QR Code Contrast Checker
Pick your colours and see whether the code will still scan — before it goes to print.
Scanners read luminance, not colour. Two shades that look clearly different to you can be nearly identical to a camera in poor light, which is why a code can look perfect on screen and fail on a menu at dusk. This checks the same things our editor checks, instantly and without an account.
Looks scannable
contrast 18.9:1Still test the printed piece at the distance people will stand.
Try a failure
Already have a code? Check the image
Upload a finished code — a proof from the printer, a screenshot, an artwork file — and the same review runs on what a camera would actually see: contrast, logo size, quiet zone, print size.
Drop a QR code here
PNG, JPG, WebP, SVG or PDF, up to 10 MB. You can also paste from the clipboard.
Your file never leaves your browser.
What this cannot know
It reviews the design and nothing else. It cannot know your printer, your material, the light where the code will live, or the age of the cameras that will read it. A green verdict is a good start, not a substitute for scanning a printed proof.
Frequently asked questions
Why do QR code colours matter?
Scanners read brightness, not hue. Two colours that look clearly different to your eye can be nearly identical to a camera in poor light, which is why a code can look perfect on screen and fail on a printed menu at dusk.
What’s the minimum contrast for a QR code?
Keep a clear, high difference in luminance between the modules and the background. The checker shows the ratio and warns before it drops into risky territory.
Can I use a light code on a dark background?
Yes, but many scanners expect dark-on-light. Inverted codes read on modern phones but are riskier on older ones, so test a printed proof.
Does a logo or gradient break scanning?
Not necessarily. A logo is fine if it stays within the error-correction budget and keeps the finder patterns clear; a gradient is fine if its palest end still contrasts with the background. The checker accounts for both.
Make the code itself
Five dynamic codes free, no card, and the same check runs live while you design.
Create a code