SMS QR Code Generator
One scan opens the messaging app with your number in the "to" field — and, on most phones, your keyword already typed. SMS reaches every phone with a SIM card, no apps required on either side.
Print checklist
- Keep the white margin around the code — it is the quiet zone scanners need, not empty space to crop.
- Size for the scan distance: at least 2 × 2 cm for arm's-length scanning, and roughly one tenth of the farthest scan distance for posters.
- Scan a test print with a real phone before making copies.
The sms: format — and an honest caveat
The code carries an sms: link with the number, plus the pre-filled message as a
?body= parameter (the syntax standardized in RFC 5724). The number part is universally
supported. The pre-filled body is not quite: pre-filled message support varies by platform: some phones open the composer with the text, others ignore it. the number always works.
Design for that reality: the code should still make sense if the visitor has to type the keyword themselves. Print the keyword next to the code ("Text DEMO to +1 555 013 2000") and the code becomes a convenience, not a dependency.
Worked example
A "text DEMO for a callback" campaign code encodes as:
sms:+15550132000?body=DEMO
On a phone that honors ?body=, the composer opens with "DEMO" typed and the
number set; on one that does not, the composer still opens to the right number.
Where SMS codes fit
- Keyword opt-ins: "Text JOIN for opening-day updates" — with the legally required consent and opt-out language printed alongside, not hidden in the code.
- Service requests without an app: a code on the machine that pre-fills its asset number, so the maintenance text arrives self-identifying.
- Reaching non-smartphone workflows: SMS lands on every handset and is read near-universally — useful where email goes unread and messaging apps are not guaranteed.
SMS QR code FAQ
Does scanning send the message automatically?
No — on every platform, the visitor sees the draft and presses send themselves. A QR code cannot send an SMS on its own, which also means it cannot silently sign anyone up to anything.
Who pays for the message?
The sender, at their normal SMS rate. If your audience may be charged, standard practice (and in many jurisdictions, a requirement) is to say so next to the code.
SMS or WhatsApp code — which should I print?
Know your audience. SMS works on every phone with a SIM and needs no app; WhatsApp needs the app but is free over data, better for media, and dominant in many countries. When in doubt, print both — see the WhatsApp generator.
Related: the phone call code for voice, and the email code when a longer written message fits better.