How it works
An email QR code encodes a single line of text in the standard mailto: URI scheme:
When scanned, the phone opens the user's default mail app (Mail, Gmail, Outlook, Spark, Proton Mail — whatever they've set) with the recipient, subject, and body already populated. The user reviews and taps Send. Every modern mail client supports this — the spec dates back to 1994.
Generate yours in 3 steps
Open the email tab
Open the generator — opens directly on the email tab.
Enter recipient, subject, body
Type the email address (required), and optional subject and body. The generator URL-encodes everything so special characters and line breaks survive.
Download and test
Download as SVG or PNG, then scan with your phone to confirm the mail app opens with the right recipient and content.
Where email QR codes are useful
📧 Support contact
"Email us" QR on packaging — pre-fills the support address with order ID in the body.
✉️ RSVP forms
Wedding invites, event flyers — guests scan to RSVP with a pre-filled subject and template.
🎯 Lead magnets
"Email me the whitepaper" — scan, mail app opens, send. Higher conversion than form fills.
🏢 Conference networking
QR on badge — attendees scan to email you with a pre-filled "Met at conference" subject.
📰 Press contact
QR in press release — journalists scan to reach the PR contact with a pre-filled subject line.
🛒 Wholesale inquiries
QR on retail signage — buyers scan to email "Wholesale pricing inquiry — [Product]".
Best practices
- Pre-fill a clear subject. Subjects like "Inquiry from QR scan — [Source]" let you triage incoming mail effortlessly.
- Keep the body short or empty. Long pre-filled bodies feel pushy. A simple "Hi, I'm interested in…" prompt is enough.
- Always include a fallback. Print the email address in plain text under the QR — for users who can't or won't scan.
- Test on multiple devices. Mail clients vary. Verify on iOS Mail, Gmail Android app, and Outlook before relying on the QR for a campaign.
Frequently asked questions
Will it work on iPhone, Android, and desktop?
mailto: URI is universal. iOS opens Mail (or Gmail / Outlook if set as default); Android opens the default mail app; desktop scanners open the system default mail client.Does the email send automatically?
Can I include a subject and body?
Is there a maximum body length?
Can I encode CC and BCC?
mailto: spec supports CC and BCC, but we keep the form simple to avoid encoding mistakes.Is the recipient email sent anywhere?
Is this QR code generator really free, with no catch?
Yes — free forever. No sign-up, no watermark, no usage limits, no expiry. The entire generator runs in your browser, so we have no server costs to recover. No premium tier exists.
Will my QR code expire or stop working?
No. Static QR codes (which this site generates) never expire — they encode the destination directly into the image. The QR works as long as the URL or content it points to is still valid. Print once, scan forever.
Can I track how many people scan my QR code?
Not from the QR itself (static codes have no built-in analytics). The simplest workaround: add UTM parameters to your destination URL (e.g. ?utm_source=qr&utm_campaign=flyer) and read scans in Google Analytics, Plausible, or your site's log files.
What's the minimum print size for a QR code to scan reliably?
Rule of thumb: 2×2 cm (0.8") for cards and stickers, 5×5 cm for table tents and posters, 30×30 cm for billboards. The 1:10 ratio works: scan distance ≈ QR size × 10. Always test scan at actual size before printing a large batch.
Can I edit where the QR points after it's printed?
Not directly — static QR codes have the destination baked in. Workaround: point your QR to a short URL on your own domain (e.g. yourdomain.com/menu) that redirects to the real destination. You can change the redirect target any time without reprinting.