What is an Error Correction Level?
A QR code setting that lets the code still scan when part of it is damaged or covered by a logo.
Trusted by small businesses worldwide
Short links
created
Clicks
tracked
Chrome extension
installs
Ads on your links,
ever
Quick Answer
Error correction level is a QR code feature that lets the code keep working even if part of the pattern is missing, damaged, or covered. There are four levels: 7%, 15%, 25%, and 30%, indicating how much of the code can be lost while still scanning. Higher levels are more resilient but make the code visually denser.
Full Definition
QR codes include built-in redundancy. The data pattern inside a QR code contains both the actual encoded URL and extra recovery information. A scanner uses the recovery information to reconstruct the URL even if part of the code is unreadable. Error correction level controls how much of the code is dedicated to this recovery information.
The four standard levels are:
- L (Low): about 7% of the code can be recovered
- M (Medium): about 15%
- Q (Quartile): about 25%
- H (High): about 30%
Higher levels use more of the code’s area for recovery, which means the data pattern is denser at the same physical size. The technical concept underneath, called the data pattern, is what carries the encoded URL alongside the error correction information.
Why It Matters
Error correction protects QR codes from the real world. A QR code printed on packaging might get scratched. A code on a flyer might get rain on it. A code with a logo in the middle is partly covered by design. In all these cases, the right error correction level keeps the code scannable when a code with low error correction would fail.
Choosing the right level is also a design balance. Higher levels create denser-looking codes, which some designers prefer to avoid for aesthetic reasons. Lower levels create cleaner-looking codes that are also more fragile. The trade-off is reliability versus visual lightness.
How ShortifyMe Handles It
ShortifyMe’s QR code customization screen has a dropdown with all four levels: 7%, 15%, 25%, and 30%. Pick the level based on how the code will be used. For a clean on-screen QR code, the 7% level is fine. For printed materials, use 15% or 25%. For outdoor signage, packaging, or anywhere the code might get worn, use 30%. If you upload a logo into the center of the code, use 25% or 30% so the logo coverage does not break the scan.
Related Terms
QR Code
A scannable pattern of squares that encodes a web address, opening it instantly on a phone.
Quiet Zone
The blank margin around a QR code that lets scanners distinguish it from surrounding content.
Dynamic QR Code
A QR code whose destination can be changed after the code is printed.
Frequently Asked Questions
15% or 25% for most print. 30% for outdoor signage, packaging, or anywhere the code might be exposed to wear or weather.
No. The scan happens at the same speed regardless of level. Higher correction just gives the scanner more room to recover from damaged or missing pixels.
Higher levels add more recovery data into the same code area. The pattern packs in more small squares (modules), which reads as denser. The code is the same physical size, just more detailed.
More from the ShortifyMe Glossary
Browse plain-language definitions for short links, QR codes, and link tracking.
Try ShortifyMe Free
Put this into practice. Create a free account in 30 seconds. No credit card required.