Put contact details on a business card
A vCard QR code contains contact information in a structured text format. A compatible phone may offer to create a contact after scanning. It is useful on a business card, event badge or printed information sheet when you want to share details without asking someone to type them. The person still decides whether to save the contact.
This page builds a vCard 3.0 payload with a full name and optional organization, telephone number, email address and website. It does not publish a contact page or upload an address book. The details are embedded directly in the symbol. Use a public business phone and email if you plan to display the code where anyone can photograph it.
Keep the card concise. Each additional field increases the amount of encoded data and may make the QR symbol denser. A full name and one reliable contact method can be more practical than a long list of channels. Check spelling, international telephone prefixes and the complete website address before exporting. A barcode can preserve a typing error perfectly.
Test the contact import before printing
The structured fields escape punctuation and line breaks required by the vCard text format. The generated payload remains visible in the main value field so that you can review it. If you manually change that text, keep the BEGIN, VERSION and END lines and the field syntax intact. Editing the structured fields again replaces the manually edited payload.
Scan with the phones and contact applications your audience is likely to use. Some readers offer a contact preview, while others show the underlying text or ask which app should handle it. Compare the imported name, organization, phone, email and URL with your original entries. A successful QR decode and a successful address-book import are separate checks; both matter for this use case.
Download SVG when adding the code to printed artwork. Keep the symbol square, retain the blank margin and avoid placing a logo over the modules. Use dark marks on a light opaque area. Choose a print size that keeps individual modules distinct and test a physical proof on the final paper or card. Glossy finishes, rounded surfaces and low-resolution printing can affect a code that scans well on a monitor.
The code does not expire, but its details do not update automatically. If your phone number or email changes, print a new version. For information that changes frequently, consider a URL QR code linking to a contact page you control instead. That approach depends on the page remaining available; a direct vCard remains readable without fetching a website, although opening its website link requires connectivity.
Last reviewed: · How we maintain these tools
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Will scanning save the contact automatically?
Usually the phone asks the user to review or save it, and some readers show only text. Test the intended contact application.
Can I update a printed vCard code?
No. It is static and contains the actual details. Replace the printed code when those details change.
Does it include a photo or postal address?
The form supports name, organization, phone, email and website. It does not generate a photo or postal-address field.