QR code version capacity
A QR code's "version" is its grid size, from version 1 (21×21 modules) to version 40 (177×177). Bigger versions hold more data but pack more, smaller modules into the same printed area. The limits below are the maximums at error-correction level L; higher correction levels reduce capacity. A representative subset of versions is shown.
| Version | Modules per side | Numeric | Alphanumeric | Byte (URLs / text) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | 41 | 25 | 17 |
| 2 | 25 | 77 | 47 | 32 |
| 3 | 29 | 127 | 77 | 53 |
| 4 | 33 | 187 | 114 | 78 |
| 5 | 37 | 255 | 154 | 106 |
| 10 | 57 | 652 | 395 | 271 |
| 20 | 97 | 2,061 | 1,249 | 858 |
| 40 | 177 | 7,089 | 4,296 | 2,953 |
For print, the rule is simple: shorter payloads keep the version low, which keeps modules large and the code easy to scan from a distance. Encoding a short redirect URL instead of a long campaign link is the simplest way to do that, and another reason a dynamic QR code scans more reliably than a static one with a long URL baked in.
See also
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