How to make a QR code for a PDF
A PDF is the quickest way to put a menu, a brochure or a price list behind a code. The catch is that a QR code cannot hold the file itself. It holds a web address that opens the file, so the PDF has to be online.
This page covers how to host it, how to keep the file easy to read on a phone, and how to replace it without reprinting.
How do I make a QR code for a PDF?
Four steps.
- Upload the PDF to a place with a public web address, such as your website or a file-sharing service set to "anyone with the link can view".
- Copy the file's link and open it in a private window to check that strangers can see it.
- Make a dynamic code that opens that link.
- Print it with a line like "See the menu" and test on a phone.
Why a dynamic code is better for PDFs
Menus and price lists change. If you print a static code that points straight at one file's address and later upload a new version at a different address, the printed code points to the old file. A dynamic code can be redirected to the new file in seconds.
How do I make the PDF easy to read on a phone?
Use a single column and large text, keep the file small so it loads on slow signal, and avoid tiny tables. For menus, a web page often reads better than a PDF, and the same code can open either.
Can people download the PDF?
Anyone who can open the link can usually save the file. If it must stay private, do not use a public code.
Questions
How big can the PDF be?
There is no limit in the code, but a file under a few megabytes loads quickly on mobile data.
What if I move the PDF?
Update the destination of the dynamic code.
Where can I host a PDF for free?
Many file-sharing services let you share a link. Check their terms for public use.
Cost?
$3 once per code.
Can I link to a specific page of the PDF?
Some viewers support a page number in the link. Test it.
Does the PDF need to be public?
Yes. Anyone who scans the code needs to be able to open it.
Get a dynamic QR code for $3
Pay once. Pick the page your code opens, print it wherever you need it, and change the page whenever you like.