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QR Code Capacity and Barcode Sizes: Reference Tables

22 September 2026 · Free QR Pro

These are the numbers we reach for when sizing a code. The QR capacities were computed with the encoder this site uses, then checked against the published maximums for the largest code, Version 40 at level L: 7,089 digits, 4,296 alphanumeric characters, or 2,953 bytes. The barcode dimensions come from GS1 documents, cited at the end.

QR code capacity in bytes

This table applies to web addresses and ordinary text. Each basic Latin letter, digit or symbol is one byte; other scripts and emoji cost more. A code of version v is 17 + 4v modules across.

Maximum bytes per version and error-correction level. The percentage is roughly how much of the code can be damaged and still read.
Version	Modules	L (7%)	M (15%)	Q (25%)	H (30%)
1	21	17	14	11	7
2	25	32	26	20	14
3	29	53	42	32	24
4	33	78	62	46	34
5	37	106	84	60	44
6	41	134	106	74	58
7	45	154	122	86	64
8	49	192	152	108	84
9	53	230	180	130	98
10	57	271	213	151	119
15	77	520	412	292	220
20	97	858	666	482	382
25	117	1,273	997	715	535
30	137	1,732	1,370	982	742
40	177	2,953	2,331	1,663	1,273

Error correction is a trade. Level H lets a code survive a logo in the middle or real wear, but holds a little under half what level L does at the same version. For a typical 40-character web address, level M fits in version 3 and level H needs version 5.

Digits only, and capital letters

The standard has more compact modes for a payload made only of digits, or only of capital letters, digits, spaces and the symbols $ % * + - . / :. A generator that switches to them fits much more in the same code. This site's generator always writes bytes, so for codes made here the table above applies:

Capacity at error-correction level M. Lowercase letters force byte mode, which is why, in a generator that switches modes, an address written in capitals can produce a smaller code.
Version	Digits only	Capitals + digits	Bytes
1	34	20	14
2	63	38	26
3	101	61	42
4	149	90	62
5	202	122	84
6	255	154	106
7	293	178	122
8	365	221	152
9	432	262	180
10	513	311	213
15	991	600	412
20	1,600	970	666
25	2,395	1,451	997
30	3,289	1,994	1,370
40	5,596	3,391	2,331

Printed size from module size

A code's printed width is its module count, plus four modules of blank margin on each side, multiplied by the width of one module. The table is plain arithmetic. How large a module needs to be depends on scanning distance, which the print-size guide covers.

Printed width in millimetres, including the four-module quiet zone on each side, for four module sizes.
Version	Modules incl. margin	0.33 mm	0.5 mm	0.75 mm	1.0 mm
1	29	9.6	14.5	21.8	29.0
2	33	10.9	16.5	24.8	33.0
3	37	12.2	18.5	27.8	37.0
4	41	13.5	20.5	30.8	41.0
5	45	14.9	22.5	33.8	45.0
6	49	16.2	24.5	36.8	49.0
8	57	18.8	28.5	42.8	57.0
10	65	21.4	32.5	48.8	65.0
15	85	28.1	42.5	63.8	85.0
20	105	34.6	52.5	78.8	105.0

EAN-13 and UPC-A

Retail barcodes are specified at a nominal 100% size and may be printed from 80% to 200% of it. EAN-13 and UPC-A share the same dimensions:

80%, 100% and 200% as given by GS1 Canada; the 150% row is 1.5 × the nominal values. GS1 Canada gives 150–200% as the recommended range for automated scanning environments.
Magnification	Bar width X (mm)	Width incl. quiet zones (mm)	Minimum bar height (mm)
80%	0.26	29.83	18.29
100% (nominal)	0.33	37.29	22.86
150%	0.495	55.94	34.29
200%	0.66	74.58	45.72

Below 80% a barcode is out of specification, and some retail scanners will not read it. The barcode generator’s Retail shelf preset uses the 100% proportions; its Small package preset uses 80%, the smallest it offers.

EAN-8 and UPC-E

These short forms are for packs too small for a full-size barcode. The site's generator makes EAN-8; UPC-E is included for reference.

100% values from GS1 Australia; 80% and 200% rows are scaled from them.
EAN-8	Bar width X (mm)	Width incl. quiet zones (mm)	Bar height (mm)
80%	0.26	21.38	14.58
100% (nominal)	0.33	26.73	18.23
200%	0.66	53.46	36.46

From GS1 Canada.
UPC-E	Bar width X (mm)	Width incl. quiet zones (mm)	Minimum bar height (mm)
80%	0.26	17.69	18.29
100% (nominal)	0.33	22.11	22.86
200%	0.66	44.22	45.72

Code 128

Code 128 has no single nominal size, because its width grows with the number of characters encoded: a six-character shelf code is much narrower than a twenty-character serial number. Size it by bar width and keep at least ten bar widths of quiet zone on each side. Remember that it is not a retail symbology: a till will not look it up. Choosing between EAN, UPC and Code 128 explains when to use which.

Sources

SVG export keeps the bar widths in the proportions the standard defines.

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