Which QR code error correction level should I use?
Use High (H) whenever the code carries a logo or will be printed on anything that can get scuffed. Use Medium (M) for a clean digital code with no logo where you want the smallest possible pattern. The level decides how much of the code can be missing and still scan.
What error correction actually does
Every QR code stores extra data alongside your content using Reed-Solomon codes, the same maths that lets a scratched CD still play. If part of the pattern is covered, smudged or misread, the scanner rebuilds the missing pieces from that redundancy. The error correction level sets how much redundancy is baked in.
| Level | Recoverable damage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L (Low) | About 7% of the code | Clean screens, very long content where size matters most |
| M (Medium) | About 15% | Everyday digital and print use without a logo |
| Q (Quartile) | About 25% | Outdoor print, packaging, small logos |
| H (High) | About 30% | Codes with a logo, anything that will be handled or weathered |
The trade-off: redundancy costs modules
Redundancy has to live somewhere, so a higher level makes the code denser for the same content. A 60-character URL fits in a 29 by 29 grid at level L and needs 37 by 37 at level H. Denser codes have smaller squares, which means they need to be printed larger to scan from the same distance. This is the only real downside of High.
Why a logo forces High
Placing a logo in the centre deliberately covers part of the pattern. A logo that takes up 25 to 30 percent of the width hides roughly 6 to 9 percent of the modules, and the scanner has to reconstruct all of them. At level L that already uses most of the budget, so a fingerprint or a slight misread tips it into failure. At level H you spend a third of the budget on the logo and keep the rest for real-world damage. QReative defaults to H for exactly this reason and switches nothing else when you upload a logo.
Choosing by situation
- Logo in the code: H, no exceptions.
- Business cards, menus, packaging: Q or H. Print gets handled.
- Posters and signs outdoors: Q or H. Rain, sun and stickers happen.
- Email signatures, slides, screens: M. Nothing will scuff a pixel.
- Very long content such as a full vCard: M, and shorten the content before dropping to L.
What error correction cannot fix
It rebuilds missing data, not a code the scanner never found. Damage to the three large corner squares (the finder patterns) or to the quiet zone around the code breaks detection before correction gets a chance. Keep logos in the centre, keep the border clear, and keep contrast high. Those three habits matter more than any level setting.