For tradespeople and service businesses
Plumbers, electricians, delivery drivers, and cleaners — anyone who hands out flyers benefits from a phone QR. The customer photographs the flyer, scans the QR later, and calls you without hunting for the number again.
For vehicle stickers and property boards
A passer-by can scan a phone QR from the pavement without stopping to write the number down. Estate agents, taxi operators, and food vans all use this to reduce the gap between “I'm interested” and an actual call.
What happens when someone scans a phone number QR code?
The phone opens the native dialler with your number pre-filled and ready. The person still needs to tap the call button — the QR code does not trigger an automatic call. This is intentional: it gives them a moment to confirm before dialling.
Do I need to include the country code?
Yes, always. Include your full international dialling code (e.g. +91 for India, +1 for USA/Canada, +44 for UK). Without it, the phone may interpret the number as local and fail to connect for anyone scanning from a different country or on an international SIM.
Can I use this for a landline number?
Yes. Landline numbers work exactly the same as mobile numbers in a tel: QR code — enter the full number with country code and area code. On mobile phones, tapping the pre-filled number initiates a regular call just as it would from the dial pad.
How is this different from a WhatsApp QR code?
A phone number QR opens the standard phone dialler for a regular call. A WhatsApp QR opens the WhatsApp app and starts a chat to the same number. They serve different actions — dialling versus messaging. For businesses, it is often worth having both: a phone QR for immediate calls and a WhatsApp QR for text enquiries. Both can be printed side by side.
Can I add an extension to the number?
The tel: URI standard does not have native support for extensions in a way that works across all phones. If you need an extension, encode the number as text instead — use our plain text QR with the number written as "+1 555 123 4567 ext 202" so the caller can read it and dial manually.
Where should I put a phone QR code?
Any surface where you want to reduce the friction of calling you: van and vehicle rear windows, shop front signs, service flyers and leaflets, restaurant tables (for reservations), property for-sale and for-rent boards, business card backs, and trade show booth banners.
Will it still work if I change my number?
No — the number is baked into the QR at generation time. Static QR codes cannot be updated after printing. If you change your number, regenerate the QR and reprint. This is one reason to think carefully before printing phone QR codes on long-life materials like vehicle wraps.
Can I use a toll-free or 1800 number?
Yes. Enter the full toll-free number with country prefix — e.g. +1 800 555 0100. The dialler opens with the number ready. On mobile networks, toll-free dialling behaviour depends on the carrier, but the QR code itself encodes and scans correctly.
What size should I print the QR code?
On a business card, 2×2cm works for a phone number QR. For a vehicle sticker meant to be scanned from a few metres away, aim for at least 8×8cm. The rule of thumb: divide the maximum scanning distance by 10 to get the minimum print size. A QR code read from 1 metre needs to be at least 10cm across.
How is a phone QR different from a vCard QR?
A vCard QR encodes your full contact record — name, phone, email, company, address — and prompts the person to save you as a contact. A phone number QR only opens the dialler and encodes nothing else. Use a phone QR when you only want calls; use our vCard QR Code Generator when you want to be saved to the contacts app.