Quick answer: pick the spot on the map (search for the town or street, then tap the exact entrance), or type the address, paste a Google Maps link or enter the latitude and longitude. The QR code opens that place in Google Maps, where people tap Directions. A pin is best for an exact gate or car park; a Maps link is best for a business page with reviews and opening hours. The page never asks for your own location.
Coordinates or a Maps link?
| Use | Best when | Opens |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps link | You have a business profile with reviews, photos and hours | Your place card, ready for Directions |
| Latitude & longitude | The spot has no address – a wedding marquee, site gate, trailhead or delivery bay | A pin on the exact point |
How to get exact coordinates
- Open Google Maps on a computer and right-click the exact spot – the coordinates appear at the top of the menu; click to copy them.
- On a phone, press and hold the spot until a red pin drops; the coordinates show in the search bar.
- Paste the first number into Latitude and the second into Longitude. Five decimal places is accurate to about one metre.
Remember: latitude comes first. Pakistan, India, Europe and the US have positive latitudes; the Americas have negative longitudes (New York is 40.7128, −74.0060).
Good places for a location code
- Wedding and event invitations – no more calls asking for directions.
- Delivery notes and invoices – the courier finds the right door.
- Hotel key cards and Airbnb welcome books – back to the room after a night out.
- Shop flyers – “Find us” next to the address.
For a wedding or launch, an event QR code adds the date and time to guests’ calendars, and you can print both codes on the same invitation. Venues that offer guest internet often add a Wi-Fi QR code on the welcome sign as well.
How to make a QR code for a location
- Choose how to set the place. Pick on the map, type an address, paste a Google Maps link or enter coordinates.
- Place the pin. On the map, search for the area, zoom in and tap the exact spot; drag the pin to fine-tune it.
- Choose the format. Google Maps works on every phone; geo: opens the default map app on Android.
- Test and download. Scan it: your phone should open Maps on the right spot. Then download for print.
Four ways to choose the place
- Pick on the map – search for the town, street or landmark, zoom in and tap the exact spot. Drag the pin until it sits on the entrance people should reach. The coordinates are filled in for you.
- Type an address – the code opens a Google Maps search for your words. Quick, but Maps decides which result to show, so add the city and country.
- Paste a Google Maps link – best for a shop or restaurant listing, because people see your reviews, photos and opening hours.
- Enter coordinates – right-click the spot in Google Maps on a computer and click the numbers to copy them.
The page never asks for, or detects, your own location. The map and the place search come from OpenStreetMap; the code itself is made on your device.
Which format should the code use?
| Format | Inside the code | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Google Maps (pin or address) | google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=… | Every phone – app or browser |
| Maps link as is | Your pasted link | Every phone; shows your business card if the link is a place |
| geo: | geo:lat,lng | Android map apps; limited on iPhone |
For printed material that strangers will scan, a Google Maps pin is the safest choice: it lands on one exact point and needs no search.
Frequently asked questions
Does it open Apple Maps on iPhone?
The link opens Google Maps if it is installed, otherwise the Google Maps website, from which people can continue in Apple Maps.
Can I put a full street address instead?
Yes. Choose “Type an address” and enter it with the city and country; the code opens a Google Maps search for it. For an exact gate or a place without an address, drop a pin on the map instead.
What is the geo: format?
It writes only the coordinates (geo:lat,lng). Many Android phones open it in their default map app; iPhones support it less well, so the Google Maps pin is the safer choice for print.
How accurate are the coordinates?
Five decimal places locate a spot to about one metre, which is enough for a specific gate or entrance.
Can I show directions from the person’s location?
Yes – once Maps opens, they tap Directions and it routes from where they are standing.
Does this QR code track people?
No. It is a plain link; we never see who scans it or where they are.
Does this page use my location?
No. You choose the place yourself – on the map, by address, with a link or with coordinates. The page never asks your browser for your position.
Why does the map show my country when it opens?
It starts from your device’s time zone setting, not your location. Search for any place in the world or drag the map to move it.
How exact is a pin dropped on the map?
As exact as you zoom: at street level a tap lands within a metre or two. Zoom in until you can see the building or gate, then drag the pin onto the entrance.