Where to Put a Review QR Code: Placement by Business Type and the Moment the Visit Ends

Asking works. In BrightLocal's Local Consumer Review Survey 2026, 78% of US consumers said a business had asked them for feedback in the past year, and 83% of the people who were asked went on to leave a review. The hard part is not the ask. It is where to put a review QR code so the ask lands at the right second, at a size a phone can read.

Below: review QR code placement for six business types, the five moments a visit ends, and a sizing rule so nobody leans across a counter to scan.

Where to put a review QR code: follow the end of the visit

The best spot is wherever the customer's attention lands in the last minute of the visit, when the service is finished and a phone is likely already out. A code by the entrance asks people to rate something they have not experienced yet. A code on the bill folder asks them right after they decided to pay you.

Three conditions make a spot work:

• The service is done. Mid-meal is too early to judge the visit.
• The hands are free or holding a phone. Paying or waiting for a receipt both qualify.
• The code is within arm's reach, at eye level or below.

There is also a policy angle. Google's Maps user content policy says merchants should not require or pressure customers to write reviews while still on the premises. A passive card the customer can scan now or later respects that rule. A staff member standing over someone until they post does not.

Place the code where the visit ends, and let the customer choose when to scan.

The five moments a visit ends, and what to print for each

Every business has an "end moment," and each one suits a different printed format. BrightLocal's 2023 survey found that 32% of consumers said a request on a receipt or invoice would encourage them to leave a review, close to in-person requests (33%) and email (34%). Paper still pulls its weight when it sits in the right place.

1. The bill folder or check presenter. Diners wait for the card machine with a minute of dead time, and a card inside is seen by every paying table.
2. The till or checkout counter. A standing sign beside the card reader is in view while the transaction runs.
3. The receipt. Printed or emailed, it is the one item every customer receives. Many point-of-sale systems let you add a QR image to the footer.
4. The packaging. Takeout bags, shipping boxes and product sleeves travel home with the customer, where they have time to scan at the kitchen table.
5. The invoice. For service work, the invoice is the visit's closing document. A QR code next to the total reaches the person who just approved the job.

Pick the one or two moments your customers always pass through, rather than scattering codes everywhere.

Review QR code placement by business type

The right spot depends on how your visits end, so the table below starts from the business type, not from the sign. Each row lists the two or three placements that tend to sit closest to that end moment, plus a print format that fits the space.

Business type	Best 2-3 spots	Format
Restaurant or cafe	Inside the bill folder; table edge near the condiments; takeout bag	4x6 in table card; 3 in round sticker on bags
Salon, barber or spa	Checkout counter by the card reader; rebooking or aftercare card	5x7 in counter sign; business card
Dentist or clinic	Front desk at checkout; next-appointment reminder card	5x7 in counter sign; business card
Retail store	Till beside the card reader; receipt footer; shopping bag	5x7 in counter sign; 3 in round sticker
Hotel or B&B	Front desk at check-out; in-room card on the desk; key card sleeve	4x6 in in-room card; business card
Home services (plumber, HVAC, cleaner)	Printed or emailed invoice; leave-behind card; sticker on the serviced unit	Business card; 3 in round sticker

Restaurants and cafes

The bill folder reaches every paying guest at the end of the meal. A table card is seen before the food arrives, so word it "on your way out," not "rate us now." If you are on Tripadvisor as well as Google, a review QR card for several sites on one sheet saves table space.

Salons, barbers and spas

Clients pay and rebook at the counter. A business card with the code doubles as a rebooking reminder, so it lives in a wallet, not a bin.

Dentists and clinics

Patients often leave in a hurry, so the reminder card they take home does the work later. Keep review replies free of treatment details, since US health privacy rules limit what a practice can confirm in public.

Retail

The till is the obvious spot; the bag is the underrated one, because it gets a second look when the purchase is unpacked at home.

Hotels

Guests judge a stay after they leave, so word the in-room card "after your stay." A code on the key card sleeve travels with the guest to the airport.

Home services

With no counter, the invoice and a leave-behind card carry the ask. A sticker on the furnace or water heater also keeps your name in view for the next call.

Match the format to the space you actually have at the end moment, not to what looks best in a catalog.

How big should a review QR code be? Size for scan distance

A practical rule: the code should be at least one tenth as wide as the distance it will be scanned from. Scanova's size guide uses this 10:1 ratio (10 cm of code per meter of distance) and suggests about 1 x 1 inch as a safe minimum for print, with a blank margin of roughly four modules around the code.

Placement	Typical scan distance	Minimum code width
Receipt, invoice or business card in hand	8-10 in	1 in
3 in sticker on a bag or box	12-15 in	1.2-1.5 in
4x6 in table card, seated guest	20-24 in	2-2.5 in
5x7 in counter sign at the till	24-36 in	2.5-3.5 in
Window or wall sign	5-6 ft	6-7 in

Scanova notes that larger, higher-contrast codes cope better with bright sun, low light and glossy surfaces, so in a dim bar or at an angle, add half an inch or more.

Before printing, keep the code clearly darker than its background, and choose matte or laminated cards that survive wiping and avoid glare.

Measure where the phone will be, divide by ten, and round up.

Review sign ideas that stay within platform rules

A good review sign tells people what the code does in one short line and never offers anything in return. Google lists incentives such as discounts or free goods in exchange for reviews as prohibited, and the US FTC's rule on consumer reviews and testimonials (16 CFR Part 465, 2024) targets fake reviews and review suppression. Google also bars selectively asking only happy customers, so every customer should see the same sign.

Wording that works, by platform:

• Google: "How was your visit? Scan to share a review on Google." Neutral wording invites honest reviews, good or bad.
• Yelp: Yelp asks businesses not to solicit reviews, so use "Find us on Yelp" and link to your page. The Yelp QR page uses that wording.
• Facebook: Facebook pages use recommendations, not star ratings, so write "Recommend us on Facebook."
• Tripadvisor: "Tell other travelers about your stay" fits hotels and restaurants listed there.

Other review sign ideas that read well on a counter: "Your review helps neighbors find us" and "We read every review, including the tough ones."

Avoid "Leave us 5 stars." It asks for a specific rating, and Google's policy also tells merchants not to request specific review content.

Ask everyone, ask neutrally, and offer nothing in return.

Where not to put a review QR code

Most low-scan codes fail because of placement, not because customers dislike QR codes. Statista estimates that around 100 million US smartphone users scan QR codes, so the habit is there. These spots waste it:

• The front door, facing in. Arriving guests have nothing to review yet.
• High on a wall. Above head height, phones scan at a steep angle and people feel watched.
• Under glass or plastic sleeves. Overhead lights create glare that blocks scanning.
• Five codes on one sign. Pick one review site per code, or use a sheet with one clearly labeled card per platform.

Print also has a ceiling. A card reaches people who notice it, while a short message after the visit reaches everyone. Feedback Flows emails each customer a one-tap rating after the visit; every customer gets your review link, and low scores also reach you privately so you can follow up. Our online review statistics guide covers why steady review volume matters.

Remove codes from spots where nobody pauses, and put them where people wait.

Make your first review QR card

Pick your end moment from the table above, measure the scan distance, and print one card this week. The free Google review link generator creates your review link and a printable QR card in table card, counter sign, sticker and business card sizes.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to put a review QR code?

At the point where the visit ends: the bill folder in a restaurant, the checkout counter in a salon or store, the receipt, or the invoice for service work. That is when the experience is complete and the customer often has a phone out.

How big should a QR code be on a table tent?

For a seated guest about 20 to 24 inches away, aim for a code 2 to 2.5 inches wide. A 4x6 inch table card leaves enough room for that plus a short line of text.

Can I put a review QR code on receipts?

Yes. Many point-of-sale systems let you add an image to the receipt footer. Keep it at least 1 inch wide and check that thermal printing does not blur the modules.

Is it allowed to offer a discount for scanning a review QR code?

No. Google prohibits incentives for reviews, and the FTC's 2024 rule restricts incentives tied to review sentiment. Keep the sign a plain invitation with nothing offered in return.

Should I use one QR code for Google, Yelp and Facebook?

Use one code per platform so the customer lands on the right page in one tap. For Yelp, use "Find us on Yelp" wording, since Yelp asks businesses not to request reviews.