QR codes for restaurants
The four codes a restaurant genuinely uses, and how to turn them into pieces that outlast a laminated sheet of paper.
1Content
Also accepts tel:, mailto: or any address. The shorter, the better it prints.
Always use the guest network: anyone who scans the code can read the password.
When scanned, the phone offers to save the contact straight to the address book.
When scanned, it opens the mail app with these fields already filled in.
When scanned, it opens the messaging app with the number and text already written.
When scanned, it opens WhatsApp with your number and message already written, ready to send.
Or start from a template
2Code design
On the 3D object the logo becomes a single-color silhouette.
3Turn your QR into a 3D object
Up to 28 characters. A short text multiplies scans.
Code preview
Everything is generated in your browser. No data is sent to a server.
3D object
- Modules
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- Per module
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- Size
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- Triangles
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The four codes that actually get used
- The menu. One per table, on a table stand. It's scanned the most and wears out the fastest as laminated paper.
- Google reviews. At the counter or by the register, where the bill gets paid. That's the moment the customer is satisfied and has their phone in hand.
- WiFi. On a wall plaque, near the tables or in the restroom. Saves you from reciting the password twenty times a day.
- The table number. If you take table-side orders or run food from the kitchen, a different code per table that already carries the number.
Why a printed piece instead of laminated paper
A laminated sign costs less than a dollar, but it bends, gets stained with oil, fades, and communicates exactly that to the customer. A 3D-printed piece with the code in relief wipes clean with a cloth, doesn't bend, won't peel off, and signals that the place cares about details. You can also make it match your brand color.
The math changes too: if you already have, or know someone with, a 3D printer, each stand costs roughly $0.25-0.75 in filament — figures vary a lot by country and filament brand. A comparable acrylic stand with a printed QR code bought commercially tends to run several times that per unit, though retail prices differ widely by market, so it's worth checking what a local sign shop or supplier charges you.
Common mistakes
- Linking to a heavy PDF: it's slow to open and reads terribly on a phone. A simple web page or a lightweight, optimized PDF works better.
- Using a QR code that expires: some free generators create dynamic codes that stop working if you don't pay. QR3D's codes are static and point directly to your link.
- Changing the menu's URL: if you change the link, every printed code stops working. Settle on a permanent address before printing.
- Making the code too small: under 5 cm a side on a table stand, a lot of people have to get up from their seat.
- Not saying what's behind it: always add a short text.
Common questions
How many QR codes does a restaurant need?
At minimum two: menu and reviews. Most end up with four: menu, reviews, WiFi and social media. If you take table-side orders, add one per table.
Can I change the menu without reprinting the stands?
Yes, as long as the link doesn't change. Point the QR code to a fixed address (like yoursite.com/menu) and update that page's content whenever you want.
Is it legal to ask customers for reviews?
Asking for a review, yes. What Google's policies prohibit is incentivizing it (offering something in exchange) or only showing the code to happy customers. A neutral sign is perfectly fine.
What color works best in a restaurant?
A light base with a dark code, in matte filament. If your venue is dark, a light base stands out more on the table and also scans better.
Do I need a website for the menu?
Not necessarily. You can use your Google Business Profile, a PDF hosted on your own domain, or any digital-menu service. What matters is that the link stays stable.