Shrink Your QR Codes with T.LY

Shrink Your QR Codes with T.LY

QR codes are essential in our digital world, bridging physical and online experiences. Whether it’s to guide customers to a restaurant menu, share event details, or direct someone to a specific landing page, QR codes make it effortless. However, one challenge with QR codes is that they can quickly become large and hard to scan if the URL embedded in them is too long. That’s where T.LY URL shortener comes to the rescue!

The Problem with Long URLs and Large QR Codes

A QR code works by encoding data; the more data you need to encode, the more complex the QR code becomes. Long URLs contain many characters, which results in more data being stored in the QR code. As a result, the code becomes dense, with more black-and-white squares (also known as modules), making it harder for QR code scanners to read them.

When a QR code is larger and more complex, it can:

  • It takes longer to scan, particularly on older devices.
  • Require higher-quality printing to maintain legibility.
  • It looks cluttered, especially when displayed on small items like business cards.

QR Code Size and URL Length Stats

To illustrate the issue, here are some rough statistics on QR code sizes based on URL lengths:

  • A URL with less than 10 characters results in a QR code with about 25 x 25 modules (625 total squares).
  • A URL with 50 characters can push the QR code to 33 x 33 modules (1,089 squares).
  • A URL with 100 characters or more may produce a QR code with 49 x 49 modules (2,401 squares).

As you can see, the longer the URL, the larger and more complex the QR code. This not only affects the visual appeal but can also reduce the ease of scanning.

How T.LY URL Shortener Solves This

By using T.LY to shorten your URLs, you significantly reduce the amount of data that needs to be embedded in your trackable QR code. For instance:

  • A typical long URL like https://www.example.com/products/item?id=12345&ref=abc can be shortened to something like https://t.ly/abcde.
  • With this short URL, the QR code size decreases, resulting in a simpler, less crowded design that is easier to scan.

Short URLs result in smaller QR codes that:

  • Look cleaner and are visually appealing.
  • Are easier and faster for users to scan.
  • Take up less space on marketing materials such as flyers, brochures, and business cards.

How to Generate QR Codes Using T.LY

Creating a QR code with T.LY is simple and effective. Here’s a step-by-step guide to generate a QR code for any link using T.LY:

  1. Shorten Your URL:
    • Go to T.LY.
    • Paste your long URL into the URL shortener box and click “Shorten.”
    • Copy the newly created short link.
  2. Generate and Customize the QR Code:
    • The QR code is also automatically generated, and it is easy to copy right on T.LY
    • If you want to customize the QR code, Navigate to the QR code generator within T.LY. There’s an option right on the dashboard for generating QR codes.
    • You can customize the design of your QR code (such as changing colors or adding a logo).
    • Download the QR code image and start using it!
  3. Use Your QR Code:
    • Add the QR code to your marketing materials, websites, or products.
    • Test the QR code to ensure it scans easily and directs users to the correct destination.

Using T.LY to shorten your URLs offers a significant advantage when generating QR codes. Not only does it simplify your links, but it also ensures that the resulting QR code is small, clear, and easily scannable. This is especially useful for businesses and marketers looking to enhance the user experience and maximize engagement with their QR codes. Try out T.LY today to see how easy it is to create short links and professional QR codes!


Author Tim Leland

Tim Leland

With over 15 years of experience, Tim Leland has been developing software that millions worldwide rely on. In 2019, he founded T.LY, aspiring to create the world's premier URL-shortening service. Recently, the platform has witnessed a remarkable increase in its popularity. Under Tim's expert direction, T.LY has transformed into one of the industry's most reliable and esteemed URL shorteners, serving millions of users globally.

Ready to improve how you manage links?

T.LY URL Shortener makes long links look cleaner and easier to share! Add your own Custom Domains to personalize your brand. Create Smart Links to customize a URL's destination. Generate QR codes to promote your business.

Sign Up for Free
About T.LY
T.LY is the best link management service to track, brand, and share short URLs. Install our free Browser Extension with over 450,000 users from the extension store to automatically shorten links in one easy click! We support Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera.