Quick answer: put your menu online – a page on your website, a Google Drive PDF, or your Instagram highlight – and paste the link here. Add your logo and colours, then print the code on table tents, stickers and takeaway bags. Host the PDF yourself and you can update prices later without reprinting a single code.
The trick that saves reprints
Prices change; QR codes on 40 tables shouldn’t. Point the code at a link that stays the same – yourcafe.com/menu or one PDF address you overwrite – rather than at a different file every season. Then updating the menu is just uploading a new file.
PDF menu or web menu?
| PDF menu | Web page menu | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Export your printed menu as PDF | Needs a website or menu builder |
| On a phone | Pinch to zoom; fine for short menus | Reflows to the screen – easier for long menus |
| Updating | Replace the file at the same link | Edit the page |
If you use PDF: one column, large text, and compress it under 2 MB so it opens instantly on weak café Wi-Fi.
Table-tent checklist
- At least 3 × 3 cm, ideally 4 cm, with a white margin.
- A call to action: “Scan for the menu & today’s specials”.
- Matte lamination – glossy plastic reflects ceiling lights into the camera.
- Put your Wi-Fi QR code on the back of the same tent.
- Keep a few printed menus for guests without smartphones.
Starting from photos of a printed menu? JPG to PDF turns them into one PDF you can host. Many venues add a UPI payment QR code for paying at the table, and the tip calculator helps guests split the bill.
How to make a menu QR code
- Put the menu online. Your website or a PDF with public viewing – use a link that stays the same.
- Paste the link. The code is drawn instantly; press “Open menu” to check it.
- Fill in the table tent. Your name, a headline and an optional Wi-Fi line.
- Download and print. The code alone, or the A6 table tent as PNG or PDF.
A finished table tent in one click
Fill in your venue name and headline, and “Table tent PDF” gives you an A6 card (105 × 148 mm) with your name across the top in your accent colour, the QR code, and up to two lines below – typically the Wi-Fi details and a note about specials. Print on 300 gsm card, fold-mount it or slide it into a clear acrylic stand. The PNG version is handy for printers that prefer images.
Menu QR codes that customers like
- Load fast: under 2 MB, or a light web page. Restaurant Wi-Fi is often busy.
- No sign-up walls: the menu must open straight away, with no app download.
- Readable dark text on a plain background; prices next to dish names, not in a separate column.
- Paper backup: keep a few printed menus for guests without a smartphone or with a flat battery.
Placement that gets scanned
Table tents beat stickers because they stand up where guests look. In takeaways, put a code by the queue so people choose before they reach the counter, and on delivery bags so the next order starts from your menu, not a delivery app’s commission page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay a monthly fee for a menu QR code?
No. This is a static code pointing to your own link, so it works for as long as your menu link works.
Can I update the menu without reprinting the QR code?
Yes, if the link stays the same – replace the PDF at the same address or edit your menu page.
What size should a table QR code be?
About 3–4 cm square for table tents; 6 cm or more for window stickers people scan from outside.
Can customers order through the QR code?
A QR code opens whatever link you give it. Link to your online ordering page if you have one.
Should I use one code for all tables?
One code is fine for a menu. Use a code per table only if your ordering system needs the table number.
How do I add Wi-Fi too?
Make a second code with the Wi-Fi QR generator and print it on the back of the tent.
Can I print a table tent with my restaurant name?
Yes. Fill in the table tent section and use “Table tent PDF” or “Table tent PNG” for a ready A6 card with your name, the code and your Wi-Fi line.
Should the menu be a PDF or a web page?
Either works. Web pages read better on phones; PDFs are quicker to set up. Keep a PDF under 2 MB and one column wide.
Can I use the same table tent in several branches?
Yes, if all branches share one menu link. If prices differ, make a code and tent per branch with its own menu link.