Add a logo to a QR code
Put your logo in the centre of a QR code without breaking it. How error correction works, how large the logo can safely be, and how to test before you print.
A QR code with your logo in the middle looks deliberate rather than generic, and it measurably improves trust — people are more willing to scan a code that visibly belongs to someone. The trick is knowing how much of the pattern you can cover before scanners start failing.
Why a logo works at all
QR codes use Reed–Solomon error correction: they deliberately store the same information more than once, so a damaged or obscured code can still be read. That is why a slightly scuffed code on a parcel still scans.
A centre logo is simply controlled damage. You are spending some of that redundancy on branding.
Error correction comes in four levels, and each one can recover a different proportion of the code:
| Level | Recovers about | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| L (low) | 7% | Clean digital use, no logo |
| M (medium) | 15% | The usual default |
| Q (quartile) | 25% | Small logo, or print that may scuff |
| H (high) | 30% | Logo in the centre, packaging, outdoor use |
If you are adding a logo, use the highest level you can. You are trading a slightly denser pattern for a much larger safety margin.
How big can the logo be
As a working rule, keep the logo within about 20–25% of the code's width, centred. At level H you have roughly 30% of redundancy to spend, and you do not want to spend all of it — the code also has to survive printing, lighting, camera angle and a cracked phone screen.
A few things that help more than size alone:
- Keep it centred. The three large squares in the corners are position markers. Cover any part of them and most readers give up immediately.
- Give the logo a solid background. A small white pad behind it reads more cleanly than a logo sitting directly on the pattern.
- Prefer a simple mark. A dense logo with fine detail disappears at small sizes anyway.
Adding one in uYou
- Create or edit a QR code from your dashboard.
- Choose the logo mode: no logo, the uYou mark, or your own image.
- Upload your logo if you are using a custom one.
- Raise error correction to the highest level.
- Download and test.
Custom logos are a paid feature — check the pricing page for the plans that include it.
Test it properly before printing
This is the step people skip, and it is the one that costs money. Before artwork goes anywhere near a printer:
- Scan the actual downloaded file, at the size it will be printed, from about the distance a real person will stand.
- Try at least two phones — ideally one iPhone and one Android, since their built-in readers behave differently.
- Try it in poor light, not just at your desk.
If it fails, shrink the logo before you touch anything else. That fixes the large majority of cases.
Frequently asked questions
Does adding a logo break a QR code?
Not if it is small enough. QR codes carry redundant data, so a centre logo covering roughly 20-30% of the width is normally read without trouble.
What error correction should I use with a logo?
Use the highest level available. It stores the most redundant data and gives the logo the most room.
Can I use my own logo file?
Yes, on plans that include custom QR logos. See the pricing page for which plans include it.
Last updated 2026-08-24