tap – no retyping, no typos.

This generator creates a vCard version 3.0, which iPhone and Android read reliably. Special characters such as commas or semicolons are escaped correctly, and accented characters are encoded as UTF-8. Here's what the result looks like:

BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N;CHARSET=UTF-8:Zöllner;Davis;;;
FN;CHARSET=UTF-8:Davis Zöllner
ORG:TAAGSOLUTIONS GmbH
TITLE:Co-Founder
TEL;TYPE=WORK:+49 40 59363940
EMAIL;TYPE=INTERNET:hello@mytaag.com
END:VCARD

Static or dynamic QR code?

The QR code from this generator is static: the contact details are stored in the code itself. That's simple and works offline. But if a phone number changes, you have to create and print a new code. A dynamic QR code, on the other hand, only contains a link to an online profile that you can change at any time.

Size and placement

For your QR code to scan reliably, size, contrast and the quiet zone matter:

• Minimum size: On a business card, the code should be at least about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in). The more data it holds, the finer the dots – so print it a little larger.
• Scanning distance: As a rule of thumb, the edge length should be about a tenth of the scanning distance. For a poster scanned from two meters, that's around 20 cm.
• Quiet zone: Leave a white margin around the code. The generator adds it automatically – don't crop it off.
• Contrast: Dark dots on a light background. Some cameras struggle with inverted or low-contrast codes.
• Placement: The back of your business card, a trade show wall, a name badge, the last slide of a presentation or your email signature.

SVG is best for print because it scales without losing quality. PNG is handy for presentations, websites and office documents.

Tips for a good vCard QR code

1. Less is more: Include only the details people really need. Every extra entry makes the code denser.
2. International phone numbers: Use the country code, e.g. +49 40 …, so the number works abroad too.
3. Test before printing: Scan the code with an iPhone and an Android phone and check that every field comes through correctly.
4. Add a hint: A short line such as “Scan to save my contact” shows what the code does.
5. Go dynamic if things change often: If numbers or job titles change frequently, a dynamic code saves reprints.