Receipt QR Tipping: Setup, Design, and Benchmarks

Summary

Add a scannable QR to receipts with concise copy and smart placement to lift tip attach rate—no extra hardware needed.
Design for thermal printers: short URLs, adequate quiet zone, high contrast, and a QR size that works on 58 mm and 80 mm paper.
Choose the right code: venue‑level static QR for pooled tips or per‑receipt dynamic QR for staff attribution and analytics.
Measure properly: track scans → tip selection → completed tips, compare to baseline, and iterate with weekly A/B tests.

Thermal receipts are an underused surface for QR‑based tipping. With a clear, optional prompt and a readable QR, you can capture tips even after the guest leaves or when the terminal queue is long. This guide covers layout & print specs, copy & UX, dynamic vs. static codes, and a measurement framework you can run weekly.

Where to place the QR on the receipt

Best default: directly below the totals, above policy text—highest visibility without cutting off.
Alternate: top‑banner for kiosks/self‑checkout or mid‑receipt after items if you need two‑sided printing space.
Avoid: extreme bottom margins (often torn) and dense terms blocks where the QR can be missed.

Design & print specs (58 mm / 80 mm)

QR readability

Short URL (e.g., tips.yourbrand/123) → faster decode and smaller code size.
Quiet zone around the QR (white border) and high contrast (black on white) for thermal paper.
Size guidance: target a square of ~22–30 mm on 58 mm paper; ~28–36 mm on 80 mm paper.
Error correction: mid to high (M/Q) for robustness if receipts are creased.

Printer setup

Use dark/dense print mode for graphics and ensure the QR is printed as an image, not ASCII.
Keep module size (tiny squares) large enough to avoid bleed; avoid heavy dithering.
Test on your exact paper/brand—heat sensitivity varies and can “fuzz” small modules.

Copy & layout templates

Minimal (2‑line)

SCAN TO TIP
Fast • Optional • Secure

With presets (3‑line)

SCAN TO TIP → AED 5 / 10 / 15
Or choose your own amount
Thank you for supporting the team

Keep the word “optional” visible. Avoid guilt language; use gratitude‑forward copy.

Static vs. dynamic codes

Static (pooled venue QR)

Single QR for the outlet or brand; easy to print at scale.
Suited to pooled tips; reconcile by date/branch.
Landing page detects branch from subdomain or parameter.

Dynamic (per‑receipt)

Encodes order_id, branch, server, and ts for accurate attribution.
Supports anti‑tamper (e.g., HMAC of the payload) and per‑receipt expiry.
Best for direct‑to‑staff or shift‑level reporting.

// Example dynamic URL (signed)
https://tips.brand.co/r?o=ORD12345&b=DIFC&u=NAOMI-04&src=receipt&v=1&ts=2025-08-26T21:15:00Z&sig=ab12c...

// Recommended UTM params for analytics
utm_source=receipt&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=qr_tips&utm_content=58mm_bottom

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Landing‑page flow (fast & optional)

Recognise context (branch/user/order from URL) and greet by venue name.
Three buttons (AED 5/10/15 or 10/12.5/15%) + Custom.
Instant total + “Optional” label; press Pay.
Receipt shows tip amount and friendly thanks.

Measurement model & benchmarks

Key metrics

Attach rate = receipt tips ÷ paid receipts
Scan‑through = unique scans ÷ receipts printed
Tip conversion = completed tips ÷ unique scans
Avg tip (AED) and tip mix (5/10/15/custom)

A/B ideas

Copy: “Scan to tip” vs “Say thanks with a tip”
Placement: below totals vs top banner
Preset set: AED 5/10/15 vs 10/12.5/15%
Static vs dynamic QR (attribution depth)

// Suggested CSV headers
date, branch, register, user, order_id, qr_type, scans, tips_count, tip_aed, avg_tip_aed

// Weekly process
1) Pull tips by branch/order from your dashboard
2) Join with receipt‑print counts by register
3) Compute attach rate, scan‑through, conversion
4) Compare A/B variants and pick winners

A picture is worth a thousand words. Action is worth a thousand pictures. Scan the QR code and see us in action right away.

Staff scripts (hand‑off at cashier)

Short hand‑off

“There’s a QR on your receipt if you’d like to leave a tip—totally optional.”

If asked about security

“The QR opens our secure payment page and you can choose an amount before paying.”

QA checklist (before going live)

QR scans reliably on popular camera apps in low light.
Landing page loads under 2 s on mobile data.
Tip options match branch policy; totals update instantly.
Order/branch/user parameters are captured; receipts show tip line.
Exports are scheduled; baseline vs new attach‑rate is tracked weekly.

FAQs

Static QR feels easier—why bother with dynamic?

Dynamic per‑receipt codes unlock attribution (order, user, branch), let you expire links, and enable anti‑tamper. Use static for quick starts; switch to dynamic when you need granular reporting.

How big should the QR be on 58 mm paper?

A square around 22–30 mm with a clean quiet zone works well on most 58 mm printers; always test with your exact paper and logo density.

Can we promote UPI/AANI from receipts?

Yes—add a small line like “Scan to tip (UPI/AANI supported)” if your flow or acquirer supports these rails in the UAE.