A point was not really enough for both sides in a match of few chances although both teams will think they could have won it.
Derby's free-kick specialist Inigo Idiakez again rattled the woodwork and also forced Simon Royce into two full-length saves while the evergreen Paul Furlong was denied by a stop from Lee Camp.
But at the end, there was not enough craft and invention on display to break down too well-organised defences in which the Rams' Mo Konjic played most of the first half with blood pouring from a damaged nose.
Konjic had broken his nose in the previous match against Plymouth but he was able to continue and Derby were glad of his experience as the visitors looked for openings.
Furlong was always a menace but, like Derby, Rangers could not provide their main striker with enough support.
A stalemate did not seem possible after the way Derby started with Royce saving well from Marcus Tudgay in the second minute and then keeping out a clever flick-on from the same player.
Rangers also had a good chance to open the scoring in the 19th minute when Furlong headed down a ball in from the right but Kevin Gallen was just unable to hook it past Camp.
The unmarked Martin Rowlands headed wide and there were near misses at both ends in the second half with Gallen driving a 25-yard shot just wide with Camp beaten.
Derby made two attacking late substitutions but although they forced a flurry of corners, Royce handled confidently and QPR deserved to hang on for a point.