Litecoin address types
Litecoin borrowed Bitcoin's address design but uses its own prefixes. You will meet these on mainnet:
- ltc1q… — native SegWit. Default in most modern wallets, lowest fees for the payer.
- ltc1p… — Taproot, supported since the 2022 upgrade; some older wallets may not send to it yet.
- L… — legacy P2PKH, still widely used.
- M… — P2SH (often wrapped SegWit or multisig).
- 3… — the old P2SH prefix from before the M format. It is valid, but read the warning below.
MWEB addresses (ltcmweb1…) for Litecoin's optional privacy extension are a separate format: they are not encoded by this generator, and many wallets cannot send to them.
The «3…» address trap
A Litecoin address starting with 3 uses the same version byte as a Bitcoin P2SH address. A Bitcoin wallet will happily accept it and send BTC to it — on the Bitcoin network, where you do not hold the keys in your Litecoin wallet. Recovering such a payment is difficult and sometimes impossible. If your wallet still shows a 3-address, switch to an ltc1 or M address for anything you share. With a ltc1 address, the risk disappears: a Bitcoin wallet rejects it outright.
Address only vs address + amount
The address-only QR is the bare LTC address. Every wallet and exchange app reads it; use it for tip jars, stickers, a website footer or a shop counter where each customer pays a different sum.
The amount version uses the litecoin: scheme, modelled on Bitcoin's BIP21. The amount is in LTC with up to 8 decimals (the smallest unit, the litoshi, is 0.00000001 LTC); label and message are encoded so spaces and non-Latin text survive.
litecoin:ltc1qexampleaddress?amount=1.25&label=Bike%20Repair&message=Order%2088Litewallet, Electrum-LTC, Litecoin Core, Trust Wallet, Exodus and Cake Wallet read this format. If a wallet ignores the amount, the payer still sees it in the PNG caption.
Using Litecoin QR codes in practice
For a counter payment, most merchants wait for at least one confirmation for larger sums; the Confirmation Time Estimator shows how long that typically takes.
- Small merchants: with blocks every 2.5 minutes and low fees, LTC suits cafés and service counters. Print an SVG card with the address only and a «Litecoin (LTC)» label.
- Invoices: amount + message with the invoice number; the PNG caption confirms the sum in plain view.
- Online tipping and donations: address only, so the code never expires.
- Classifieds and peer-to-peer sales: send a PNG with the agreed amount in the chat; ask the buyer to compare the shortened address in the caption with what their wallet shows.
Privacy and safety
Regular Litecoin transactions are public, like Bitcoin's. Anyone with your QR can follow the address's history, so use a fresh receiving address for public codes and keep savings elsewhere. The label and message inside the QR are visible to whoever scans it — do not put personal data there. Always scan the downloaded image with your own wallet once before you share or print it; the generator itself never uploads your address.
Frequently asked questions
+Is the Litecoin QR generator free?
Yes — no sign-up, no watermark, no limits. PNG and SVG downloads are free.
+Which Litecoin address should I use for a QR?
A native SegWit ltc1q address is the safest default: low fees and it cannot be mistaken for a Bitcoin address.
+Can a Bitcoin wallet send to my Litecoin QR by mistake?
Only if your address starts with 3, because that format is shared with Bitcoin. ltc1, L and M addresses are rejected by Bitcoin wallets.
+What unit is the amount in?
LTC, up to 8 decimals. For example, 0.35 for thirty-five hundredths of a litecoin.
+Does the generator support MWEB addresses?
No. MWEB uses a different address format that many wallets cannot send to; use a regular ltc1 address for QR payments.
+Can I hide the caption?
Yes, untick the caption option before downloading the PNG. The SVG contains only the code.
Calculations run entirely in your browser; nothing you type is sent to KOT.CASH. Results are estimates for information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice.