Let customers pay you by scanning your UPI ID
Enter your VPA — the name@bank address you already use — and this makes a QR that opens the payment screen in Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm or any BHIM-compatible app. Stick it at the counter and buyers pay in seconds instead of typing your ID.
One detail trips people up: the payee name you type is what the payer sees before confirming, so it doubles as trust. A blank or wrong name makes cautious customers hesitate at the exact moment they're about to hit pay.
Fixed amount or let them type it
Leave the amount blank for a general counter code — the shopper scans, then enters what they owe. Fill the amount in when the price is fixed, like a fixed-menu thali or a single product, and the payer just confirms.
For a busy till, an open-amount code is safer: you print it once and it works for every sale. A fixed-amount code is a per-item thing, so don't laminate one to the wall expecting it to cover your whole shop.
Which apps actually read it
Because it follows the standard UPI intent format, the same code opens in GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, Amazon Pay and every bank app that supports UPI. The payer picks whichever app they already trust; you don't need a merchant-specific sticker from each provider.
- Google Pay — scans from its in-app camera and the home screen
- PhonePe — opens the pay-to-VPA screen directly
- Paytm — reads it like any UPI QR, not just Paytm merchant codes
- BHIM and most bank apps — full support for the intent link
Get the VPA exactly right
The whole payment hinges on the VPA being correct — there's no undo once someone pays the wrong handle. Copy it from your own pay app rather than typing from memory, and scan your finished code with your own phone to confirm it lands on your name and account before you print a single copy.
How to make your UPI pay code
- Enter your VPA. Type your UPI ID in the vpa field, like name@okhdfcbank. A typo here sends money to a stranger, so copy it from your pay app.
- Add the payee name. Fill the name field with your shop or your own name — this is what the payer sees on the confirm screen and reassures them it's you.
- Set an amount, or don't. Leave amount empty for a reusable counter code; enter a figure only for a fixed single price. Don't set an amount you'll want to change often.
- Test then download. Scan it with GPay or PhonePe, check your name shows, then export SVG for a printed board or PNG for a screen.
Technical details
- Maximum characters: 2953
- Recommended error correction: Q (quartile) — higher recovery so a counter sticker still scans after smudges and coffee rings at the till.
- Payload is a upi:// intent link built from your VPA, payee name and optional amount.
- The payer's app, not the code, enforces UPI transaction limits and any PIN entry.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this UPI code work with Google Pay and PhonePe?
- Yes. It uses the standard UPI format, so GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM and bank apps all open it. The payer scans with whatever app they use; you don't need a separate code for each one.
- Can I collect payments without a merchant account?
- Yes. A personal VPA works for a personal code — the money lands in the bank linked to that UPI ID. For higher volumes or settlement reports, a proper merchant UPI account from your provider is worth setting up.
- Should I put the amount in the code or leave it blank?
- Leave it blank for a counter code you reuse for every sale, so the payer types the total. Set a fixed amount only for a single fixed price. A blank-amount code is far more practical for a shop.
- What if I typed my VPA wrong?
- Then payments go to whoever owns that handle, and there's no reversal. Always copy the VPA straight from your pay app and test the printed code with a one-rupee scan before you display it.
- Does the code expire or need renewing?
- No. It's a static code holding your VPA, so it keeps working as long as that UPI ID is active. It only stops if you close or change the underlying handle.
- Can two people pay from the same printed code at once?
- Yes. Each scan is independent — several customers can scan the same sticker and pay separately at the same time. The code just opens each person's own app with your details filled in.