Where to host the menu — this is the decision that matters
The QR code is the easy part. The question that determines whether this works for years or breaks in six months is: where does the menu live?
| Option | Cost | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| A page on your own domain | Domain only | Lowest — you control it completely |
| A PDF on your own hosting | Domain only | Low, but PDFs are awkward on phones |
| Google Drive / Dropbox link | Free | Medium — link formats change, sharing settings reset |
| A menu SaaS subscription | Monthly | High — stop paying and the code dies |
| Instagram or Facebook post | Free | High — the post gets buried or deleted |
Our recommendation: a simple page on your own domain at a fixed address, for example
yourrestaurant.com/menu. Print the code once. When prices change, you edit the page — the code
on the table never needs reprinting.
Making the menu page work on a phone
- HTML, not a PDF — a PDF forces pinching and zooming; a web page reflows
- Readable text size — assume the customer is reading in dim light without their glasses
- Fast — no giant photos. A hungry person waiting for a 5 MB image leaves
- Categories at the top — starters, mains, drinks, so nobody scrolls through everything
- Prices visible — nobody wants to ask
- Allergens and vegetarian marks — increasingly expected, and sometimes required
Physical placement in the venue
- Table tents — the most common and the most effective
- Laminate the sticker — tables get wiped down constantly; unprotected paper lasts days
- 4–5 cm is the right size for a table code, so it scans without anyone leaning over
- Not under glass with a strong overhead light — reflections kill scans
- Add a line of text — "Scan for the menu" measurably raises the number of people who try
- Keep paper menus too — not everyone has a phone with them, or wants to use it
How to create a menu QR code
- Publish the menu at a fixed addressFor example yourrestaurant.com/menu. Never change this address again.
- Paste the address into the toolEnter it under the Link type.
- Add a frame with a call to action"Scan for the menu" raises the number of people who actually try it.
- Download as PDFPDF or SVG keeps the code sharp at print size.
- Print, laminate, testScan the finished table card with two different phones in the actual lighting of the room.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay monthly for a menu QR code?
Not here. The code points directly at your page; we are not in the path, so there is nothing to bill you for. What you may pay for is hosting the menu page itself — often nothing if you already have a website.
Can I change the menu without reprinting the code?
Yes, as long as the address stays the same. Edit the page content and every printed code shows the new menu instantly.
What if a customer has no internet?
A link-type code needs a connection. Guest Wi-Fi solves this — and you can put a Wi-Fi QR code on the same table card.
How big should the code be on the table?
About 4–5 cm across. That scans comfortably from a seated position without anyone having to pick the card up.