Every QR code has three big squares in the corners — they're called "finder patterns" or "eyes." They're what scanners look for first to orient the code. Customizing them is the highest-leverage visual change you can make to a QR.
What the eyes are for
The three eyes (top-left, top-right, bottom-left) tell scanners "this is a QR code, here's its orientation." Scanners detect these specifically before reading anything else.
For decades, eyes were rigidly square. Modern scanners are more forgiving — you can shape them, round them, even break them visually, and most scanners still work.
The five common styles
Square (default) — Classic. Scans on everything. Looks slightly old-school.
Rounded — Same square pattern with rounded corners. Modern, soft, works for friendly brands. Scans on virtually everything.
Dots — The 3×3 inner core becomes a circle. Very designy. Scans on most modern phones but occasional failures on older scanners or printed-small versions.
Classy — A subtle inward curve on the outer ring. Refined. Works for premium / luxury brands. Scans well.
Classy rounded — Combines classy with full rounded corners. Most distinctive look. Slightly more scan failures on older scanners.
Extra rounded — Even more aggressive rounding. Verges on impressionistic — but most scanners still read it.
Which to pick
By brand type:
- Tech / startup brand: rounded or dots
- Premium / luxury brand: classy or classy rounded
- Friendly / consumer brand: rounded
- Old-school / formal brand: square (the default fits)
- Designer / creative: extra rounded or dots
By risk tolerance:
- Need maximum scan reliability (small print sizes, old-phone audience, high-volume signage): stick with square.
- Designed look matters more than 1% scan reliability: any of the others.
The cardinal rule: keep all three eyes consistent
Don't mix eye styles within a single QR. All three eyes should look identical. Mixing is visually busy and confuses some scanners.
Don't break the finder pattern shape entirely
Some "creative" QR codes replace the corner squares with logos or icons. This breaks scanning reliability significantly — many scanners look for the specific 7×7 finder shape. Stick with recognizable variations of the square.