Publishing & exporting your menu

Every menu in MenuSquared gets its own shareable link. Open the Export modal from the editor toolbar and select the Share tab to find your options.

Custom link: Your menu is available at a short URL like squared.menu/your-slug. You can edit the slug to match your restaurant name.
Publish status: A banner shows whether your menu is Live or in Draft Mode. Draft menus are not visible to the public.
Social sharing: One-click sharing to Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Email with a preview card that shows your logo, restaurant name, and tagline.

Scheduling

Seasonal or limited-time menus can be scheduled to publish and unpublish automatically. In the Share tab, the Publish & Schedule card lets you set a date range for your menu's availability.

Setting a schedule: Click the date range field and pick a start and end date. If the current date is within the range, the menu publishes immediately. If the start date is in the future, the menu stays in draft until that date arrives.
Status badges: The schedule row shows Active (green) when the menu is within its window, Upcoming (orange) when the start date hasn't arrived yet, or Expired (red) when the end date has passed.
Live banner: When a schedule is active, the publish banner updates to show when the menu will expire, for example "Visible until May 31".
Automatic expiry: Once the end date passes, the menu is unpublished automatically. You don't need to remember to take it down.
Manual override: You can unpublish a scheduled menu at any time. Doing so disables the schedule so it won't re-publish on its own.

Tip: Seasonal rotations

Create separate menus for spring, summer, and holiday specials, each with its own schedule. Only the currently active menu will be visible to guests at your public link.

QR codes

The Share tab includes a QR code that links directly to your published menu. Guests can scan it from a table tent, window sign, or printed flyer.

Quick download: PNG and SVG buttons are right on the Share tab for fast access.
Full customization: Click Customize QR Style to open the styling panel where you can change dot patterns, colors, corner styles, logos, frames, sizes, and more.

For a full walkthrough of every QR customization option, see QR code customization.

Tip: SVG for print, PNG for digital

If you're printing the QR code on physical materials (table tents, flyers, posters), download the SVG version. It stays sharp at any size. Use PNG for digital use like emails or social posts.

PDF export

Select the PDF tab in the Export modal to generate a print-ready PDF of your menu. You'll see a live preview with page break markers before downloading.

Choose a paper size: Letter, A4, Legal, or Tabloid.
Select quality: Web (150 DPI) is available on all plans. Print (300 DPI) is available on the Pro plan and above.
Set advanced options: Check Bleed marks to add crop marks for professional printing. Check CMYK color to convert colors for ink-based printing.
Review the preview: Scroll through the live preview to check page breaks and layout before exporting.
Click "Download PDF": Your file will be generated and downloaded in a few seconds.

Tip: Bleed marks for professional printing

If you're sending your file to a print shop, enable Bleed marks. This adds thin crop lines that tell the printer exactly where to trim, ensuring ink extends all the way to the paper's edge.

Image export

The Image tab lets you download your menu as a PNG or JPG file. This is handy for social media posts, email newsletters, or quick previews.

Format: Choose between PNG (lossless, transparent-friendly) or JPG (smaller file size).
Scale: 1x for standard resolution or 2x for high-resolution displays.
Quality slider: When exporting as JPG, adjust the quality from 50% to 100% (default is 92%).

Embedding on your website

The Embed tab generates an iframe code snippet you can paste into your website. This works with Wix, Squarespace, WordPress, and any platform that supports custom HTML.

Responsive sizing: Enable Auto-resize to content to let the embed match your menu's height automatically.
Manual height: If auto-resize doesn't suit your layout, set a fixed height in pixels using the height input.
Preview: Toggle between Desktop and Mobile views to see how the embed will look on different devices.
Copy the code: Click Copy to grab the iframe snippet and paste it into your site's HTML editor.

Tips & frequently asked questions

Why do my colors look different on paper?

Screens display color using RGB (light), while printers use CMYK (ink). Some vibrant screen colors may appear slightly muted in print. Enable the CMYK color option in the PDF tab to get the closest possible match.

What paper sizes are supported?

MenuSquared supports Letter, A4, Legal, and Tabloid. Select your preferred size from the dropdown in the PDF tab before downloading.

What's the difference between Web and Print quality?

Web quality exports at 150 DPI, which is good for on-screen viewing and home printers. Print quality exports at 300 DPI for sharp, professional results and is available on the Pro plan and above.

Can I use the image export for Instagram?

Yes. Export as PNG at 2x scale for the best quality on social media. JPG at 92% quality also works well and produces a smaller file.

My menu looks cut off in the PDF preview. What should I do?

Check the page break markers in the PDF preview. They show exactly where each page ends. If content is splitting awkwardly, try a larger paper size (like Legal or Tabloid) or reduce the number of items per section.

Before you export

Always proofread your menu content and double-check pricing before exporting. MenuSquared handles layout automatically, but a final visual review in the preview is always a good idea.

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Sharing your menu