Micro QR Code
The one-finder-pattern miniaturized QR variant (ISO/IEC 18004) for tiny parts, holding up to 35 numeric digits in as few as 11×11 modules.
Micro QR Code Specification
| Character set | Numeric, alphanumeric, Kanji, and byte modes (per version) |
| Data length | Up to 35 digits / 21 alphanumeric (M4) |
| Check digit | Reed-Solomon error correction (L/M/Q per version) |
| Density | 11×11 to 17×17 modules |
| Module width (X-dimension) | Minimum cell size bounded by print resolution |
| Print ratio | Square cell grid |
| Magnification | Version-dependent; quiet zone 2 modules all around |
| Quiet zone | 2 modules on all sides |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 18004 (Micro QR annex) |
| Origin | Denso Wave (Masahiro Hara team), 2004 |
Not generated by barcodegen.net
Micro QR Code is documented here for completeness, but our free generator does not produce this symbology. The closest supported format is QR Code.
What Is Micro QR Code?
Micro QR Code shrinks QR's three corner finder patterns to one, saving module space on small or curved marks. Versions M1-M4 run from 11×11 to 17×17 modules, holding up to 35 numeric digits or 21 alphanumeric characters, with error correction levels matched to each version. A Micro QR reserves only a two-module quiet zone around the symbol versus QR's four.
Its niche is printed circuit boards, miniature electronics, and tiny medical components — exactly where a full QR Code's quiet-zone and version overhead would not fit. The trade-off is capacity and reader support: many general-purpose scanner apps prioritize full QR. If size allows, a standard QR at low version with adequate quiet zone is the safer choice for consumer-facing marks.
Common Applications
- Printed circuit board and component marking
- Miniature medical device identification
Related Barcode Types
The dominant 2D matrix barcode: up to 7,089 digits in a square symbol with selectable error correction.
A compact 2D matrix code with fixed Reed-Solomon error correction — the standard for pharma serialization and tiny parts.
A compact matrix code with a bullseye finder and no quiet zone — popular on rail tickets.