# Dot-style QR codes: how far circles can go

> Dot-style QR codes draw each module as a circle at about 84% of the cell width, keeping roughly 55% of the ink: enough for decoders that sample module centres, but the first style to fail as codes get denser or smaller. Keep the version low, the print generous, and the finder eyes solid.

Source: https://useqr.app/docs/design/dot-style-qr-codes · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, no signup.

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## The geometry of a dot

UseQR's `style=dot` replaces each dark module with a circle of
radius 0.42 × the cell: a diameter of **84%** of the module width, which inks about
**55%** of the cell's area. That is well below a square's 100% and rounded's ~91%, and
it is the number every trade-off on this page flows from.

It still scans because decoders sample cells near their centres, and the centre of a
dot is its most solid part. The visible white lattice between dots does not confuse the
decoder: a majority-dark sample reads as dark. What the missing 45% of ink does cost
is *margin*: blur, ink spread, glare and distance all push samples toward the
background, and dots start that journey closer to the cliff edge than any common style
except stars.

## The density limit, in numbers

Dots fail when the circle itself approaches the resolution of the printer or the
camera. The module count grows with the version, so density and physical size gang up:

| Code | Cells across (incl. quiet zone) | At 2 cm wide | Dot diameter | At 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Version 3 (29 modules) | 37 | 0.54 mm module | 0.45 mm | ~5.4 px |
| Version 6 (41 modules) | 49 | 0.41 mm module | 0.34 mm | ~4.1 px |
| Version 10 (57 modules) | 65 | 0.31 mm module | 0.26 mm | **~3.1 px** |

A 3-pixel circle at [300 DPI](/docs/print/qr-code-dpi-for-printing) is barely a circle,
and after ink gain on paper it may be barely a mark. Working rules:

- **Keep the version low.** Short URLs produce low versions; a long tracking URL can
  force version 10+ and quietly break a dot design that tested fine with placeholder
  data. This is the same mechanism as any
  [too-dense code](/docs/troubleshooting/qr-code-too-dense-to-scan), amplified by 55% ink.
- **Print generous.** Dots at 4 cm behave like squares at 2 cm. Use the
  [size calculator](/size-calculator) for the viewing distance, then add margin.
- **Prefer SVG** for print so the circles stay geometric instead of anti-aliased pixels.

## Why the eyes stay solid

The three [finder patterns](/glossary/finder-pattern) are detected by their 1:1:3:1:1
dark-light ratio along scanlines, before error correction protects anything. Shattering
them into dots breaks that continuous ratio, so dot-style codes conventionally keep
solid eyes, UseQR defaults `style=dot` to `eye=circle`, a solid ring and ball that
match the round language without fragmenting. See
[custom eye shapes](/docs/design/custom-eye-shapes) for the variants and their risk
order. Try the combination:
[a dot-style code with circle eyes](/url?style=dot&eye=circle).

Then verify at real size: the [validator](/validate) decodes the actual rendered
artwork, which is the only way to know whether this payload, at this version, at this
print size, keeps enough margin. Dot codes that pass at final size are dependable; dot
codes assumed safe because a bigger test scanned are the classic
"worked on screen, [failed in print](/docs/troubleshooting/qr-code-scans-on-screen-not-in-print)" story.

## FAQ

### Do dot-style QR codes actually scan?

Yes, reliably, when the code is low-density and printed at a generous size. Each dot
keeps its cell's centre solidly dark, which is what decoders sample. The style fails
when high version counts or small print shrink the dots toward printer and camera
resolution.

### Why do dotted QR codes keep square or solid corners?

The three corner patterns are how scanners find the code, using a continuous
1:1:3:1:1 dark-light ratio. Breaking them into dots fragments that ratio, so the eyes
stay solid, usually as rings and circles that match the dot aesthetic.

### What size should a dot QR code be printed?

Larger than the equivalent square code. As a rule of thumb, treat the usual minimums as
starting points and add 50–100%, a close-range dot code is happier at 3–4 cm than at
the 2 cm floor, and distance codes should follow the 10:1 rule with headroom.

### Can I mix dots with a logo?

Yes, but the two draw on the same robustness budget. Dots reduce ink margin and a logo
consumes error correction, so keep the logo small, use error correction H, and decode
the finished artwork before committing to print.

## Try it

- https://useqr.app/url
- https://useqr.app/validate
- https://useqr.app/size-calculator