UTM QR Code Generator
Create a campaign QR code with source, medium, campaign, term, and content tags, then preview the URL and download the finished PNG.
Use underscores instead of spaces for consistent reporting, e.g. spring_sale_2026.
Use Content to A/B test two QR codes pointing to the same campaign — e.g. one on the front of a flyer, one on the back.
The UTM QR Code Generator adds campaign parameters to a destination URL and turns the complete tagged link into a scannable QR code. Enter your website URL, define the campaign source, medium, and name, add optional term or content values, and review the generated link before downloading the QR code as a PNG.
When someone scans the code and opens the landing page, a correctly configured analytics platform can use those parameters to attribute the visit. The tool creates the tagged link and QR image. It does not count scans or provide its own analytics dashboard.
What Is a UTM QR Code?
A UTM QR code stores a normal website address with campaign parameters appended to it. A tagged URL can look like this:
https://example.com/sale?utm_source=retail_store&utm_medium=qr_code&utm_campaign=spring_sale_2026
The page opens like any other web link. The extra values describe the campaign that sent the visitor. Google explains that campaign parameters can identify the source, marketing medium, campaign, paid keyword, and creative variation, with the values appearing in acquisition reporting when Analytics records the visit. See Google's official guide to collecting campaign data with custom URLs.
What the UTM QR Code Generator Actually Tracks
The UTM QR Code Generator does not track the physical scan itself. It encodes a tagged destination URL. If the person scans the code, follows the prompt, reaches the landing page, and your analytics setup records that visit, the UTM values can help attribute the session.
This distinction matters. A scan that is cancelled, a page that fails to load, an analytics tag blocked by consent settings, or a visit filtered from reporting may not appear in your analytics data. Treat UTM reporting as attributed landing-page traffic, not a guaranteed raw scan counter.
How to Create a QR Code With UTM Parameters
- Enter the destination URL. Add the page that should open after scanning. If you omit
http://orhttps://, the tool addshttps://. - Set Campaign Source. Enter the source or referring placement used in your naming plan, such as
conference,direct_mail, orretail_store. - Set Campaign Medium. The field defaults to
qr_code, which can make QR-driven visits easier to isolate from other marketing traffic. - Name the campaign. Use one consistent campaign identifier, such as
spring_sale_2026, across all assets in the same promotion. - Add optional Term or Content values. Term is commonly used for paid keywords. Content can distinguish creatives, placements, or versions within one campaign.
- Review the live URL preview. Check every parameter and use Copy URL if you also need the tagged link separately.
- Customize and generate. Choose the size, error-correction level, colors, and white margin, then generate the QR code.
- Test before printing. Scan the finished code, confirm the correct landing page opens, and verify the campaign attribution in your analytics setup.
UTM Parameter Reference
The UTM QR Code Generator requires source, medium, and campaign. Term and content are optional.
| Parameter | Required by this tool? | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
utm_source | Yes | Identifies the campaign source, referrer, publication, or placement category in your naming plan. | retail_store |
utm_medium | Yes | Identifies the marketing medium. This tool defaults to a custom value of qr_code. | qr_code |
utm_campaign | Yes | Groups visits under a particular campaign, promotion, product, or initiative. | spring_sale_2026 |
utm_term | No | Typically identifies a paid keyword. Use it only when it fits your measurement plan. | running_shoes |
utm_content | No | Separates creatives, calls to action, locations, or versions within the same campaign. | counter_sign_a |
A Practical Naming Example
Suppose one seasonal promotion uses a counter sign, a mailed postcard, and an event flyer. Keep the campaign name consistent, keep the medium consistent if you want a single QR channel, and use source or content values to separate the placements:
utm_source=retail_store&utm_medium=qr_code&utm_campaign=spring_sale_2026&utm_content=counter_signutm_source=direct_mail&utm_medium=qr_code&utm_campaign=spring_sale_2026&utm_content=postcard_frontutm_source=trade_show&utm_medium=qr_code&utm_campaign=spring_sale_2026&utm_content=flyer_a
There is no single mandatory naming system for every business. What matters is choosing clear definitions and applying them consistently. Google Analytics treats differently capitalized values as different entries, so Spring_Sale and spring_sale can fragment reporting.
How the Generator Handles Your URL
The tool uses the browser's URL handling to build the final link. It preserves unrelated query parameters already present in the destination URL, adds or replaces the five supported UTM parameters, and keeps a URL fragment after the query string.
For example, a destination containing ?ref=print#offer keeps both the ref parameter and #offer. If the URL already contains utm_source, utm_medium, or another supported UTM parameter, the value entered in this generator replaces the existing value.
UTM QR Code Customization Options
The UTM QR Code Generator includes the following verified options:
- Five base size settings: 200, 300, 400, 600, and 1000 pixels
- Low, Medium, Quartile, and High error correction
- Custom foreground and background colors
- An optional white margin around the QR pattern
- Tagged URL preview and Copy URL button
- PNG download and Copy Image controls
- Open Link button for testing the generated destination
Long campaign URLs create denser QR patterns. Strong contrast, adequate print size, and clear space around the code become especially important. Use the QR Code Size Calculator when preparing the image for posters, packaging, or other printed materials.
Where to Find UTM Traffic in GA4
After Google Analytics records visits to the tagged landing page, open Reports, choose Acquisition, and then open Traffic acquisition. Useful dimensions include Session source, Session medium, Session source/medium, and Session campaign.
Do not judge the setup from one test scan alone. First confirm that the destination page has the correct Google tag, that your consent configuration allows the test visit to be measured, and that your reporting filters are not excluding it. Reporting availability can also vary, so allow time for processed reports to update.
UTM QR Code vs. Plain URL QR Code
Use a URL QR Code Generator when you only need to open a page and campaign attribution is unnecessary. Use a UTM QR code when the destination page is measured and you want the resulting visits grouped by source, medium, campaign, or creative.
Both tools create static QR codes. The destination is encoded directly in the image. If the landing page or campaign parameters change, you must generate and replace the QR code.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling UTM-attributed visits a precise count of all physical scans
- Using different capitalization or spelling for the same campaign
- Reusing one identical tagged URL across placements that need separate reporting
- Sending people to a page without a working analytics tag
- Printing before testing the actual QR image and landing page
- Using dark-on-dark or low-contrast color combinations
- Changing a campaign destination after a static code has been printed
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the UTM QR Code Generator do?
The UTM QR Code Generator adds source, medium, campaign, and optional term and content parameters to a destination URL. It then encodes the completed tagged link in a customizable QR code.
Which UTM fields are required?
This tool requires Campaign Source, Campaign Medium, and Campaign Name. Campaign Term and Campaign Content are optional.
Does a UTM QR code track every scan automatically?
No. UTM parameters help an analytics platform attribute a recorded landing-page visit. They do not count cancelled scans, failed page loads, or visits that your analytics setup does not record.
Where can I find UTM QR code traffic in GA4?
Open Reports, then Acquisition, and select Traffic acquisition. Review dimensions such as Session source, Session medium, Session source/medium, and Session campaign.
Can I use a URL that already has query parameters?
Yes. The generator preserves unrelated query parameters and URL fragments. Existing values for the supported UTM parameters are replaced with the values entered in the tool.
Is my campaign URL uploaded or stored?
The tagged URL and QR image are generated in your browser. The page's UTM generation script does not send the entered campaign values to a server to build the link or image.
What is the difference between UTM source and medium?
Source identifies where the traffic originated within your naming plan, while medium identifies the broader marketing method. For example, source might be retail_store and medium might be qr_code.
Can I reuse the same campaign name for several QR codes?
Yes. Keep the same campaign name for assets belonging to one promotion, then use source or content values to distinguish placements, creatives, or versions.
Can I change the UTM link after printing the QR code?
No. This generator creates a static QR code with the complete URL encoded in its pattern. Generate and replace the code whenever the destination or campaign parameters change.
Why is my UTM traffic missing from Google Analytics?
Check that the landing page loads, the Google tag is installed correctly, consent settings allow measurement, the parameter names are correct, and reporting filters are not excluding the visit. Processed reports may also take time to update.