QR codes for restaurant menus

Updated 5 October 2026

A menu QR code gets scanned in dim light, at an angle, by people who are hungry. It needs to work first time, survive being wiped down every night, and keep working long after you've forgotten who made it.

Static or editable?

The best setup for most cafés, pubs and restaurants costs nothing: a static code that points to a menu page on your own website. When the menu changes, you update the page. The printed code never needs to change, and no QR company can switch it off.

Choose an editable code if the link itself will change. That happens if you don't have your own website, switch between menu or ordering platforms, or link straight to a different PDF each season. With an editable code you can point the same printed code somewhere new from your dashboard.

Many menu codes go dead because they were made on a free trial of a subscription service. If yours has, see what to do when a QR code stops working.

Size and placement

• Put table codes where a seated person can scan without standing up or moving glasses.
• Keep codes upright or angled towards the diner. Flat on the table works, but candles and glasses cast shadows.
• Add a short label such as "Scan for our menu" so people know what the code does.
• Print your menu's web address underneath in small text, for anyone whose camera won't cooperate.

Materials that survive service

• Matt lamination, not gloss. Gloss reflects overhead lights straight across the code.
• Vinyl stickers with a matt overlaminate for tables. They wipe clean and don't peel at the edges as quickly.
• Acrylic table stands work well, but print the code on card behind the acrylic, not on clear plastic. A code needs a solid light background.
• Keep spares. Download the PDF and keep it, so you can reprint a damaged code in minutes.

Contrast and colour

Dark code, light background, always. Black on white is safest. Brand colours are fine if the code is clearly darker than the background. Our generator warns you if the contrast is too low. Avoid printing the code over photos or patterned backgrounds, and leave a clear white margin around it.

Test it like a customer

• Scan the printed proof with an iPhone and an Android phone, using the built-in camera app.
• Scan from the seat, at the distance and angle a diner would.
• Test in your evening lighting, not just in daylight.
• Check the menu page loads quickly on mobile data, not just your Wi-Fi.

Check your codes now and then

Fake QR stickers placed over genuine ones are a known scam. Glance at your table codes when you set up, and scan one occasionally to check it still goes to your menu. Codes printed directly on the menu or stand are harder to tamper with than loose stickers.

Keep paper menus available

Some customers don't have a smartphone, have run out of battery or data, or simply find a small screen hard to read. A few paper menus behind the counter avoid an awkward moment.

Want guests to join your Wi-Fi without asking for the password? Make a separate Wi-Fi QR code and put it on the same stand.