Build a QR Code Generator with Python

📋 What You’ll Need

Python 3.7 or higher
VS Code or any editor
pip installed
Pillow (for images)
No prior knowledge needed
30 minutes

QR codes are everywhere — event tickets, menus, business cards, product labels. Building your own generator means you can create them in bulk, brand them, and automate the whole process. Let's build it.

Install the libraries

We need the qrcode library for generating QR codes, and Pillow for image manipulation (adding logos):

pip install qrcode[pil] pillow

The [pil] part installs Pillow automatically alongside qrcode. Run this once and you're set.

Generate your first QR code

Create qr_generator.py and generate a basic QR code in 5 lines:

import qrcode

qr = qrcode.make('https://itexperttraining.com')
qr.save('myqr.png')

print('QR code saved as myqr.png')

Run it. Open myqr.png — you'll see a black and white QR code. Scan it with your phone and it opens the URL.

Customise colours and size

Use the QRCode class for full control over the output:

import qrcode

qr = qrcode.QRCode(
version=1, # size 1-40, 1 = smallest
error_correction=qrcode.constants.ERROR_CORRECT_H, # 30% damage OK
box_size=10, # pixels per box
border=4, # quiet zone boxes
)
qr.add_data('https://itexperttraining.com')
qr.make(fit=True)

img = qr.make_image(fill_color='#162447', back_color='white')
img.save('branded_qr.png')

fill_color sets the QR dot colour. back_color sets the background. Use any hex colour or colour name. ERROR_CORRECT_H is required for adding a logo — it allows 30% of the QR to be covered.

Add a logo in the centre

Place a logo image in the middle of the QR code. The high error correction means it still scans perfectly:

from PIL import Image

# Load your logo (PNG with transparent background works best)
logo = Image.open('logo.png')

# Resize logo to 25% of QR size
qr_w, qr_h = img.size
logo_size = qr_w // 4
logo = logo.resize((logo_size, logo_size))

# Paste logo in the centre
pos = ((qr_w - logo_size) // 2, (qr_h - logo_size) // 2)
img.paste(logo, pos, mask=logo if logo.mode == 'RGBA' else None)
img.save('qr_with_logo.png')

💡 Tip: Use a PNG logo with a transparent background (RGBA mode). The mask=logo argument respects the transparency so the QR background shows through.

Create a reusable function

Wrap everything into a clean, reusable function:

import qrcode
from PIL import Image

def make_qr(data, filename, color='#162447', logo_path=None):
qr = qrcode.QRCode(error_correction=qrcode.constants.ERROR_CORRECT_H, box_size=10, border=4)
qr.add_data(data)
qr.make(fit=True)
img = qr.make_image(fill_color=color, back_color='white')
if logo_path:
logo = Image.open(logo_path).resize((img.size[0]//4, img.size[1]//4))
pos = ((img.size[0]-logo.size[0])//2, (img.size[1]-logo.size[1])//2)
img.paste(logo, pos, mask=logo if logo.mode=='RGBA' else None)
img.save(filename)
print(f'Saved: {filename}')

# Use it:
make_qr('https://itexperttraining.com', 'site_qr.png', logo_path='logo.png')

Batch generate QR codes from a CSV

If you need dozens of QR codes — product pages, event tickets, business cards — read from a CSV:

import csv, os

# qr_list.csv has columns: name, url
os.makedirs('qr_output', exist_ok=True)

with open('qr_list.csv') as f:
for row in csv.DictReader(f):
filename = f'qr_output/{row["name"].replace(" ", "_")}.png'
make_qr(row['url'], filename)

print('All QR codes generated!')

Your qr_list.csv should look like:

name,url
Homepage,https://itexperttraining.com
Blog,https://itexperttraining.com/learn
Contact,https://itexperttraining.com/contact

Output

Saved: qr_output/Homepage.png
Saved: qr_output/Blog.png
Saved: qr_output/Contact.png
All QR codes generated!

Generate a QR for any input from the command line

Make your script accept input from the command line so you can use it like a tool:

import sys

if __name__ == '__main__':
if len(sys.argv) < 3:
print('Usage: python qr_generator.py <data> <output.png>')
sys.exit(1)
make_qr(sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2])

Now run from the terminal:

python qr_generator.py "https://example.com" myqr.png

One command, one QR code. You can use this in shell scripts or scheduled tasks.

🎉

You did it!

You built a complete QR code generator — basic codes, branded colours, logo overlays, and batch CSV generation. This is a genuinely useful tool you can use right now for business cards, events, or product labels.

← Browse More Tutorials

🚀 Take It Further

Add a Tkinter GUI so non-technical users can generate QR codes
Build a Flask web interface for browser-based generation
Generate QR codes for WiFi credentials (special qrcode format)
Convert to an EXE with PyInstaller so others can run it without Python
Add a preview that opens the QR image automatically after saving

← All Tutorials

⚙ Build a QR Code Generator with Python

🎯 What You’ll Build

📋 What You’ll Need

Install the libraries

Generate your first QR code

Customise colours and size

Add a logo in the centre

Create a reusable function

Batch generate QR codes from a CSV

Generate a QR for any input from the command line

You did it!

🚀 Take It Further

⚙ Build a QR Code Generator with Python

🎯 What You’ll Build

📋 What You’ll Need

Install the libraries

Generate your first QR code

Customise colours and size

Add a logo in the centre

Create a reusable function

Batch generate QR codes from a CSV

Generate a QR for any input from the command line

You did it!

🚀 Take It Further

Found something wrong?

Thanks — got it!