What are QR Code Versions? A Thorough Explanation from Data Capacity to Confirmation Methods

QR codes are set with versions according to the data content and error correction level.

In this article, we will explain in detail the basic knowledge of QR code versions, the relationship with data capacity and error correction levels, and how to check the version.

At the end of the article, there is a list of versions and a guide to the number of characters that can be stored, so please be sure to check it out.

Jun 12, 2025Jun 12, 2025

What is a QR Code Version?

Simply put, the version of a QR code refers to the number of cells in the QR code.

QR code versions (types) exist from 1 to 40, and for each version, the data capacity that can be stored is determined by the number of cells and the error correction level. A cell is one of the black and white squares in the QR code.

The larger the version number, the larger the code becomes, and the data capacity that can be stored increases proportionally. The term "version" generally brings to mind "new" or "old," but in the context of QR codes, it refers to the "number of cells or size."

Is a Higher Version Always Better?

If a higher version means more data and characters can be stored, should we always create QR codes with the maximum version, 40?

In conclusion, a lower QR code version is more stable for reading, so it is not recommended to increase the version beyond the necessary number of characters.

When printing and using QR codes, each cell must be printed clearly. Depending on the printer's performance and the printing area, individual cells may become blurred and unreadable.

Please select the minimum version that meets the requirements for the necessary error correction level, printable area, and character capacity.

Differences in Selectable Versions Due to QR Code Models

There are two models of QR codes: Model 1 and Model 2.

What is QR Code Model 1?

This was the first QR code to be created. Its appearance is different from Model 2, and its feature is the absence of an alignment pattern (the "eye" that compensates for distortion). The maximum version is 14 (73x73 cells) and it can handle up to 1167 numeric digits, but the amount of data that can be stored is small compared to Model 2.

What is QR Code Model 2?

Model 2 is an improved version of Model 1 and is the QR code we see in society today. Model 2 was improved to allow for smooth reading even if the code is distorted. The QR codes we see in our daily lives are Model 2.

The alignment pattern is what allows for a smooth reading of a distorted code. For example, even if the code is printed on a curved surface or is distorted due to the reading angle, the alignment patterns allow it to be read.

Click here for a detailed explanation of QR code

What is the Relationship Between QR Codes and Error Correction Levels?

As mentioned earlier, the error correction level is also related to determining the version.

QR codes are designed to be read accurately even if a part of the image is dirty or damaged. This function is called the error correction function. This error correction function allows QR codes to be used as a highly reliable information transmission tool.

There are four levels (L, M, Q, and H, in order from lowest to highest), which are called error correction levels. By setting a higher error correction level, the data can be read even if more of the code is missing.

The error correction function is realized by holding redundant data in the code. Therefore, raising the error correction level reduces the amount of data that can be stored. For specific data amounts, please check the end of this article.

Click here for a more detailed explanation of the error correction function

How to Check the QR Code Version

Most people who read QR codes probably don't need to check the version. However, for advanced users, there may be times when you need to check the QR code version, so we will introduce how to do so.

Read QR Codes from an Images | QR STOCK

QR Stock is a service that allows you to read QR codes and check the version online for free and without registration.

Here is the steps to know the QR Code version.

Access the following link(QR STOCK Scanner)
Select an image contains QR Code by Drag & Drop or just selecting a file.
1. You can't get the version with scanning QR Code by web camera
Results are shown in a dialog.
Scanned history can be downloaded as CSV.

How is the QR Code Version Determined?

The QR code version is determined based on the following factors:

Data Capacity (= Number of Characters): The version is determined according to the amount of data the QR code will store. The more data, the higher the version number.
Error Correction Level: The higher the error correction level, the higher the QR code version tends to be. When performing error correction at a high level, the usable portion of the data capacity decreases, so it is necessary to raise the version.

Based on these factors, the QR code version is selected according to the amount of information you want to store and the need for error correction. However, since many QR code creation services automatically select the minimum version, most people do not need to worry about it.

QR Code Version List

The following is a list of QR code versions, error correction levels, and the corresponding data capacity that can be stored.

Version	Cell Count	Error Correction Level	Numeric	Alphanumeric	Binary(8-bit)	Kanji
1	21x21	L	41	25	17	10
		M	34	20	14	8
		Q	27	16	11	7
		H	17	10	7	4
2	25x25	L	77	47	32	20
		M	63	38	26	16
		Q	48	29	20	12
		H	34	20	14	8
3	29x29	L	127	77	53	32
		M	101	61	42	26
		Q	77	47	32	20
		H	58	35	24	15
4	33x33	L	187	114	78	48
		M	149	90	62	38
		Q	111	67	46	28
		H	82	50	34	21
5	37x37	L	255	154	106	65
		M	202	122	84	52
		Q	144	87	60	37
		H	106	64	44	27
6	41x41	L	322	195	134	82
		M	255	154	106	65
		Q	178	108	74	45
		H	139	84	58	36
7	45x45	L	370	226	154	95
		M	290	174	122	75
		Q	207	125	86	53
		H	154	93	64	39
8	49x49	L	461	283	192	118
		M	365	221	152	93
		Q	259	157	108	66
		H	202	122	84	52
9	53x53	L	552	341	230	141
		M	432	262	180	111
		Q	312	189	130	80
		H	235	143	98	60
10	57x57	L	652	409	271	167
		M	513	311	213	131
		Q	364	221	151	93
		H	288	174	119	74
11	61x61	L	772	503	321	198
		M	604	366	251	155
		Q	427	259	177	109
		H	331	200	137	85
12	65x65	L	883	611	367	226
		M	691	419	287	177
		Q	489	296	203	122
		H	374	227	155	96
13	69x69	L	1022	715	425	262
		M	796	483	331	204
		Q	580	352	241	144
		H	427	259	177	109
14	73x73	L	1101	805	458	282
		M	871	528	362	223
		Q	621	376	258	154
		H	468	283	194	120
15	77x77	L	1250	909	520	320
		M	991	600	412	254
		Q	703	426	292	178
		H	530	321	220	136
16	81x81	L	1408	1031	586	361
		M	1082	656	450	277
		Q	775	470	322	194
		H	602	365	250	154
17	85x85	L	1548	1152	644	397
		M	1212	734	504	310
		Q	876	531	364	220
		H	674	408	280	173
18	89x89	L	1725	1300	718	442
		M	1346	816	560	345
		Q	948	574	394	236
		H	746	452	310	191
19	93x93	L	1903	1468	792	488
		M	1500	909	624	384
		Q	1063	644	442	262
		H	813	493	338	208
20	97x97	L	2061	1588	858	528
		M	1600	970	666	410
		Q	1159	702	482	282
		H	919	557	382	235
21	101x101	L	2232	1704	929	572
		M	1809	1035	714	441
		Q	1292	775	532	312
		H	969	601	409	241
22	105x105	L	2409	1853	1003	618
		M	1933	1134	782	476
		Q	1370	825	559	331
		H	1056	655	438	258
23	109x109	L	2620	1990	1063	661
		M	2085	1248	860	528
		Q	1452	880	604	356
		H	1108	698	462	270
24	113x113	L	2812	2132	1159	702
		M	2236	1326	914	561
		Q	1538	940	634	372
		H	1228	742	496	284
25	117x117	L	3057	2223	1224	742
		M	2349	1451	1000	614
		Q	1628	1002	684	397
		H	1286	790	534	303
26	121x121	L	3283	2369	1276	790
		M	2506	1542	1062	652
		Q	1732	1066	719	419
		H	1425	842	559	315
27	125x125	L	3517	2520	1370	842
		M	2632	1637	1128	692
		Q	1839	1124	756	442
		H	1501	902	604	335
28	129x129	L	3669	2677	1468	898
		M	2780	1732	1193	732
		Q	1911	1190	790	462
		H	1581	940	634	352
29	133x133	L	3909	2820	1531	958
		M	2894	1839	1267	778
		Q	1989	1264	832	483
		H	1677	1002	684	376
30	137x137	L	4158	2978	1631	983
		M	3054	1911	1322	813
		Q	2099	1322	876	503
		H	1782	1066	719	407
31	141x141	L	4417	3140	1735	1051
		M	3220	1992	1429	876
		Q	2213	1429	948	550
		H	1897	1132	756	440
32	145x145	L	4686	3304	1843	1093
		M	3391	2102	1499	923
		Q	2331	1499	1002	576
		H	2022	1201	816	462
33	149x149	L	4965	3470	1955	1139
		M	3577	2216	1579	972
		Q	2453	1579	1060	606
		H	2157	1273	909	496
34	153x153	L	5253	3660	2071	1219
		M	3729	2334	1663	1024
		Q	2577	1663	1113	646
		H	2301	1367	959	525
35	157x157	L	5529	3832	2191	1273
		M	3927	2422	1729	1056
		Q	2703	1729	1170	660
		H	2361	1465	1056	558
36	161x161	L	5836	4030	2306	1347
		M	4087	2544	1817	1108
		Q	2811	1817	1224	696
		H	2524	1537	1108	587
37	165x165	L	6153	4199	2434	1417
		M	4296	2670	1915	1164
		Q	2953	1915	1292	728
		H	2625	1625	1153	640
38	169x169	L	6479	4429	2566	1496
		M	4528	2805	1992	1224
		Q	3081	1992	1346	768
		H	2735	1725	1224	672
39	173x173	L	6743	4610	2702	1570
		M	4775	2949	2102	1292
		Q	3220	2102	1400	808
		H	2927	1828	1273	744
40	177x177	L	7089	4296	2953	1817
		M	5596	3391	2331	1435
		Q	3993	2420	1663	1024
		H	3057	1852	1273	784

Number of Cells for Each QR Code Version

As you may have noticed by looking at the cell count, it increases regularly with each version increase.

The relationship between the number of cells and the version can be expressed by the following formula:

[Number of Cells] = [Version] × 4 + 17

You don't have to remember all 40 cell counts.

Two Ways to Reduce the QR Code Version

As you may have understood from the version list and the error correction level/data capacity, if you want to reduce the version but cannot change the data content, there are two possible methods.

Lower the Error Correction Level

The first method is to lower the error correction level. Even with the same version, lowering the error correction level increases the amount of data that can be stored. If it is acceptable to lower the error correction level in the expected reading environment, please adopt this method.

Use a Shortened URL

URLs are often stored in QR codes, but a long URL will result in a larger version. In such cases, consider using a URL shortening service. These services assign a short URL that redirects to the original URL.

In this way, even if you cannot change the data content, there is a possibility that you can reduce the version, so please check it out.

QR STOCK also has a QR Code which use shorened URL.

Experimenting with Readable QR Codes on iPhone (iOS)

The standard camera on iPhones (iOS 11 and later) also supports QR code reading.

Source: Apple

However, since Apple did not specify which versions are supported, we conducted our own experiment. We prepared QR codes from version 1 to version 40 and used an iPhone XR to test reading the QR codes with the standard camera's QR code detection function.

Results on iPhone (iOS)

The result was that all versions from 1 to 40 could be read. Before the experiment, we expected that it would be difficult to read the huge version 40 QR code, but it was read successfully.

However, since this experiment was conducted by displaying the QR code on an LCD screen, it is necessary to pay attention to the clarity of the dots when actually printing and using it. Please ensure a sufficient size for smooth reading. Please refer to the following article to check the minimum size.

Experimenting with Readable QR Codes on Android Smartphones

Similar to the iPhone, we conducted a reading test of high-version QR codes on an Android device. We used a Google Pixel 7a as the device. We tested with three types of apps:

Google Lens
Quick Settings
the standard camera (Pixel Camera).

Results on Android Smartphones

The result was that all versions from 1 to 40 could be read. Reading the version 40 QR code was quite challenging, and it was not recognized without controlling the lighting and reflection. However, when the conditions were right, all of the apps were able to read it.

Summary: QR Code Version

Most people do not need to worry about the QR code version in their daily lives. On the other hand, to have as many people as possible read your QR code, it is important to keep the version as small as possible.

To check the version of a QR code you already have, please use the site below.

Check QR Code Version by Reading with Image | QR STOCK

It's free to use online, so please give it a try.