About the QR Code Menu Generator
With a QR code menu, guests scan a code on the table and read your menu on their phone. You can update prices, mark items as sold out and add specials without reprinting anything, and show as many photos as you like. That’s why restaurants, cafés, bars, food trucks and hotels use them.
This tool does one job: it turns the link where your menu lives into a QR code. It’s a static QR code, so there’s no monthly fee, no expiry and no scan limit, and nothing you type is sent to a server. Ordering and paying at the table needs a separate POS or ordering service.
How to use
- Put your menu online first. Pick a place from Where to host your menu below and copy the share link.
- Paste the link into the Website URL field. The QR code appears instantly.
- Open Design to add your colors and logo. Without a logo, set error correction to Quartile (25%) or higher so stains and scratches don’t break the code.
- Choose 2048px (print) as the image size and click Download PNG, or Download SVG for a print shop.
- After printing, sit at a table and scan it with two or three phones (iPhone and Android) to make sure the menu opens.
Where to host your menu
| Option | Pros | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile menu | Guests also see your reviews, photos and hours. Open your listing in Google Maps → Share → Copy link. | The link opens your whole listing, not only the menu. |
| Google Drive PDF or image | Free, and you can reuse your existing menu file. | Set General access to Anyone with the link. Keep the file small for mobile data. |
| Your website | Mobile-friendly, easy to add allergens and translations. | Don’t change the page address later. |
Keep the link, change the content. The QR code only stores the address, so if you update the menu at the same URL you never need to reprint. On Google Drive, don’t upload a new file; use Manage versions on the existing file to upload a new version and the link stays the same.
Table tent size and scanning tips
- Size: guests scan from 30–40 cm (12–16 in), so a code of 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) is right. It fits easily on a 4×6 in table tent or sticker.
- Error correction: table codes get wet, greasy and scratched. With a logo it’s set to High (30%) automatically; without one, use Quartile (25%) or higher.
- Finish: glossy lamination reflects ceiling lights and can make scanning harder. Choose matte.
- Add a line of text: “Scan with your camera to see the menu” plus the table number saves your staff a lot of questions.
- Keep some paper menus. Not everyone has a phone, a charged battery or good eyesight for small screens. A few printed menus keep your restaurant accessible to everyone.
FAQ
Is there a monthly fee or expiry date?
No. The QR code stores your link directly in the image, so it’s free and never expires. It keeps working as long as the page your menu is on (Google Drive, your website…) is online.
Do I need a new QR code when my menu changes?
No. Update the menu at the same link and the existing QR code shows the new version. You only need a new code if the link itself changes.
My Google Drive PDF says “You need access”.
The file is still restricted. Click Share, set General access to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer), then create the QR code from that link.
Can guests order and pay through the QR code?
This tool creates a QR code that opens a link. Ordering and payment need an ordering service from your POS provider, but you can turn its ordering page link into a QR code here.
How big should the QR code be?
3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) on tables. On walls or at the entrance, make it at least one tenth of the scanning distance, e.g. 20 cm (8 in) for 2 m.