Phone QR Code Generator
Create a phone QR code that launches the scanner’s phone dialer with your chosen telephone number.
This generator keeps the GS1 Digital Link URI directly inside the QR code. Premium QR dynamic redirects are not used for GS1 Digital Link codes.
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Phone Number QR Code Generator
Quick answer: A phone number QR code encodes a telephone number using the tel: URI scheme defined in RFC 3966. Scanning opens the device dialler with the number pre-filled — it does not call automatically. The number must be in E. 164 international format with a plus sign and country code, such as +14155550123, or it will fail when scanned abroad.
How to create a phone number QR code
- Enter the phone number in E.164 international format: a plus sign, followed by the country code, followed by the full subscriber number with no spaces, dashes, or brackets. Example: +14155550123.
- Add an extension using the semicolon notation if needed: +14155550123;ext=301.
- Choose error correction level M for standard use, or L for the smallest possible code.
- Customise the pattern, finder eyes, colours and logo if needed.
- Download PNG, SVG, WEBP or JPG at 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096 px.
The code is generated in your browser as you type. Nothing is uploaded.
What a phone number QR code is
A phone number QR code is a standard QR code whose payload is a tel: URI. The tel: URI scheme is defined in RFC 3966, published by the Internet Engineering Task Force. RFC 3966 specifies that the tel: scheme is followed by a telephone number in global format, meaning the number includes the country code prefixed by a plus sign.
The QR symbol itself follows ISO/IEC 18004:2015. The tel: payload is short — a phone number in E.164 format is typically 10 to 15 characters including the plus and country code — so phone QR codes produce compact, low-version symbols that scan reliably at small print sizes.
When a device scans a tel: QR code, the operating system passes the URI to the telephone application. The dialler opens with the number pre-filled. The user must then tap the call button. The code does not place a call automatically on any mainstream iOS or Android device.
The tel: URI and E.164 format
tel: URI syntax per RFC 3966
The payload format is:
tel:<number>Where <number> is the telephone number in global format. RFC 3966 defines the global format as a plus sign followed by digits from the ITU-T E.164 numbering plan, with no spaces, dashes, parentheses, or other separators.
Examples:
tel:+14155550123 US number (country code 1, 10-digit subscriber number) tel:+447911123456 UK number (country code 44, 10-digit subscriber number) tel:+61291234567 Australia number (country code 61)Why E.164 format matters for international scanning
A local phone number — for example, 020 7946 0000 in the United Kingdom — is unambiguous only within the UK. A device in Germany, Japan, or the United States has no way to know that 020 is a London dialling prefix. If the number is encoded without the country code, the dialler on a foreign device will attempt to dial the literal string, which will not connect.
E.164 format resolves this. The ITU-T E.164 standard defines a global numbering plan where each number begins with a country calling code (1 to 3 digits) preceded by a plus sign. Using +442079460000 instead of 02079460000 makes the number internationally unambiguous. Any device, in any country, can construct the correct international dial string from it.
For a phone QR code that will be printed on materials distributed internationally — a business card, a trade show badge, or a product exported to multiple markets — E.164 format is the only correct choice.
Extensions
RFC 3966 supports extensions using the semicolon separator:
tel:+14155550123;ext=301The extension is appended after a semicolon with the literal string "ext=" before the digits. Not all phone systems and dialler applications handle the extension part of a tel: URI automatically. On some devices, the dialler pre-fills the base number and requires the user to enter the extension manually after the call connects. Test extension-containing codes on the target devices before printing.
Characters that are not part of E.164 format
RFC 3966 specifies that the global telephone number contains only the plus sign and digits. Spaces, dashes, dots, and parentheses that appear in locally formatted numbers (for example, (415) 555-0123) must not be included in the tel: payload. This generator should apply normalisation automatically to remove non-numeric characters before encoding. Verify by scanning the output code and confirming the dialler shows a clean number.
Does scanning a phone QR code auto-dial?
No. The tel: URI scheme opens the device's telephone application with the number pre-filled. The user must confirm by tapping the call button. This is consistent behaviour across iOS and Android. No mainstream operating system auto-dials on scanning a tel: QR code — the confirmation step exists to prevent accidental or malicious calls.
This is an important fact for users who expect a "click to call" experience identical to tapping a phone number on a web page. The scanning step replaces typing the number; the user still initiates the call.
When to use a phone number QR code
Business cards. A phone QR code on the reverse of a business card lets the recipient scan to call rather than type. For international contacts, E.164 format ensures the number works from any country.
Click-to-call signage. A QR code on a shop window, a vehicle livery, or a service-point poster lets customers dial with a scan. Placement at 2 cm square or larger at typical viewing distance ensures reliable scanning.
Customer service numbers on packaging. A product box or instruction sheet with a QR code for the support line removes the step of reading and typing a multi-digit number.
Exhibition and conference name badges. A phone QR code on a lanyard insert lets attendees call a contact directly from the badge, without switching to a contact app.
Healthcare and emergency use. A wristband or ID card bearing a phone QR code allows carers or emergency responders to call the registered contact by scanning rather than reading.
Outdoor advertising. A billboard or transit ad with a QR code lets motorists or commuters save a number for later — they scan, the number populates the dialler, and they call when convenient.
Design and print requirements
Maintain a quiet zone of at least four modules on all sides. ISO/IEC 18004:2015 §6.3.3 specifies this minimum. Scanners require the unprinted margin to detect the symbol boundaries.
Phone QR codes are compact. A phone number in E.164 format is 10 to 15 characters — the symbol uses byte mode and stays in a low version, producing few modules. At 2 cm square, this symbol is highly reliable. This is an advantage over denser QR types.
Use dark modules on a light background. The contrast rule applies to all QR symbols regardless of type. Inverted codes (light modules on a dark background) fail more often on older scanners.
Print at 2 cm by 2 cm or larger for close-range use. Increase to 3 cm or more for codes intended to be scanned from 1 metre. Business cards and name badges printed at 1.5 cm square may scan unreliably — test before committing to a print run.
Troubleshooting: why your phone QR code is not working
The number is in a local format without the country code. A local number fails when scanned on a device registered to another country. Re-encode the number in E.164 format with the plus sign and country code.
The number contains spaces, dashes, or brackets. These characters are not part of E.164 and may cause parsing failures in some dialler apps. Use only the plus sign and digits.
The dialler opens but the call does not connect. The number itself may be wrong, inactive, or in the wrong format for the destination country. Test by typing the number manually first.
The code does not scan at the printed size. Phone QR codes are compact enough that this should not occur for a well-formatted number. If the code fails, check that the quiet zone is present and that contrast is sufficient.
Scanning shows a "tel: not supported" message. This is rare but can occur on older devices or non-phone devices (tablets without cellular service, some laptops) that do not have a telephone application registered for the tel: scheme.
Phone QR codes versus SMS QR codes
| Phone QR code | SMS QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| URI scheme | tel: (RFC 3966) | SMSTO: or sms: (RFC 5724) |
| Action on scan | Opens dialler | Opens messaging app |
| Payload | Number only (optionally + extension) | Number plus optional prefilled message |
| Auto-sends | No — user must tap call | No — user must tap send |
| Best for | Calls, helplines, click-to-call | Lead generation, opt-in campaigns, support chats |
If the goal is to let someone call you, use a phone QR code. If the goal is to let someone send a text message — perhaps for a keyword opt-in campaign, a customer service chat, or a reservation — use the SMS QR generator instead.
What this Phone QR Code Generator gives you
This browser-based tool creates a tel: URI that places a number in the device dialler for the user to review before calling. It is designed for reception desks, sales boards, emergency contacts, service vehicles and appointment cards. The live preview updates while you edit, which makes it easier to catch a missing field or an unexpectedly dense symbol before download.
You can adjust matrix patterns, finder-eye styles, foreground and background colours, gradients, frames, size and an optional logo. Exports are available as SVG, PNG, WEBP and JPG at 512, 1024, 2048 or 4096 pixels. SVG is the practical choice for professional print. A high-resolution PNG suits office documents and digital artwork.
The static payload is constructed in your browser. The information entered into the generator does not need to be uploaded to create the QR image. Scanning prepares a call but does not place it automatically. Device permissions and dialler behaviour remain under the user’s control.
Using this QR code in Bahrain and abroad
Bahrain numbers should normally be written in international form with +973 so visitors and roaming users receive an unambiguous destination.
Use British English spelling in customer-facing copy when that matches your organisation’s house style, and provide Arabic wording where the audience expects it. Keep the action after scanning obvious. A short line beside the symbol such as “Scan to save the contact” or “Scan to open the location” gives people confidence before they point their camera.
Test the final design on current iPhone and Android devices. Test it again after printing on the actual paper, sticker, card, sign or packaging material. Bahrain’s bright outdoor light can expose glare and low-contrast problems that are less obvious on a computer screen. For international use, confirm country codes, currencies, time zones, regional app availability and payment-network compatibility.
Before you publish
- Correct QR payload type
- Complete and verified data
- Four-module quiet zone
- Strong foreground contrast
- Proportional square scaling
- Logo kept within safe limits
- SVG or high-resolution PNG
- Final-size device scan test
Frequently asked questions
Open a question to read a concise technical answer.
01How do I make a QR code that dials a phone number?+
Enter the phone number in E.164 international format — a plus sign, country code, and subscriber number with no spaces or dashes, such as +14155550123. The generator encodes it as a tel: URI per RFC 3966. Scanning the code opens the device dialler with the number pre-filled. The user taps to call; the code does not dial automatically.
02Does a phone QR code auto-dial when scanned?+
No. Scanning a tel: QR code opens the device's telephone application with the number pre-filled. The user must tap the call button to place the call. This is consistent behaviour on iOS and Android — the confirmation step exists to prevent accidental calls. No mainstream operating system dials automatically on scanning a tel: code.
03What format does a phone number QR code use?+
The payload is a tel: URI defined in RFC 3966, published by the IETF. The number must be in E.164 global format: a plus sign followed by the country calling code and the subscriber number, with no spaces, dashes, or brackets. Example: tel:+14155550123. The full RFC 3966 text is available at datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc3966.
04Does a phone QR code need the country code?+
Yes, for reliable international use. A local number without a country code works on devices registered in the same country, but fails when scanned abroad. E.164 format with the plus sign and country code (such as +44 for the UK or +1 for the US) makes the number internationally unambiguous and ensures the dialler constructs the correct dial string on any device.
05What is the tel: URI scheme?+
The tel: URI scheme is a standard defined in RFC 3966 by the Internet Engineering Task Force. It allows a telephone number to be expressed as a URI that operating systems and applications can act on. When a device reads a tel: URI — from a QR code, a hyperlink, or any other source — it passes the number to the registered telephone application. The scheme is supported natively on iOS and Android.
06Can I make a QR code that opens SMS instead of a call?+
Yes. Use the SMS QR code generator, which encodes a SMSTO: or sms: payload. Scanning it opens the device's messaging application with the number pre-filled and optionally a message body, rather than the dialler. The phone QR code (tel:) and the SMS QR code (SMSTO:) are separate formats for separate purposes.
07Can I add a phone extension to a QR code?+
Yes. RFC 3966 supports extensions using the format tel:+14155550123;ext=301. Some dialler applications handle the extension automatically; others pre-fill only the base number and require the user to enter the extension after connecting. Test extension-containing codes on the target device types before printing.
08Does a phone QR code work internationally?+
Yes, provided the number is encoded in E.164 format with the correct country code. E.164 is the ITU-T international numbering standard. A number encoded as +14155550123 is globally unambiguous: any device, regardless of the country it is registered in, can interpret the country code 1 as the United States and construct the correct dial string.
09Why does my phone QR code open a browser instead of the dialler?+
This should not occur for a correctly formatted tel: URI. If the device opens a browser, the payload may have been malformed — for example, by missing the tel: prefix, including characters that the scanner interpreted as a URL, or having a space before the plus sign. Regenerate the code and verify the raw payload by scanning with a QR reader that shows the decoded string before acting on it.
10How small can a phone number QR code be?+
A phone number in E.164 format is typically 10 to 15 characters including the plus sign and country code. At error correction level L, this fits in a very low QR version with few modules. A 1.5 cm square code may scan from arm's length, though 2 cm is the recommended minimum for reliable close-range scanning. Test at the actual print size before committing to production.