QR Codes for Contacts: vCard and MECARD Formats
How a contact card is stored in a QR code, the two common formats, and tips for keeping contact QR codes easy to scan.
A QR code can hold a whole contact card, so that someone can save your details with a single scan.
The two formats
- vCard is a widely used standard for electronic business cards. It can store many fields, such as name, phone, email, company, address and website.
- MECARD is a shorter format, designed for QR codes. It holds fewer fields and produces a simpler code.
What a vCard looks like inside
A vCard is plain text with labelled lines, for example:
- BEGIN:VCARD to start
- FN: for the full name
- TEL: for a phone number
- EMAIL: for an email address
- END:VCARD to finish
The scanner reads the text, recognises the format and offers to save the contact.
Keep it short
More fields mean a denser code. A dense code needs a bigger print size and better light.
- Include what matters: name, phone, email, maybe one website.
- Skip long addresses unless you need them.
- Use a simple layout for business cards, where space is small.
Using your own card
- Put the code on a business card, email signature or name badge.
- Print it large enough to scan, at least about 2 cm across.
- Check the saved contact after a test scan.
Privacy
A contact QR code shows your phone number and email to anyone who scans it. Share it only where you are comfortable doing so.
Tips
- Choose fields carefully.
- Test on a phone.
- Update the card if your details change.
QR Code Scanner's built-in generator creates contact QR codes, and its scanner shows what a code holds before you act on it.
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