QR codes for your book: back cover, sample, bonus.
Make a print-ready QR code for the back cover, a book sample or the bonus material inside your book. Pick a template, add a frame text like “Read a sample”, and every design is test-scanned before you download it. Static: no redirect, no tracking, no expiry.
QR code for a book: checklist before printing and space on the cover
Checklist before printing
A QR code in a book cannot be corrected after printing. Go through these points before you order.
- Print it at least 0.8 in (20 mm) wide and keep the quiet zone of 4 modules free.
- Contrast of at least 3:1, better 4.5:1: dark code on a light background.
- Use SVG or PDF for cover and interior pages, PNG only for the web. As a bitmap on the cover it needs at least 300 DPI at print size.
- Link to an address you manage yourself, so you can change the destination without reprinting.
- Scan the proof copy with two different phones.
Space on the cover at KDP and for bookstores
On the back cover, the barcode sits at the bottom right. The QR code goes beside it or in the text area, never inside the barcode box.
| Amazon KDP | Bookstores (print on demand) | |
|---|---|---|
| Barcode area | 2 × 1.2 in (50.8 × 30.5 mm) | at least 1.75 × 1 in (44.5 × 25.4 mm) |
| Bleed | 0.125 in (3.2 mm) | 0.125 in (3.2 mm) |
| Distance to trim line | at least 0.125 in (3.2 mm) | at least 0.125 in, 0.25 in (6 mm) recommended |
Sources: KDP Help, paperback cover, and print specifications for bookstore printing (as of August 2026), retrieved October 2026.
How it is calculated
- Pick a template: back cover, book sample, bonus material in the book, author business card or audio sample.
- Enter the link, or your contact details for the business card. Invisible characters copied from Word are removed, and a missing https:// is added.
- Adjust colours, module shape, eyes, logo and frame text. Code and background need a contrast of at least 3:1; below 4.5:1 you get a warning.
- Every design is decoded automatically, also at about 2 cm print size. If it does not scan reliably, the download stays locked and you see what to change.
- Download SVG or PDF for print and PNG for the web. Print the code at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide and scan the proof copy with two different phones.
Questions
How big does a QR code in a book need to be?
For a short link, at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide including the quiet zone. Long links, contact cards and logos need more modules and therefore more space. The generator shows the recommended minimum width for every design.
Where does the QR code go on a KDP back cover?
Anywhere outside the barcode area. KDP keeps a field of 2 × 1.2 in (about 5.1 × 3 cm) free for the barcode at the bottom right of the back cover. The QR code fits next to it or above the blurb. Keep it at least 0.125 in (3 mm) inside the trim line, like all important cover content.
What is the quiet zone?
The empty margin around the code. The QR code standard ISO/IEC 18004 asks for 4 modules on every side. Do not let text, pictures or the edge of the page reach into it; the generator always keeps it.
Which error correction should I choose?
Level L restores about 7 % of the code, M 15 %, Q 25 % and H 30 %. M is enough for a plain code on paper. With a logo in the centre the generator always uses H, because the logo covers part of the modules.
Does the QR code expire or track my readers?
No. The code is static: it contains your link itself, without a redirect service. Nobody counts scans and nothing expires. The code only stops working if the target page disappears, so link to a page you control.
Can I use colours or put the code on a dark cover?
Yes, as long as the contrast is high enough: at least 3:1 between code and background, better 4.5:1 or more. Dark code on a light ground scans best. A light code on a dark cover works with many but not all scanner apps, so the generator warns you. With a transparent background the code is checked against white paper.
SVG, PNG or PDF?
SVG and PDF are vector files and stay sharp at any size, so use them for the cover and the pages of the book. The frame text is converted to outlines, so no font goes missing at the printer, and the PDF uses CMYK with black as pure K. PNG is for websites, newsletters and social media; the file carries the resolution that matches the chosen print width.
What can a QR code in a book link to?
A book sample or the first chapter, bonus material such as worksheets, maps or recipes, an audio sample, your newsletter, your author website or the next book in the series. Use an address you control, such as a page on your own website: then you can change the target later without reprinting the book.