QR Code Standardization

For advanced users

We at DENSO WAVE wish QR Code to be used by as many people as possible. This is the reason why we made its specifications publicly available. At present, QR Coe is standardized based on respective national standards or international standards. Therefore, anyone can obtain its specifications without worrying about their applicability.

* DENSO WAVE has waived the rights to a patent in its possession (Patent No. 2938338) for standardized QR Codes only.

History of QR Code Standardization

QR Code is standardized as shown in the table. It was approved as an international standard in June 2000. This shows that QR Code has been accepted internationally, ensuring its widespread acceptance not only in Japan, but also internationally .

QR Code Standardization

October, 1997

March, 1998

January, 1999
June, 2000
November, 2004

December 2011

Approved as AIM International (Automatic Identification Manufacturers International) standard (ISS - QR Code)
Approved as JEIDA (Japanese Electronic Industry Development Association) standard (JEIDA-55)
Approved as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) standard (JIS X 0510)
Approved as ISO international standard (ISO/IEC18004)
Micro QR Code is Approved as JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) standard (JIS X 0510)
Approved by GS1, an international standardization organization, as a standard for mobile phones

QR Code Outline Specification

It is a outline of the QR Code specification.

Symbol size

21 x 21 - 177 x 177 modules (size grows by 4 modules/side)

Type & Amount of Data (Mixed use is possible.)
Information capacity and versions of the QR Code

Numeric
Alphanumeric
8-bit bytes (binary)
Kanji

Max. 7,089 characters
Max. 4,296 characters
Max. 2,953 characters
Max. 1,817 characters

Error correction (data restoration)
Error correction feature

Level L
Level M
Level Q
Level H

Approx. 7% of codewords can be restored.
Approx. 15% of codewords can be restored.
Approx. 25% of codewords can be restored.
Approx. 30% of codewords can be restored.

Structured appending

Max. 16 symbols (printing in a narrow area etc.)

Obtaining QR Code Specification

QR Code is established as an ISO (ISO/IEC18004) standard. QR Code specification can, therefore, be purchased from this organization.

Purchasing ISO Standards
Please search by inputting ISO No.18004 or X0510 to Search window. https://www.iso.org/home.html