# QR code size on a TV screen

> Size TV QR codes in centimetres of panel, not pixels: viewers sit 2–4 m away, which demands a 20–40 cm code. At 2.5 m that is 25 cm, which is 26% of a 43-inch screen's width, 21% of a 55-inch and 17% of a 65-inch. Keep it inside the title-safe area and hold it on screen.

Source: https://useqr.app/docs/print/qr-code-size-on-a-tv-screen · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, no signup.

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## Panel centimetres, not pixels

A TV code is scanned from the sofa, and the
[ten-to-one rule](/docs/print/the-10-to-1-distance-rule) applies to the physical picture,
not the video file:

| Viewing distance | Code width on the panel |
|---|---|
| 2 m | 20 cm |
| 2.5 m (typical living room) | 25 cm |
| 3 m | 30 cm |
| 4 m | 40 cm |

The same 1080-pixel graphic is a different physical size on every TV, which is why the
design decision has to be made as a **percentage of the frame**.

## The percentage arithmetic

Panel width for common 16:9 sizes, and what a 25 cm code (the 2.5 m sofa) means on each:

| TV | Panel width | 25 cm code as % of frame width |
|---|---|---|
| 43-inch | 95 cm | 26% |
| 55-inch | 122 cm | 21% |
| 65-inch | 144 cm | 17% |
| 75-inch | 166 cm | 15% |

So a code meant to be scanned from a sofa must span **roughly a fifth to a quarter of the
frame**, far larger than TV graphics habits allow. Run the numbers the other way to see
why the habit fails: a discreet lower-third code at 8% of frame width is 9.8 cm on a
55-inch panel, scannable from about **1 m**. Nobody's sofa is 1 m from the TV. Codes
sized like channel logos are decoration.

## Safe areas: broadcast vs streaming

Where the code sits matters as much as how big it is:

- **Broadcast**: some TVs still apply overscan on broadcast inputs, cropping up to
  roughly 5% of every edge. Graphics that must survive it stay inside the title-safe
  region, approximately the central 90% of the frame. A code tucked hard into a corner
  is precisely the element overscan clips first, and a QR code missing one
  [finder pattern](/glossary/finder-pattern) does not scan at all.
- **Streaming and HDMI sources** are rendered pixel-for-pixel on modern sets, so overlays
  in apps and [livestreams](/qr-codes-on/livestreams) can safely sit nearer the edge,
  though the sofa-distance maths is unchanged.

## Duration and density

The panel is pristine and backlit, so damage-oriented redundancy is wasted, **EC L or M**
keeps the version low and the modules physically large, which is everything at 2.5 m.
Encode the shortest URL you can. And leave the code up: viewers must notice it, find a
phone, unlock it and aim, so hold times are measured in tens of seconds: the timing
evidence is in
[minimum on-screen duration](/docs/design/minimum-on-screen-duration-for-a-qr-code), with
campaign-side practice in [QR codes in TV ads](/docs/marketing/qr-codes-in-tv-ads).
Check your payload with the [size calculator](/size-calculator), and
[verify the graphic decodes](/validate) after it has been through the compositing
pipeline: scaling and compression can soften module edges before air.

## FAQ

### How big should a QR code be on a TV screen?
Physically 20–40 cm on the panel for viewers 2–4 m away. As a design rule that means a fifth to a quarter of the frame's width, 26% on a 43-inch TV and 21% on a 55-inch for the typical 2.5 m sofa.

### What percentage of the screen should a TV QR code fill?
About 20–25% of frame width if viewers are meant to scan from a sofa at 2.5 m. Lower-third codes at 5–10% of frame width are only scannable from about a metre away.

### Where should a QR code go in a broadcast graphic?
Inside the title-safe area (roughly the central 90% of the frame), because some TVs still overscan broadcast inputs and crop the edges. Losing one corner finder pattern makes the code undecodable.

### How long should a QR code stay on screen?
Long enough for viewers to notice it, get their phone out and aim, tens of seconds, not five. Pair the code with a short readable URL for viewers who miss the window.

## Try it

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