QR code colour and contrast checker
Pick a foreground and background colour and see instantly whether a QR code in those colours will scan, with a live sample and a contrast score.
74%
luminance gap · 40% minimum · 55% comfortable
Dark on light with a wide gap. Every decoder will be happy.
Live sample. Point a phone at it.
Choose the module colour and the background colour, or paste your brand hex codes.
The checker computes the luminance difference decoders see and shows a live code.
Swap or darken until the score is green, then use those colours anywhere.
Questions
Can a QR code be any colour?+
Yes, as long as the modules are clearly darker than the background. Decoders convert the image to grey, so a red code on white is fine while yellow on white is not.
Can I invert a QR code, light on dark?+
Most modern phone cameras read inverted codes, some older scanner apps do not. If print is going somewhere you cannot control, keep dark modules on a light background.
What contrast does a QR code need?+
A luminance difference of at least 40% is the safe floor; 55% and up is comfortable. The score on this page is that difference.
Do gradients work?+
Only if every point of the gradient stays on the right side of the contrast line. Check the lightest colour in the gradient against the background here.
More free tools
Learn the terms
- Contrast and colorA QR code needs strong contrast between dark and light modules to scan reliably. Color is fine if the dark modules are much darker than the background, and dark-on-light reads more widely than inverted codes.
- Artistic QR codeAn artistic QR code combines a scannable code with an image or design, so the picture and the code are one. It still has to meet the scanner’s needs for contrast, finder patterns and a quiet zone.
The next step
Make the code the artwork.
These tools make and check classic codes. AriaQR turns your photo, logo or illustration into the code itself, verified on real decoders before you download, with a link you can edit and track.
