Location QR Code Generator
Create free location QR codes with GPS coordinates for easy navigation and location sharing.
Location Details
Or Enter Coordinates Manually
Add a label to help identify this location
✓ Opens in default maps app on any device
- Please enter coordinates or use your current location
Your QR Code
Enter coordinates or use your location to generate QR code
Everything You Need to Know About Location QR Codes
Location QR codes transform GPS coordinates into scannable codes that instantly open map applications. Whether you're directing customers to your business, sharing event venues, or marking hiking trails, location QR codes provide the fastest route from scan to navigation.
How Location QR Codes Work
When someone scans a location QR code, their device reads encoded coordinate data and opens the appropriate mapping application. The process is seamless: scan, tap, navigate. No manual address entry, no copy-paste errors, no confusion.
Behind the scenes, location QR codes use standardized URI schemes. The geo: URI scheme is universal and works across all platforms, while Google Maps and Apple Maps URLs open specific applications for enhanced features like turn-by-turn directions, Street View, and saved places.
Three Location QR Code Formats Explained
Geo URI (Universal Standard)
Format: geo:40.71872,-73.98905
The geo: URI scheme is an international standard (RFC 5870) recognized by all modern smartphones. When scanned, it opens the device's default mapping application—Google Maps on Android, Apple Maps on iOS, and browser-based maps on other platforms. This format provides maximum compatibility across devices and operating systems.
Google Maps URL
Format: https://maps.google.com/?q=40.71872,-73.98905
Google Maps URLs open directly in the Google Maps app (if installed) or the Google Maps website. This format is ideal when you want to leverage Google's extensive business listings, reviews, Street View, and routing features. It works reliably on Android and iOS devices, with Android users getting native app integration.
Apple Maps URL
Format: https://maps.apple.com/?q=Location&ll=40.71872,-73.98905
Apple Maps URLs are optimized for iOS and macOS users. They open directly in Apple Maps with full access to features like Flyover, Look Around, and indoor maps. While these QR codes work on Android (opening in a browser), they provide the best experience for iPhone and iPad users who prefer Apple's mapping ecosystem.
Real-World Use Cases for Location QR Codes
- •Retail and Business: Print location QR codes on business cards, receipts, product packaging, and storefronts. Customers scan and navigate directly to your physical location, reducing no-shows and improving foot traffic.
- •Events and Venues: Share exact coordinates for outdoor events, festival stages, parking areas, or venue entrances. Wedding invitations with location QR codes eliminate address confusion and ensure guests arrive at the correct entrance.
- •Real Estate: Place QR codes on property signs, listing flyers, and open house materials. Prospective buyers scan to save the location, view the property on a map, and get directions instantly.
- •Tourism and Recreation: Mark hiking trail heads, scenic viewpoints, historical landmarks, and photo spots. Tourists scan to orient themselves, share discoveries, and navigate complex parks or attractions.
- •Delivery and Logistics: Provide precise pickup and drop-off locations for delivery drivers, rideshare services, or courier networks. Coordinates eliminate ambiguity in areas with poor address systems or multiple building entrances.
- •Emergency Services: Post location QR codes at remote facilities, trailheads, or large campuses. Emergency responders scan to get exact coordinates, crucial in areas where street addresses are unreliable or nonexistent.
Understanding Coordinate Systems
Latitude and Longitude Explained
Latitude and longitude form the global coordinate system used by all GPS devices and mapping applications. Understanding these coordinates helps you verify locations and troubleshoot QR code issues.
- •Latitude (North-South): Measures degrees north or south of the equator. Ranges from -90° (South Pole) to +90° (North Pole). Positive values indicate northern hemisphere, negative values indicate southern hemisphere.
- •Longitude (East-West): Measures degrees east or west of the Prime Meridian (Greenwich, UK). Ranges from -180° to +180°. Positive values indicate eastern hemisphere, negative values indicate western hemisphere.
Coordinate Precision and Accuracy
The number of decimal places in your coordinates determines location precision:
- • 1 decimal place: ~11 km precision (city level)
- • 2 decimal places: ~1.1 km precision (neighborhood level)
- • 3 decimal places: ~110 m precision (street level)
- • 4 decimal places: ~11 m precision (building level)
- • 5 decimal places: ~1.1 m precision (entrance level)
- • 6 decimal places: ~0.11 m precision (survey level)
For most business applications, 5 decimal places provide sufficient accuracy to identify specific building entrances or parking spots without unnecessary precision.
Best Practices for Location QR Codes
Choosing the Right Format for Your Audience
- •Use Geo URI for universal compatibility: When your audience uses diverse devices and platforms, the geo: URI format ensures everyone can open your location regardless of their preferred mapping app.
- •Choose Google Maps for business listings: If your location has a Google Business Profile with reviews, photos, and business hours, Google Maps URLs provide the richest experience and build trust through social proof.
- •Select Apple Maps for iOS-focused campaigns: When targeting iPhone users (premium retail, upscale events, Apple-centric industries), Apple Maps integration provides the smoothest native experience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Reversed Coordinates: Latitude comes first, longitude second. Reversing them places your pin in the wrong hemisphere. Always verify coordinates by pasting them into a mapping service before creating QR codes.
- •Insufficient Precision: Using only 2-3 decimal places might point users to the wrong building or street. For business locations, use at least 5 decimal places to ensure accuracy.
- •Untested QR Codes: Always scan your location QR codes with multiple devices (iOS and Android) before printing or distributing. Verify the pin drops in the exact intended spot.
- •Outdated Coordinates: If your business relocates or the entrance changes, update and redistribute new QR codes immediately. Old codes directing to incorrect locations harm user experience and credibility.
Who Benefits Most from Location QR Codes?
Pros:
- •Businesses with hard-to-find locations (industrial parks, multi-building complexes, rural areas)
- •Event organizers managing outdoor venues, festivals, or temporary locations
- •Real estate agents marketing properties without clear street visibility
- •Tourism operators highlighting scenic viewpoints, trailheads, or landmarks
- •Delivery and logistics operations requiring precise pickup/dropoff points
Cons:
- •Requires users to have mapping apps installed (though nearly universal on smartphones)
- •Less useful for well-known addresses where users prefer typing familiar street names
- •Coordinate accuracy depends on GPS signal quality and can drift in dense urban areas or indoors
Advanced Location QR Code Techniques
Adding Location Names and Labels
Including a location name or label in your QR code improves user experience by providing context before navigation begins. Users see "Coffee Shop - Main Entrance" instead of raw coordinates, reducing uncertainty and increasing scan-through rates.
For geo: URIs, append labels with the query parameter: geo:40.71872,-73.98905?q=Coffee+Shop. Google Maps and Apple Maps URLs have native label support that displays prominently in the mapping interface.
Using Browser Geolocation for Accuracy
Our "Use My Current Location" feature leverages your device's GPS, WiFi positioning, and cell tower triangulation to determine coordinates with meter-level accuracy. This is perfect when creating QR codes on-site at your business location or event venue.
For maximum accuracy, enable high-accuracy mode (already default in this generator), ensure clear sky visibility for GPS, and wait for coordinate stabilization before capturing. Modern smartphones achieve 5-10 meter accuracy in optimal conditions.
Security and Privacy Considerations
Location QR codes are permanent and public once distributed. Consider these security implications:
- •Never share private residence coordinates publicly: Use business addresses or public meeting points instead of home locations for personal safety.
- •Verify QR code content before distribution: Scan your own codes first to ensure they don't inadvertently expose sensitive locations or incorrect coordinates.
- •Consider time-sensitive locations: Temporary event venues should be removed from public materials after events conclude to prevent confusion or unauthorized access.
- •Geolocation permission is optional: Our generator requests browser location access only when you click "Use My Current Location." We never store or transmit your coordinates—everything happens locally in your browser.
Integrating Location QR Codes with Marketing
Location QR codes amplify marketing campaigns by removing friction between awareness and action:
- •Print Materials: Add location QR codes to business cards, flyers, posters, and direct mail. Recipients scan to save your location or get directions immediately, increasing foot traffic conversion rates.
- •Event Promotion: Include location codes in email invitations, social media posts, and event listing websites. Attendees save coordinates to their phones and receive navigation reminders automatically.
- •Outdoor Advertising: Billboards, bus shelters, and vehicle wraps with location QR codes enable instant response from passing motorists and pedestrians who want to visit later.
- •Packaging and Products: Consumer products can include manufacturer location codes for warranty service, factory tours, or retail store finders.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
Does QR Hideout show ads after scanning location QR codes?
Never. QR Hideout generates static location QR codes that encode GPS coordinates directly into the QR pattern. When scanned, they open your mapping app immediately with zero ads, redirects, or tracking pages. Unlike dynamic QR services that redirect through ad-laden servers to monetize your scans, our static codes work forever - even if QR Hideout goes offline.
What's the difference between static and dynamic location QR codes?
Static location QR codes (like those from QR Hideout) encode GPS coordinates directly in the QR pattern - they work forever, even offline, with no server dependency or subscription fees. Dynamic QR codes redirect through a tracking server first, where competitors often display ads, collect analytics, and may charge ongoing fees or expire codes. Static codes provide maximum privacy, reliability, and permanence.
What's the difference between geo: URIs and Google Maps URLs in QR codes?
Geo: URIs (geo:40.71872,-73.98905) are universal standards that open the default mapping app on any device—Google Maps on Android, Apple Maps on iOS. Google Maps URLs (https://maps.google.com/?q=...) specifically open Google Maps, providing access to reviews, Street View, and Google's routing. Choose geo: URIs for maximum compatibility across all users, or Google Maps URLs when you want to leverage Google Business Profile features.
How accurate are smartphone GPS coordinates for creating location QR codes?
Modern smartphones achieve 5-15 meter accuracy in optimal conditions (clear sky, outdoor location, high-accuracy mode enabled). Urban areas with tall buildings may experience 20-50 meter accuracy due to GPS signal reflection. For business locations, we recommend using the "Use My Current Location" feature while standing at your exact entrance or parking area, or manually entering coordinates from Google Maps for verified accuracy.
Can I add a custom message or description to location QR codes?
Yes, using the optional "Location Name" field adds a label to your QR code. For geo: URIs, this appears as a query parameter (geo:lat,lon?q=YourLabel). For Google Maps and Apple Maps URLs, labels display as markers or pins in the map interface. While you can't add long descriptions directly to the coordinate data, descriptive labels like "Back Entrance - Deliveries" provide helpful context when users scan your code.
Will location QR codes work without internet connectivity?
Scanning a QR code and reading the coordinate data works offline, but opening the mapping application and displaying maps requires internet connectivity (cellular data or WiFi). Some mapping apps cache frequently accessed areas for offline navigation, but initial scans typically need connectivity. For remote locations, consider printing both QR codes and traditional text addresses as backup navigation options.
How do I get coordinates for a specific location if I'm not physically there?
Open Google Maps on desktop or mobile, search for your location, right-click (desktop) or long-press (mobile) on the exact spot, and select "What's here?" or view the coordinates in the URL. Google Maps displays coordinates in the format (latitude, longitude). Copy these values into our generator with at least 5 decimal places for building-level precision. Always verify the pin drops correctly before generating your final QR code.
Can I use location QR codes for indoor navigation or multi-level buildings?
Standard GPS coordinates have limited effectiveness indoors due to signal attenuation. However, you can create location QR codes that drop pins at building entrances, then provide additional text directions (floor number, suite, parking level) on the printed material surrounding the QR code. Some venues with indoor mapping support in Google Maps or Apple Maps can display floor-level navigation, though this requires the venue to have uploaded indoor floor plans.
Are there any costs or tracking associated with location QR codes?
Location QR codes are completely free to generate and use. Our generator creates static QR codes containing coordinate data—there are no monthly fees, scan limits, or analytics tracking. Once you download your QR code, it works forever without requiring our service. Because data is encoded directly in the QR code, we never store or access your coordinates. For tracking-enabled QR codes with analytics, you would need third-party QR management platforms (typically paid services).
What size should I print location QR codes for reliable scanning?
Minimum recommended size is 2cm x 2cm (0.8" x 0.8") for close-range scanning (within 10-20cm). For business cards, 2.5-3cm works well. For posters and signage viewed from 1-2 meters away, use 5-8cm QR codes. Outdoor signage and vehicle graphics should scale proportionally—a billboard might use 50cm+ codes for visibility from distances of 10+ meters. Always include a small buffer of white space around the QR code to ensure reliable scanning.
Can I combine location QR codes with other types of information?
Standard location QR codes contain only coordinate data and optional labels. To combine locations with business hours, contact info, or promotional messages, consider creating a landing page or vCard with embedded map links, then generate a QR code to that page instead. Alternatively, print location QR codes alongside separate text QR codes on marketing materials—one for navigation, one for contact details—giving users choice in what action they take.
Why does my location QR code open in a web browser instead of a mapping app?
This typically occurs on older devices, in certain mobile browsers, or when default mapping apps aren't set. For geo: URIs, ensure your device has a mapping app set as default for location links. For Google Maps and Apple Maps URLs, the respective apps must be installed—otherwise, they open in mobile browsers with limited functionality. Using geo: URI format provides the best cross-platform compatibility for opening native mapping applications automatically.