| Micro version | Modules per side | Maximum numeric capacity |
|---|---|---|
| M1 | 11 | 5 |
| M2 | 13 | 10 |
| M3 | 15 | 23 |
| M4 | 17 | 35 |
A smaller symbol is not simply a scaled QR
DENSO WAVE describes Micro QR as using a single position-detection pattern rather than the corner arrangement of a standard QR symbol. Its quiet zone is also different: a border of 2 modules is sufficient for the Micro format. Those format-specific rules should not be transferred to an ordinary QR code.
The table shows why Micro QR is attractive for short identifiers. It also shows the constraint: capacity is small. A web address or structured contact may already be too long, and adding recovery requirements can reduce the usable payload further.
Choose it for a known reading system
Before choosing Micro QR, identify the scanner and software that will read it. A format being standardized does not mean every consumer camera application implements it. A production line with a specified reader can make a different tradeoff from a public sign intended for unknown phones.
Ask for an end-to-end test using the intended symbol size, material and reader configuration. Check decoded content, not just whether the scanner reports a barcode. Keep a standard QR option available if the audience uses mixed devices.
When standard QR is the practical choice
For menus, invitations and public-facing links, broad reader compatibility is often more valuable than saving a small amount of label area. A shorter URL, simpler payload or larger label may solve the space problem without changing symbology.
Do not crop a standard QR until it resembles Micro QR, and do not remove finder patterns to make room for a logo. Those changes do not convert the format. Use an encoder and decoder that explicitly support the same symbology, and treat a label redesign as a complete print-and-scan change to verify.
Put this into practice in the QR generator, then inspect the decoded payload before printing.
Sources
Last checked: . Examples are illustrative inputs, not measured results.
- Micro QR Code, DENSO WAVE. Checked 2026-10-29.