diff --git a/autotests/aztecbarcodetest.cpp b/autotests/aztecbarcodetest.cpp
--- a/autotests/aztecbarcodetest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/aztecbarcodetest.cpp
@@ -391,6 +391,9 @@
         QVERIFY(!barcode->minimumSize().isValid());
         barcode->setData(QStringLiteral("UNIT TEST"));
         QCOMPARE(barcode->minimumSize(), QSize(60, 60));
+        QCOMPARE(barcode->trueMinimumSize(), QSize(15, 15));
+        QCOMPARE(barcode->preferredSize(1), QSize(60, 60));
+        QCOMPARE(barcode->preferredSize(2), QSize(30, 30));
         QCOMPARE(barcode->toImage(barcode->minimumSize()).size(), QSize(60, 60));
         QCOMPARE(barcode->toImage({1, 1}).isNull(), true);
     }
diff --git a/autotests/code128barcodetest.cpp b/autotests/code128barcodetest.cpp
--- a/autotests/code128barcodetest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/code128barcodetest.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@
         QVERIFY(!barcode->minimumSize().isValid());
         barcode->setData(QStringLiteral("UNIT TEST"));
         QCOMPARE(barcode->minimumSize(), QSize(154, 10));
+        QCOMPARE(barcode->trueMinimumSize(), QSize(154, 1));
+        QCOMPARE(barcode->preferredSize(1), QSize(308, 50));
+        QCOMPARE(barcode->preferredSize(2), QSize(154, 50));
         QCOMPARE(barcode->toImage(barcode->minimumSize()).size(), QSize(154, 10));
         QCOMPARE(barcode->toImage({1, 1}).isNull(), true);
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/abstractbarcode.h b/src/lib/abstractbarcode.h
--- a/src/lib/abstractbarcode.h
+++ b/src/lib/abstractbarcode.h
@@ -61,9 +61,34 @@
     QImage toImage(const QSizeF& size) ;
     /**
      * The minimal size of this barcode.
+     * @note This isn't the absolute minimum, but closer to the result of preferredSize(1).
      * @return the minimal size for this barcode.
+     * @deprecated since 5.69 Prefer preferredSize() or trueMinimumSize().
      */
     QSizeF minimumSize() const;
+
+    /**
+     * The minimal amount of pixels needed to represent this barcode without loss of information.
+     * That is, the size of the barcode image if each line or dot is just one pixel wide.
+     * On normal screens that is not enough for barcode scanners to reliably detect the barcode
+     * though.
+     * @see preferredSize
+     * @since 5.69
+     */
+    QSizeF trueMinimumSize() const; // TODO KF6: rename to minimumSize
+
+    /**
+     * The recommended size for this barcode when shown on a screen.
+     * This is typically significantly larger than trueMinimumSize() so that
+     * barcode scanners tend to reliably detect the code. As this depends
+     * on the physical resolution of the output, you have to pass the device
+     * pixel ration of the output screen here.
+     * @param devicePixelRatio The device pixel ratio of the screen this is shown on.
+     * @see trueMinimumSize
+     * @since 5.69
+     */
+    QSizeF preferredSize(qreal devicePixelRatio) const;
+
     /**
      * @return the foreground color (by default black) to be used for the barcode.
      */
diff --git a/src/lib/abstractbarcode.cpp b/src/lib/abstractbarcode.cpp
--- a/src/lib/abstractbarcode.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/abstractbarcode.cpp
@@ -106,6 +106,26 @@
     return d->m_cache.size();
 }
 
+QSizeF AbstractBarcode::trueMinimumSize() const
+{
+    d->recompute();
+    return d->m_cache.size();
+}
+
+QSizeF AbstractBarcode::preferredSize(qreal devicePixelRatio) const
+{
+    d->recompute();
+    switch (d->m_dimension) {
+        case NoDimensions:
+            return {};
+        case OneDimension:
+            return QSizeF(d->m_cache.width() * (devicePixelRatio < 2 ? 2 : 1), std::max(d->m_cache.height(), 50));
+        case TwoDimensions:
+            return d->m_cache.size() * (devicePixelRatio < 2 ? 4 : 2);
+    }
+    return {};
+}
+
 void AbstractBarcode::setMinimumSize(const QSizeF& minimumSize)
 {
     Q_UNUSED(minimumSize);
diff --git a/src/quick/barcodequickitem.cpp b/src/quick/barcodequickitem.cpp
--- a/src/quick/barcodequickitem.cpp
+++ b/src/quick/barcodequickitem.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
 #include <prison/prison.h>
 
 #include <QDebug>
+#include <QGuiApplication>
 #include <QPainter>
+#include <QScreen>
 
 using namespace Prison;
 
@@ -120,9 +122,8 @@
         m_barcode->setData(m_content);
         m_barcode->setForegroundColor(m_fgColor);
         m_barcode->setBackgroundColor(m_bgColor);
-        // minimumSize() is only providing valid results after the first call to toImage()...
-        m_barcode->toImage(m_barcode->minimumSize());
-        setImplicitSize(m_barcode->minimumSize().width(), m_barcode->minimumSize().height());
+        const auto size = m_barcode->preferredSize(QGuiApplication::primaryScreen()->devicePixelRatio());
+        setImplicitSize(size.width(), size.height());
     }
 
     update();