Aztec Code Generator
Make an Aztec code for a ticket, boarding pass, or label. Type your data, choose the error correction, and download the code as a PNG or SVG. Everything happens in your browser.
1. Code type and content
Any text, numbers, or a link. Up to 3,835 digits or 3,069 letters and numbers at 23% error correction.
Higher levels let a scratched or partly covered code still scan, but make it bigger.
2. Size
Size of one square. Raise it for a larger, sharper PNG.
3. Colors
Loading the barcode maker…
Print a test copy and scan it before you print a full batch.
What is an Aztec code?
An Aztec code is a square 2D barcode with a bullseye in the middle: a small square inside rings of dark and light. The name comes from that pattern, which looks like an Aztec pyramid seen from above.
Scanners find the code from the bullseye, so unlike QR codes and Data Matrix, an Aztec code needs no blank margin around it. It grows outward in layers from 15 × 15 modules up to 151 × 151, and you choose how much of it goes to error correction.
Why use our Aztec code generator
- ·Four error correction levels. From 10% for the smallest code to 50% for rough handling.
- ·Margin down to zero. Aztec codes do not need one, so the tool lets you remove it.
- ·Smallest size that fits. The size in modules is shown under the preview as you type.
- ·Sharp files. The SVG scales to any size, and the PNG uses whole pixels for every module.
- ·Free and private. No account, no watermark, and your data stays on your device.
How to make an Aztec code
- 1
Type your ticket or label data
Enter a ticket number, booking reference, link, or any text. Line breaks are kept.
- 2
Pick the error correction
Leave it on 23%, the standard level. Raise it for paper tickets that get folded or worn, or lower it to make the code smaller.
- 3
Set the size and colors
Choose a module size that prints or displays clearly. An Aztec code does not need a margin, so you can set it to 0 if space is tight.
- 4
Download and test
Download a PNG or SVG and scan it on the scanner or app that will read your tickets.
Aztec code error correction levels
The level is the share of the code set aside to rebuild data from a damaged code. A higher level makes the code bigger once the extra recovery data no longer fits. Sizes below are for the tool's sample text, TICKET 4471-2209 ZONE 1-3 ADULT:
| Level | Size (modules) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | 19 × 19 | Clean prints and phone screens where size matters most |
| 23% (standard) | 19 × 19 | Most tickets and labels. The level the standard recommends |
| 36% | 23 × 23 | Paper tickets that get folded or carried around |
| 50% | 23 × 23 | Codes that get scratched, worn, or partly covered |
The level is a minimum. When the content leaves spare room in the size it needs, that room is filled with extra error correction too.
Aztec code or QR code for tickets
- ·Aztec takes less room. It needs no margin, while a QR code needs 4 modules of blank space on every side. On a crowded ticket or a small screen, that space adds up.
- ·QR codes work with phone cameras. If customers should scan the code themselves to open a link, use theQR code generator.
- ·Match the scanner. Gate and inspector scanners are set up for the codes their system issues. If the system asks for Aztec, a QR code with the same data will not be accepted.
Who uses Aztec codes
- ·Rail and bus operators. Many train and public transport tickets, printed or on a phone, carry an Aztec code that the inspector or gate scans.
- ·Airlines. Mobile boarding passes can use an Aztec code under the IATA boarding pass standard, alongside PDF417 and QR codes.
- ·Event organizers. Put a ticket or booking number on e-tickets that are scanned from phone screens at the door.
- ·Developers and testers. Make sample Aztec codes to test a ticket scanner, a mobile app, or a gate reader.
Aztec code FAQ
- What is an Aztec code used for?
- Mostly tickets: train, bus, and plane tickets, and e-tickets for events. It reads well from phone screens and fits in a small square, which suits ticket apps and gates.
- Does an Aztec code need a quiet zone?
- No. Scanners find an Aztec code from the bullseye in its center, not from its edges, so the standard does not require a blank margin. You can set the margin to 0 when space is tight.
- How much data can an Aztec code hold?
- At the standard 23% error correction, up to 3,835 digits or 3,069 letters and numbers, or about 1,900 other characters. At 10%, the largest code holds up to 4,483 digits.
- Which error correction level should I use?
- 23% suits most tickets and labels and is the level the standard recommends. Use 36% or 50% for paper tickets that get folded or worn, and 10% only when the code must be as small as possible and will be shown on a clean screen or print.
- How big is an Aztec code?
- From 15 × 15 modules for a few characters up to 151 × 151 for the largest. Codes up to 27 × 27 use a compact form with a smaller bullseye. The tool picks the smallest size that fits.
- Can phones scan an Aztec code?
- Yes, with a barcode scanner app. Built-in phone camera apps are made for QR codes, so if people should open a link with their phones, make a QR code instead.
- What is the difference between an Aztec code and a QR code?
- Both are square 2D codes. An Aztec code needs no margin and is common on transport tickets. A QR code needs a margin of 4 modules but is the code phone cameras open links from. Use whichever your ticket system or customers expect.
- Can it make an Aztec Rune?
- No. An Aztec Rune is a tiny 11 × 11 code that holds only a number from 0 to 255, used for special cases. This tool makes regular Aztec codes.
- Is my data uploaded?
- No. The code is made in your browser, and nothing you type leaves your device.