Aztec codes are the square codes with a bullseye in the middle, used on train tickets, mobile boarding passes and transport cards. They need no blank margin and read well from phone screens and home printers. Type your text and download a scan-tested Aztec code. PNG and JPG are free.
Where Aztec codes are used
- Rail and bus tickets: printed at home or shown on a phone at the gate.
- Mobile boarding passes: many airlines use Aztec or PDF417.
- Event tickets: a ticket number or signed token checked at the door.
- Patient wristbands and labels: small, sturdy and readable from curved surfaces.
Tips for Aztec codes
- Short data, bigger squares. A ticket ID reads faster than the full booking details.
- On screens: show the code at full brightness and at least 3 cm wide.
- In print: keep each square at least 0.4 mm for phone-based scanners, and 0.25 mm for dedicated ones.
- Margins are optional, but a little blank space around the code helps scanners find it on busy designs.
For long text on documents, PDF417 is the usual choice. For tiny labels on parts, use Data Matrix.