A QR code menu is a menu page on the internet that guests open by scanning a code on the table with their phone camera. You can make one for free in about 10 minutes: put your menu online, download its QR code, print it and place it on your tables.
- Put your menu on a page you can edit (not just a PDF).
- Download the QR code for that page.
- Print it at least 2 cm wide, with “Scan for menu” next to it.
- Place it on every table, at the door and on the counter.
- Scan it with two or three different phones before guests do.
Why use a QR code menu?
- Change prices without reprinting. Update the menu online and every printed code shows the change instantly.
- Mark dishes sold out or add today’s special in seconds, so guests don’t order something you can’t make.
- Save on printing. Paper menus get stained, torn and go out of date. A small QR card lasts for months.
- Show more. Photos, descriptions and drinks can all fit, because a web page has no page limit.
Static QR code or editable menu page?
There are two ways to make a menu QR code, and the difference matters:
- A QR code that points to a PDF or a photo of your menu. Quick, but PDFs are hard to read on a phone (guests have to pinch and zoom), and if the file’s link changes you have to reprint every code.
- A QR code that points to a menu page you can edit. The page fits any phone screen, and you change it any time while the printed code stays the same. This is what a proper QR menu tool gives you.
A plain QR code is still perfect for things that never change, such as your Wi-Fi password. You can make one with the free QR code generator and put it next to your menu code — see how to make a Wi-Fi QR code.
What you need
- Your current menu, in any form: a printed menu, a photo of it, a PDF, a Word file or an Excel sheet.
- An email address (to log in — no password needed).
- A printer, or a print shop for table cards and stickers.
How to make your QR code menu, step by step
These steps use TaskingMint QR Menus, which has a free plan. The same ideas apply whichever tool you choose.
- Create your free account Go to QR Menus and enter your email. You get a login link by email — no password to remember. New accounts can use every feature free for 7 days.
- Add your menu (let AI type it for you) Take a clear photo of your printed menu, or upload a PDF, Word or Excel file. AI reads it and fills in your sections, dishes and prices. Check each item, fix anything it got wrong, and add short descriptions where they help.
- Organise it the way guests think Use clear sections in the order people order: starters, mains, sides, desserts, drinks. Put your best sellers near the top of each section.
- Check it on your phone Open the menu on your own phone. Is every price right? Is anything hard to read? It is much easier to fix things now than after guests start scanning.
- Download and print the QR code Download the QR code image and print it. Add a short line next to it, such as “Scan for our menu”, so guests know what it is for.
- Put it where guests will see it On every table, at the entrance, on the counter, and even on takeaway bags and receipts, so people can find your menu again later.
- Keep it up to date When a price changes or a dish runs out, change it online. Every printed code shows the new menu straight away.
Printing tips so every phone can scan it
- Size: at least 2 cm (about 1 inch) wide on a table card. On a wall or window, go to 10 cm or more.
- Contrast: a dark code on a light background. Avoid light colours and busy photos behind the code.
- Leave the white border around the code. Scanners need it.
- Protect it: laminate table cards or use waterproof stickers, so spills don’t ruin them.
- Mind the light: a code in a dark corner or behind shiny glass is hard to scan.
- Test before you print many: scan the first copy with an iPhone and an Android phone.
What to put on your menu page
- Clear prices on every item, in the currency your guests pay in.
- Short descriptions for dishes guests may not know.
- Notes for common needs, such as vegetarian, spicy or contains nuts.
- Photos of your best dishes. Photos sell food, especially to first-time guests.
- Today’s specials at the top, and sold-out items clearly marked.
Free or paid: what you get
You can run a QR code menu for free. Paid plans add the things that help you sell more:
| Free | Starter — $1.99/month | Business — $4.99/month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menus | 1 | 1 | Up to 5 (e.g. food, drinks, breakfast) |
| Items and sections | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| AI menu import | 2 a month | 10 a month | 30 a month |
| Food photos | — | Up to 60 | Up to 300 |
| Your logo and colours | — | Yes | Yes |
| Specials and “sold out” switch | — | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp order button | — | Yes | Yes |
| Scan counts | — | Daily | Per table |
| Table cards and stickers | — | Printable table card | Sticker maker, numbered table codes |
Yearly plans cost the same as 10 months. See all QR Menus plans.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Linking to a PDF. Hard to read on a phone and easy to break. Use a proper menu page.
- Printing the code too small or on a dark, glossy background.
- Forgetting to update prices online after changing them in the kitchen. Guests trust the menu they see.
- No paper backup. Keep a few printed menus for guests without a phone.
- No words next to the code. A code on its own looks like decoration. “Scan for menu” tells people what to do.
Make your QR code menu now
Free plan, no card needed. Snap your paper menu and AI types it in for you.
Questions people ask
Do my customers need an app to scan a QR code menu?
No. Almost every smartphone camera reads QR codes. Guests point the camera at the code and the menu opens in their web browser.
Can I make a QR code menu for free?
Yes. TaskingMint QR Menus has a free plan: one text menu with unlimited items, a downloadable QR code, and AI that types in your current menu from a photo or file (2 times a month). Paid plans start at $1.99 a month for photos, your logo and more.
Do I have to reprint the QR code when my prices change?
Not if the code opens a menu page you can edit. With QR Menus you change the price online and every printed code shows the new price straight away.
What about guests who don't have a smartphone?
Keep a few printed menus behind the counter. A QR code menu replaces most paper menus, not every single one.
How big should the printed QR code be?
At least 2 cm (about 1 inch) wide, and bigger if people will scan from further away — for example 10 cm or more on a wall or window.
Can I use a QR code menu for a bar, café or hotel?
Yes. It works the same for any menu: food, drinks, room service or a poolside bar. Shops and salons can use the same tool as a QR price list.
Related tools
- QR Menus — your menu on a QR code, with a free plan.
- QR Price Lists — the same idea for shops, salons and services.
- Free QR code generator — QR codes for Wi-Fi, WhatsApp, links and contact cards.
- How much does a QR code menu cost? — what is free and what is paid.
- QR code menu for cafés — sizes, specials and where to put the code.
- QR menu maker comparison — 8 checks before you pay.