# QR codes on name badges and lanyards

> A badge QR code is scanned across a handshake — 30–50 cm — so 3–5 cm is right. The bigger issue is that lanyards swing and badges flip, so the code must be printed on both sides.

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

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| Typical scan distance | **30–50 cm** |
|---|---|
| Minimum code width | **3–5 cm** |
| Error correction | **M** |

## Print both sides

Badges rotate. A single-sided badge is unscannable half the time, and asking a stranger to
turn their badge over is exactly the friction the code was supposed to remove.

## Gloss pouches are the standard mistake

Most badge holders are glossy PVC. Under conference lighting they reflect, and the code
inside becomes unreadable. Use **matt** pouches, or print directly onto the badge stock.

## What to encode

| Payload | Good for |
|---|---|
| vCard / MeCard | Peer-to-peer contact exchange |
| URL to an attendee profile | Richer, updatable, and measurable |
| Opaque attendee id | Session check-in, lead scanning |

A URL is usually best: it is a short payload (so a coarse, easily scanned code), it can be
updated, and it lets the attendee control what is shared. Encoding a full vCard puts
personal data permanently into a pattern anyone can photograph across a room — worth a
thought before printing a thousand.

## Session scanning

If badges are scanned at doors by handheld readers, keep the payload to a short opaque id.
Fast to decode, nothing personal on the badge.

## Try it

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