QR Code Types
Phone QR Codes
Opens the phone's dialler with your number already entered, ready to call with one tap.
How to create one
- Open the Phone QR code generator — it opens on the Phone type with the fields ready to fill in.
- Enter the number, ideally in full international format.
Format the number properly
Use international format: a +, the country code, then the number — +1 555 123 4567. Spaces, brackets and dashes are fine to type; they're stripped automatically, because they're formatting rather than part of the number.
A local-format number works for people already in that country and fails for everyone else. If the code is on anything that travels — packaging, a website, a trade-show stand, a vehicle — international format is the difference between working and not.
When to use it
Anywhere calling is the action you want and typing a number is the obstacle: service and repair stickers on equipment, taxi and delivery signage, emergency and after-hours contact cards, estate agent boards, vehicle livery.
It's most valuable where people are standing up, outdoors, or in a hurry — precisely the conditions in which mistyping a number is most likely. Because these conditions are also the hardest to scan in, size the code for the distance it will actually be read from: see the sizing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does scanning place the call automatically?
No. It opens the dialler with the number filled in, and the person taps to call. No phone will place a call from a scanned code without confirmation, which is a deliberate safety behaviour.
Can I include an extension?
There's no reliable cross-platform way to do it — extension syntax varies between phone systems and is handled inconsistently. Encode the main number and print the extension next to the code.
Will this work on a tablet or laptop?
It depends on the device. Something with no calling capability may offer to call through a linked phone or an internet-calling app, or may do nothing at all. Assume phones.
Why is my phone code so much simpler-looking than my other codes?
Because a phone number is a tiny amount of data. That's a real advantage — these produce coarse, robust codes that scan easily at small sizes and survive poor printing better than almost any other type.
Should I use Phone or SMS?
Phone if you want a conversation and someone is there to answer. SMS if you want a written record, if enquiries arrive outside business hours, or if people would rather not call — which, for a lot of audiences, they'd rather not.