To create a QR code from vCard data: go to a free vCard QR generator (such as QR-Code-Generator.com, QRCodeChimp, or TEC-IT), enter your name, phone number, email, and other contact details, then click Generate and download the QR code image. When someone scans the code with their phone camera, your contact details are saved directly to their address book. Keep your vCard under 300 characters for the most reliable scanning across all devices.
Introduction
A vCard QR code turns your contact information into a scannable image. Instead of handing someone a paper business card and hoping they type your details into their phone later, they scan the QR code and your name, phone number, email, and address are added to their contacts instantly. You can also generate a QR code from a VCF file you already have, making it easy to create a contact QR code for any person in your address book.
We have built VCF file tools at Univik since 2013, and vCard QR codes are one of the most popular requests we get from users who manage large contact databases. The process of creating one is simple, but there are important decisions around data limits, static versus dynamic codes, and vCard formatting that determine whether your QR code actually works reliably across iPhone and Android devices.
This guide covers four methods to create a QR code from vCard data, including free online tools, generating from an existing VCF file, bulk generation for entire teams, and API-based generation for developers. We also cover the data size limits that trip up most people and the best practices for placing vCard QR codes on business cards, email signatures, and printed materials.
How a vCard QR Code Works
A vCard QR code is a standard QR code that contains specially formatted text following the vCard specification. When a phone camera scans it, the device recognizes the BEGIN:VCARD header and treats the content as contact data rather than a URL or plain text.
Here is what the raw text inside a typical vCard QR code looks like:
BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
N:Smith;John;;;
FN:John Smith
ORG:Acme Corp
TITLE:Marketing Director
TEL;TYPE=CELL:+1-555-123-4567
EMAIL:[email protected]
URL:https://acme.com
END:VCARDThe phone parses each line (N for name, TEL for phone, EMAIL for email) and maps them to the correct contact fields. This works on every modern iPhone (using the Camera app) and every Android phone (using Google Lens or the built-in camera). No special QR scanning app is needed.
vCard Version Matters for QR Codes
Use vCard 3.0 for maximum compatibility. It is supported by iPhone, Android, Google Contacts, Outlook, and every major contacts app. vCard 2.1 also works but uses older encoding conventions. vCard 4.0 has partial support on some devices and may cause fields to be silently dropped. For a deeper look at version differences, see our VCF to vCard conversion guide.
Static vs Dynamic vCard QR Codes
This is the most important decision you will make when creating a vCard QR code. The two types work fundamentally differently, and choosing wrong means reprinting all your materials when your phone number changes.
| Feature | Static vCard QR | Dynamic vCard QR |
|---|---|---|
| What the QR contains | Your actual vCard text | A short URL that redirects to your vCard |
| Can update info after printing | No (must reprint) | Yes (edit anytime) |
| Works offline (no internet) | Yes | No (requires internet to resolve URL) |
| Scan tracking / analytics | No | Yes |
| QR code complexity | Higher (more data = denser pattern) | Lower (short URL = simpler pattern) |
| Cost | Free (most generators) | Free tier or paid subscription |
| Dependency | None (self-contained) | QR service must stay online |
Our recommendation: Use static vCard QR codes when your contact details are stable and you want the code to work forever without depending on any service. Use dynamic codes when you need to update details frequently or want scan analytics. Most professionals are best served by static codes because they have no service dependency and work offline.
4 Ways to Create a QR Code from vCard
Method 1: Free Online vCard QR Generator (Fastest)
This is the quickest way for individuals to create a single vCard QR code. Several free tools generate static vCard QR codes with no signup required.
Go to a free vCard QR generator. Reliable free options include QR-Code-Generator.com (select “vCard” type), TEC-IT QR Code Generator (select “vCard” from the data type dropdown), and QRCodeChimp (choose “vCard QR Code”).
Enter your contact details. Fill in your name, phone number(s), email, company, job title, address, and website. Only include fields you actually want shared. Every extra field increases the QR code density, which can make small printed codes harder to scan.
Generate and download. Click Generate, then download the QR code as a PNG (for screen use) or SVG/PDF (for print). SVG and PDF are vector formats that scale to any size without losing quality, which is important for business cards and posters.
Test before printing. Scan the QR code with both an iPhone and an Android phone to verify that all fields are populated correctly. Check that phone numbers have the right country code and that special characters in names display properly.
Method 2: From an Existing VCF File (Use Your Own Contact Data)
If you already have a VCF file (exported from Google Contacts, iCloud, Outlook, or any contacts app), you can convert that directly into a QR code without retyping your information.
Open your VCF file in a text editor (Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code). A VCF file is plain text. Find the contact you want to turn into a QR code and copy everything from BEGIN:VCARD through END:VCARD.
Trim unnecessary fields. Remove any lines that are not needed for the QR code, such as PHOTO (base64 image data), NOTE (long notes), REV (revision timestamps), and X- custom properties. These fields add hundreds of characters and push the QR code past the reliable scanning limit. Keep only: N, FN, ORG, TITLE, TEL, EMAIL, ADR, and URL.
Paste into a text-to-QR generator. Go to a QR code generator that accepts raw text input (such as TEC-IT, QRCode Monkey, or the QuickChart API). Paste your trimmed vCard text and generate the code. The generator encodes your vCard text directly into the QR pattern.
Remove PHOTO Data Before Converting to QR
Contact photos embedded as base64 in VCF files can add 5,000 to 50,000 characters to a single contact. QR codes have a practical data limit of about 2,953 characters (and much less for reliable scanning on business cards). Always remove PHOTO lines before creating a QR code. The contact’s photo will not display from a QR scan regardless, because phones only import the text fields.
Method 3: Bulk Generation for Teams (CSV or VCF Upload)
When a company needs unique vCard QR codes for every employee (for business cards, conference badges, or office directories), generating them one at a time is impractical. Bulk generation tools create hundreds or thousands of QR codes from a single spreadsheet or VCF file.
Prepare a CSV or VCF file with all contacts. For CSV, use columns: First Name, Last Name, Title, Company, Phone, Email, Address, Website. For VCF, export all contacts from your company directory. If you need to convert between formats, our VCF to CSV guide covers the process.
Upload to a bulk QR service. Tools like QR Planet, QR TIGER, and QR Batch accept CSV or VCF uploads and generate one QR code per contact. Some services offer free tiers for small batches (under 50 codes). For larger batches, paid plans typically start at around $10 to $15 per month.
Download the QR codes as a ZIP file. Each code is saved as a separate image (PNG or SVG), typically named after the contact. You can then place each QR code on the corresponding employee’s business card design or badge template.
For teams using Google Sheets, the QuickChart API offers a spreadsheet-based approach. You create a formula that builds the vCard text from columns (First Name, Last Name, Phone, Email), then use an IMAGE function to render the QR code directly in the sheet. This is free and works for any number of contacts.
Method 4: QR Code API (For Developers and Automated Workflows)
If you need to generate vCard QR codes programmatically (for a CRM, employee onboarding system, or web application), QR code APIs let you create codes on the fly with an HTTP request.
Choose a QR API. QuickChart (free, open-source), GoQR.me API (free), and QR Server API (free) all accept vCard text as input and return a QR code image. For example, the QuickChart endpoint is: https://quickchart.io/qr?text=BEGIN:VCARD...
URL-encode the vCard text and pass it as the text parameter. Make sure line breaks in the vCard are encoded as %0A (not %0D%0A). Most programming languages have a built-in URL encode function (encodeURIComponent in JavaScript, urllib.parse.quote in Python).
Download or embed the returned image. The API returns a PNG image at the URL you constructed. You can embed it directly in HTML, save it to a file, or pipe it into a PDF template for business cards.
QR Code Data Limits and vCard Fields
This is where most vCard QR codes fail. The more data you put in, the denser and harder to scan the QR code becomes. Here are the practical limits based on our testing across 8 phone models.
| Character Count | QR Complexity | Minimum Print Size | Scan Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 characters | Low (Version 5-7) | 2 cm (0.8 in) | Excellent on all devices |
| 150 to 300 characters | Medium (Version 8-12) | 2.5 cm (1 in) | Reliable on all modern phones |
| 300 to 600 characters | High (Version 13-20) | 3.5 cm (1.4 in) | Good on most phones, some older cameras struggle |
| 600 to 1,200 characters | Very high (Version 21-30) | 5 cm (2 in) | Unreliable on some devices, not suitable for business cards |
| Over 1,200 characters | Extreme | 8+ cm (3+ in) | Poor, frequently fails to scan |
A typical business card vCard QR code should stay under 300 characters. Here is what fits comfortably within that limit and what to leave out:
Include (Essential Fields)
N (structured name), FN (display name), ORG (company), TITLE (job title), TEL with one or two numbers, EMAIL with one address, URL with one website. This typically totals 180 to 250 characters and produces a clean, easily scannable QR code at business card sizes.
Exclude (Too Large for QR)
PHOTO (thousands of characters), ADR with full street address (adds 80+ characters), NOTE (free text), multiple phone numbers and emails, social media handles, REV timestamps, X- custom properties. If you need all these fields, use a dynamic QR code that links to a landing page instead.
Best Practices for vCard QR Codes
Based on the thousands of VCF files we have processed at Univik, and our testing of QR code scanning across iPhone and Android devices, these practices produce the most reliable results.
Always include the country code in phone numbers. Use international format like +1-555-123-4567 rather than (555) 123-4567. International format ensures the number works when scanned by phones in any country.
Use vCard 3.0 format. Set VERSION:3.0 in your vCard text. This version has universal support across iPhone, Android, Google Contacts, and Outlook. Avoid vCard 4.0 for QR codes because some devices handle it inconsistently.
Test on both iPhone and Android before printing. iPhones use the Camera app to scan QR codes. Android phones use Google Lens or the built-in camera. The vCard parsing behavior can differ slightly between them, especially for address fields and TYPE parameters.
Use UTF-8 encoding with CHARSET declaration for non-English names. If your name or company contains characters outside the ASCII range (accents, Chinese, Arabic, Cyrillic), add CHARSET=UTF-8 to the relevant fields. For example: FN;CHARSET=UTF-8:José GarcÃa. Without this declaration, some phones display garbled characters.
Print QR codes at a minimum of 2.5 cm (1 inch) square on business cards. Ensure adequate contrast (dark code on light background) and leave a quiet zone (white border) of at least 4 modules around the QR pattern. Do not place the QR code over a busy background image.
Where to Place Your vCard QR Code
A vCard QR code is useful anywhere you want someone to save your contact details without typing. Whether printed on a QR code business card, embedded in an email signature, or displayed on a conference badge, the VCF QR code lets recipients scan and save your details in one tap. Here are the most effective placements based on scan rates reported by our users.
| Placement | Format | Recommended Size | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business cards | Print (SVG/PDF) | 2.5 to 3 cm | Place on back of card, add “Scan to save contact” text |
| Email signatures | PNG (150x150px) | 1.5 to 2 cm on screen | Link the image to your vCard file as a fallback |
| Conference badges | Print (SVG/PDF) | 3 to 4 cm | Use lanyard-friendly position, ensure lighting access |
| Resume / CV | Print or PDF | 2.5 cm | Place in header area near your contact details |
| Office door / desk nameplate | Print (high-res) | 4 to 6 cm | Larger size needed for scanning from further away |
| Website / landing page | PNG or SVG | 200x200px minimum | Include download link alongside for desktop users |
Common Problems and Fixes
QR code scans but does not offer to save as a contact. The phone is reading the QR as plain text instead of a vCard. This happens when the BEGIN:VCARD and END:VCARD tags are missing, or when the VERSION line is absent. Verify your vCard text starts with BEGIN:VCARD and the second line is VERSION:3.0.
QR code is too dense and does not scan reliably. You have included too much data. Remove the PHOTO property, reduce to one phone number and one email, and drop the full street address. Aim for under 300 characters total. If you need to share more information, switch to a dynamic QR code that links to a contact landing page.
Name or company shows garbled characters after scanning. The vCard contains non-ASCII characters without proper encoding. Add CHARSET=UTF-8 to the FN, N, and ORG lines. For example: N;CHARSET=UTF-8:Müller;Hans;;;. For a complete encoding fix workflow, see our guide on fixing VCF file import errors.
Phone number saved without country code or in the wrong field. Use international format with the + prefix (e.g., +44-20-7946-0958) and specify the TYPE parameter (TYPE=CELL for mobile, TYPE=WORK for office). Without TYPE, some phones save all numbers as “Other.”
Dynamic QR code stopped working after service cancelled. Dynamic vCard QR codes depend on the QR service’s redirect URL staying active. If the service shuts down or you cancel your subscription, the QR code becomes a dead link. For permanent use (printed materials with long lifespans), static vCard QR codes are safer because the contact data is embedded directly in the QR pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a QR code from a vCard?
Go to a free vCard QR code generator (QR-Code-Generator.com, TEC-IT, or QRCodeChimp), enter your contact details (name, phone, email, company), click Generate, and download the QR code image. You can also open an existing VCF file in a text editor, copy the vCard text, and paste it into a text-to-QR generator.
Is a vCard QR code free to create?
Yes. Static vCard QR codes are free to create with most online generators and they never expire. Dynamic vCard QR codes (which let you update details after printing and track scan analytics) are typically free for a limited number of codes, with paid plans for larger volumes.
What is the maximum amount of data a vCard QR code can hold?
The technical maximum for a QR code is 2,953 bytes of alphanumeric data. However, for reliable scanning on business cards and badges, keep your vCard under 300 characters. This comfortably fits a name, company, title, one phone number, one email, and a website URL.
Can I include a photo in a vCard QR code?
Technically yes, but practically no. Contact photos encoded as base64 in a VCF file are typically 5,000 to 50,000 characters, far exceeding the QR code’s practical scanning limit. The resulting QR code would be extremely dense and nearly impossible to scan. If you need to share a photo with your contact, use a dynamic QR code that links to a landing page with your photo and downloadable VCF file.
Should I use static or dynamic vCard QR codes?
Use static if your contact details are stable and you want the code to work forever without internet and without depending on any service. Use dynamic if you change phone numbers or job titles frequently, or if you want to track how many times your code is scanned. Most individuals and small businesses do well with static codes.
Can I create vCard QR codes in bulk for my whole team?
Yes. Prepare a CSV file with columns for each contact field (First Name, Last Name, Phone, Email, etc.) or export all contacts as a VCF file. Upload to a bulk QR generator service like QR Planet, QR TIGER, or QR Batch. Each contact gets its own unique QR code, downloadable as a ZIP archive of image files. The QuickChart API also supports spreadsheet-based bulk generation for free.
How do I add a vCard QR code to my email signature?
Generate your vCard QR code and save it as a PNG image at 150×150 pixels. In your email client, insert the image into your signature. Optionally, hyperlink the QR image to a direct download of your VCF file so desktop users (who cannot scan a screen) can still save your contact by clicking.
Will a vCard QR code work on both iPhone and Android?
Yes. Both platforms recognize vCard-formatted QR codes natively. iPhones show a contact card preview and offer to save it. Android phones (via Google Lens) download a VCF file that opens in the Contacts app. Always test on both platforms before printing to catch any field mapping differences.
Conclusion
Last verified: February 2026. QR code scanning tested on iPhone 15 (iOS 18.3), iPhone 12 (iOS 17.7), Pixel 8 (Android 14), and Samsung Galaxy S24 (One UI 6). QR codes generated with QR-Code-Generator.com, TEC-IT, QRCodeChimp, and QuickChart API.
To create a QR code from vCard data, use a free online generator for a single code, convert an existing VCF file for exact data reuse, or use bulk generation tools for entire teams. The key to a reliable vCard QR code is keeping the data under 300 characters, using vCard 3.0 format, and testing on both iPhone and Android before printing.
Three things to remember: keep your vCard under 300 characters for reliable scanning (that means no photos and no long addresses), use vCard 3.0 with VERSION:3.0 for universal device support, and always test your QR code on real phones before committing to print. A broken QR code on 500 business cards is an expensive mistake.
