# QR codes on mugs and drinkware

> A mug is a cylinder about 8 cm across, so a QR code has roughly 8 cm of usable arc before curvature defeats the decoder. Keep the code to 2.5–3.5 cm and centre it on the flattest part facing the viewer.

Source: https://useqr.app/qr-codes-on/mugs · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

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| Typical scan distance | **20–30 cm** |
|---|---|
| Minimum code width | **2.5–3.5 cm** |
| Error correction | **Q** |

## The curvature limit

Keep the code within about **one third of the circumference**. On a standard 8 cm-diameter
mug that is roughly 8 cm of arc, and a 3 cm code sits comfortably inside it. Beyond a third,
the edge modules foreshorten past what alignment patterns can correct.

Use at least a version-2 code (25 × 25) so alignment patterns exist at all — version 1 has
none, and a version-1 code on a curve is unreliable.

## Print method

- **Sublimation** on a coated mug: sharp, dishwasher-durable, the default choice.
- **Ceramic decal + kiln firing**: the most durable, best for anything long-lived.
- **Direct UV print**: sharp but the ink sits proud and wears at the edges.

## Dishwasher survival

Sublimation and fired decals survive hundreds of cycles. UV-printed and vinyl-applied codes
degrade in tens. If the mug is for a café rather than a shelf, insist on sublimation or
fired decal.

## Placement

Opposite the handle for a right-handed grip, or on both sides. A code under the handle is
unscannable by half your users.

## Try it

- https://useqr.app/url
- https://useqr.app/size-calculator
- https://useqr.app/validate