# How to put a QR code on a t-shirt

> Print the code at least 10 cm square on the chest, dark modules on a light panel, using screen print or vinyl for the sharpest edges. Test it worn, not flat (drape curves and stretches the grid), and re-test after a few washes before ordering a batch.

Source: https://useqr.app/docs/how-to/how-to-put-a-qr-code-on-a-t-shirt · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, no signup.

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## The two things fabric does to a code

Fabric is a hostile print surface for a precision grid, for two reasons:

1. **Texture.** The knit breaks up fine detail, so small modules blur into the weave.
   Keep the payload short (low version) and each module at **2.5 mm or larger**,
   at 10 cm print width that means roughly version 4 (33 modules) or below.
2. **Drape.** A shirt is never flat when worn. The grid curves over the chest, folds at
   the sides and stretches with movement. Error correction absorbs some distortion, but
   a code that only scans when the shirt is stretched flat on a table has failed.

Both push the same direction: **bigger, simpler, higher error correction (Q or H)**.
The substrate details live in [QR codes on fabric](/docs/print/qr-codes-on-fabric), and
the full surface spec in [QR codes on t-shirts](/qr-codes-on/t-shirts).

## Size and placement

- **Minimum 10 cm square on the chest.** Under the
  [10:1 distance rule](/docs/print/the-10-to-1-distance-rule) that scans from about 1 m;
  a natural, non-awkward distance for scanning someone's shirt. Check your own payload
  with the [size calculator](/size-calculator).
- **Centre chest**, the flattest, most stable area. Avoid side seams, sleeves and
  anywhere that folds when sitting.
- Back prints work for queues and events (people stand behind each other longer than
  they stand face-to-chest).

## Print method comparison

| Method | Edge sharpness | Durability | QR notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen print | Excellent | Excellent | Best all-round; solid ink, survives washing |
| Vinyl (HTV) | Excellent | Good | Razor edges; can crack/peel after many washes: each module is a cut shape, so avoid tiny modules |
| DTG (direct to garment) | Good | Moderate | Fine for low volume; ink sits in the fibres and fades with washes, re-test over time |
| Sublimation | Excellent | Excellent | Polyester (or high-poly blends) only; dye is in the fibre, effectively permanent |

## Dark shirts: don't invert

On a black or navy shirt the instinct is white modules on the fabric. Resist it:
light-on-dark codes scan inconsistently across devices, as covered in
[why light-on-dark codes fail](/docs/design/why-light-on-dark-qr-codes-fail). The
reliable pattern is a **printed light panel** (white or pale rectangle) carrying
standard dark modules, with the panel extending far enough to provide the
[quiet zone](/glossary/quiet-zone) on all sides.

## Test protocol: worn, moving, washed

1. Print one shirt before any batch.
2. Scan it **worn by a person**, from 0.5 m and 1 m, standing naturally, not pinned
   flat. Try an older phone as well as a new one.
3. Have the wearer move, sit, cross arms; scan again.
4. **Wash it five times**, scan; ten times, scan. This is where DTG and cheap vinyl
   reveal themselves.
5. Verify the payload once with the [validator](/validate) so the batch doesn't
   perpetuate a typo.

Encode something worth a shirt's lifespan: a short URL on a domain you control, not a
campaign link that dies in a month: the shirt will outlive the campaign.

## FAQ

### How big should a QR code be on a t-shirt?
At least 10 cm square on the chest. That gives a scan distance of about a metre, keeps modules above 2.5 mm for a short payload, and leaves margin for fabric texture and drape.

### What is the best print method for a QR code on a shirt?
Screen printing for batches, sharp edges and wash durability. Vinyl is equally sharp for small runs. DTG works but fades with washing, so re-test scannability over the garment's life. Sublimation is excellent but needs polyester.

### Can I put a white QR code on a black t-shirt?
Print a light panel and put dark modules on it instead. Inverted codes fail on a meaningful share of scanners, and a shirt is already a difficult surface without adding polarity problems.

### Why does my shirt QR code scan flat but not when worn?
Drape. The grid curves and stretches on a body, consuming error-correction margin. Increase the size, shorten the payload, use error correction Q or H, and test on a wearer before printing the batch.

## Try it

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