# QR codes on wristbands

> A wristband QR code has to work on a curved, moving, sweaty surface about 15–20 mm tall. Keep the payload tiny so the code stays low-version, use error correction Q, and consider a rectangular rMQR code if your scanners support it.

Source: https://useqr.app/qr-codes-on/wristbands · 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 | **2–2.5 cm** |
| Error correction | **Q** |

## Height is the binding constraint

A typical wristband gives 15–20 mm of usable height. That caps the code at about 20 mm
square, so the payload must be short: an opaque id of 8–12 characters, resolved
server-side. A URL with a long path will not fit legibly.

## Curvature

A wrist is a tight radius. Keep the code within roughly a third of the visible arc and
expect the wearer to have to turn their wrist. Version 2 or above so alignment patterns
exist.

## Materials

| Type | Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tyvek | 1–3 days | Cheap, tears deliberately; ink can smudge when wet |
| Vinyl | 1–2 weeks | Sweat and water resistant |
| Silicone | reusable | Needs laser marking or a printed insert |
| Hospital polypropylene | days | Must survive alcohol gel and hand washing |

Alcohol hand gel is the specific killer in clinical settings — it dissolves many inks.
Specify a gel-resistant print or a laminated insert.

## Consider rMQR

[rMQR](/glossary/rmqr) is rectangular and suits a band far better than a square. Industrial
imagers read it; phone cameras generally do not, so only choose it if you control the
scanners.

## Try it

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