Quick answer: fill in your name and the details you want to share – phone, mobile, email, company, job title, website and address – and the QR code is built as a standard vCard 3.0. Scanning it shows a “Save contact” screen on iPhone and Android. Print it on the back of your business card, your email signature image or your conference badge.
Why a vCard beats typing a business card
Most paper business cards end up in a drawer, and the ones that do get typed in usually have a wrong digit. A vCard QR code carries your details in the exact format phones use for contacts, so the number, email and website arrive correctly, in the right fields, with your company and title attached.
Which fields to fill
- Full name – as you want it to appear in their contacts.
- Phone and mobile – include the country code so they work from abroad.
- Email and website – the website becomes a tappable link in the contact.
- Company and job title – helpful months later when they search “accountant”.
- Address – optional; leave it out on cards you hand to strangers.
Each field adds characters and makes the code denser. A name, mobile, email and website make a code that scans comfortably at 2.5 cm, which fits the back of a standard 85 × 55 mm card.
Networking online as much as in person? Put a LinkedIn QR code on the back of the card for your profile. For a single action – just call or just email – the phone QR code and email QR code make smaller, faster codes.
How to make a vCard QR code
- Enter your name. Use your full name as it should appear in someone’s address book.
- Add contact details. Phone with country code, email, website, company and title. Leave out anything you do not want to share.
- Check the density. If the code looks crowded, leave out the address and note, or print it larger.
- Save it to your own phone. Scan, tap Save contact and check every field. Then download PNG, SVG or PDF.
Static vCard vs. “digital business card” apps
Subscription apps put a link in the code that opens their page with your details. That can be edited later, but it stops when you stop paying and the visitor sees someone else’s branding. A vCard from here saves straight into the phone’s contacts with no page in between – the downside is that you need a new code if your number changes.
Card design: front, back, both?
The most common layout puts the vCard code on the back of the business card, about 2.5 cm wide, with “Scan to save my contact” under it – the caption box above adds that line for you. If your card is busy, a single-colour code in your brand colour looks tidy; avoid placing it over a photo or texture.
The .vcf file
“Download .vcf file” saves the same contact as a standard vCard file. Attach it to emails, add it to your website as a “Save my contact” link, or import it into Outlook, Google Contacts or your phone. It contains exactly what is in the QR code, so both stay in sync.
What phones do with each field
| Field | Saved as |
|---|---|
| First / last name | Contact name (sorted by last name where the phone does that) |
| Mobile / work phone | Labelled “mobile” and “work” numbers |
| Company and job title | Shown under the name; searchable |
| Website | A tappable link |
| Address | A work address that opens in Maps |
Checklist before printing business cards
- Scan the preview and save the contact to your own phone – check every field.
- Phone numbers include + and the country code.
- The code is at least 2.5 cm with a white margin, away from the card’s edge.
- Download SVG or PDF for the printer – PNG can blur when scaled.
Frequently asked questions
Will the contact save on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Both read vCard 3.0 codes in the camera app and show a screen to add the person to contacts.
Can I add social media profiles?
Add your main profile link in the website field. For several profiles, use a URL QR code that points to a link-in-bio page.
Why is my vCard QR code so dense?
Every field adds characters. Leave out the address and note, or print the code at 3 cm or more.
Can I update my details later?
No. A vCard stores the details in the code itself. If something changes, generate a new code.
What size for a business card?
Around 2.5 × 2.5 cm works for name, mobile, email and website. Leave a white margin around it.
Is vCard the same as MeCard?
Both store contact details. vCard has more fields and is supported more widely, so it is what this tool uses.
Can I download my contact as a .vcf file?
Yes. “Download .vcf file” saves the same card as a standard vCard file you can email, import or link from your website.
Can I add a profile photo?
Photos make a QR code far too dense for business cards, so this generator leaves them out. Add your photo in the .vcf file’s contact once it is saved, or link to your profile page.