·Right-click any location in Google Maps → the coordinates appear at the top of the context menu (e.g., 51.5074, -0.1278)
·Use the format: https://maps.google.com/?q=51.5074,-0.1278

Google Maps vs geo: URI:

The geo: URI format (geo:51.5074,-0.1278) is the standard location URI that opens the device's default maps app (Apple Maps on iOS, Google Maps on Android if installed). Use the Google Maps URL if you specifically want Google Maps. Use geo: if you want the user's default maps app.

For events: Use the coordinates of the venue entrance, not the building centroid — especially for large venues where the default pin may be in the wrong place.

Format comparison

Google Maps QR vs printed address: A printed address requires the recipient to open a maps app, search the address, and hope it resolves correctly. Businesses with common names, addresses in large complexes, or locations in multi-unit buildings are often found incorrectly. A Google Maps URL QR code pins exactly the right spot — no ambiguity.

Google Maps URL vs geo: URI: A Google Maps URL always opens Google Maps (or prompts to install it). A geo: URI opens the device's default maps app — Apple Maps on iPhone, Google Maps on Android if installed. For the widest compatibility without requiring Google Maps specifically, use the geo: format. For brand consistency and the assumption that most users have Google Maps, use the full Google Maps URL.

How it works

Get your Maps URL

Copy the Google Maps share link for your location from maps.google.com, or use latitude/longitude coordinates in a maps URL.

Generate the QR code

Paste the URL and generate. The QR renders immediately.

Download and place

Download as SVG for print. Place on business cards, brochures, venue signage, event tickets, and any material where directions are useful.

About this format

A Google Maps QR code opens your exact location in Google Maps when scanned — the person gets a pin they can tap for turn-by-turn directions immediately. No address lookup, no autocomplete guesswork, no failed searches for businesses with common names.

This is particularly valuable for: businesses in hard-to-find locations (an office in a business park, a venue on a long rural road, a pop-up shop at a market); events where the GPS coordinates are more useful than the postal address; business cards and brochures where you want to eliminate the step of searching for your location; and restaurants or shops where you want customers to navigate directly.

Encode either a full Google Maps URL (which you can get by right-clicking any location in Google Maps and choosing "Share or embed map") or a pair of latitude/longitude coordinates. Both open the target location in Google Maps (or Apple Maps on iOS if it is set as the default) with a pin.

The QR code is generated locally in your browser. Your location data is not sent to any server.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Google Maps QR code open Apple Maps on iPhone?+

A Google Maps URL (maps.google.com link) opens Google Maps on iPhone if the app is installed, or opens Google Maps in the browser if not. If you want the link to open in the iOS default maps app (which may be Apple Maps), use the geo: URI format or an Apple Maps link instead. For business use, most customers have Google Maps installed, so a Google Maps URL is reliable for both platforms.

Can I make a QR code for directions from an arbitrary starting point?+

Google Maps URLs support a directions parameter. The format is: https://maps.google.com/dir/[start]/[destination]. For example, directions from a train station to your office. However, hardcoding a start point is rarely useful — users prefer directions from their current location. It is simpler to encode just the destination and let Google Maps use the device's GPS as the starting point.

How accurate is the location pin from a Google Maps URL?+

The pin is exactly as accurate as the Maps link you generate. If you use the right-click share method in Google Maps, the pin is placed where you clicked — which can be anywhere on the map. Place it at the front entrance of your building, not at the centroid of the address. For complex venues or locations where GPS addresses are unreliable, precise coordinate-based pinning is more reliable than postal address search.

Will the QR code stop working if Google changes its URL format?+

Google Maps share links have been stable for many years. The risk is low but nonzero. For long-lived print materials like signage, using the standard geo: URI format is more future-proof — it is an IETF standard (RFC 5870) that is independent of any company. For shorter-lived materials like event flyers, a Google Maps URL is practical and will be reliable for the material's lifespan.

Can I use this for events at a location that does not have a Google Maps listing?+

Yes. Use latitude and longitude coordinates directly in the URL instead of a search query. Right-click the exact event location in Google Maps to get the coordinates. Format the URL as: https://maps.google.com/?q=LAT,LNG. This works for any point on the map — a park entrance, a field, a private property — not just listed businesses.

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