# QR codes on shipping labels

> Shipping label QR codes are scanned close, often by handheld imagers rather than phones, and often after the parcel has been through a conveyor. Error correction Q and a thermal-transfer ribbon are the two decisions that matter.

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

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| Typical scan distance | **10–30 cm** |
|---|---|
| Minimum code width | **1.5–3 cm** |
| Error correction | **Q** |

## Direct thermal is the wrong choice for anything slow

Direct thermal labels fade from heat, sunlight and abrasion. A parcel sitting in a van in
summer can lose enough contrast in a day to fail. Thermal transfer with a wax-resin ribbon
survives the journey.

## Scanner type changes the rules

Handheld 2D imagers read far more forgivingly than phone cameras — better optics, controlled
illumination, and a decoder tuned for damaged codes. If your codes are read by warehouse
hardware, you can go smaller than the phone-based rules suggest. If a courier might scan
with a phone, use the phone rules.

## Placement

- Never across a box edge or a seam. Flat surface only.
- At least 10 mm from the label edge — applicators drift.
- Do not cover with packing tape. Tape adds a specular layer, and a wrinkle in it destroys
  local contrast.
- Keep clear of the shipping barcode's own quiet zone.

## Data

Encode an id you resolve server-side rather than a long descriptive URL. Shorter payload,
lower version, larger modules, better read rate on a scuffed label.

## Try it

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