A table tent is a printed card folded into a standing shape, usually a triangle or an A-frame, that sits on a table or counter and carries a message to anyone nearby. TBPB prints custom table tents to your size and artwork with no minimum order, and if you bring a written quote for the same specs, we beat it.
Where table tents get used
Restaurants use them for specials, dessert menus and QR codes to order. Cafes put them by the register. Hotels and venues use them for Wi-Fi details, event schedules and reserved seating. Retailers set them on a counter to promote a seasonal offer. The common thread is that they sit at eye level, in front of someone who has a few seconds and nothing else to read.
Triangle, A-frame or tent shape
A triangular tent has three panels, two visible faces and a base, and it is the sturdiest on a crowded table because the footprint is wide. A standard A-frame fold has just two faces and a hinge at the top, and it works when the card is light and used for a single event. Choose based on where it stands. In a restaurant with spills, use a triangle with a coated face. At a conference where the card is used once, an A-frame is enough.
Sizes and stock
Common finished sizes are 4 by 6 inches and 5 by 7 inches, which keep the card readable from a short distance without blocking conversation. Stock thickness decides whether the tent stays upright. A 14 to 16 pt cardstock, or a heavier cover stock, holds a fold and stands up on its own. Lighter paper curls and falls over in an air-conditioned room. For tents that will be handled all day, go for the heavier option.
Coating, wiping and print
If the tent will sit near food and drinks, coating is not optional. A gloss or UV coating makes the surface wipeable, and lamination gives still more resistance to spills, though it makes the card stiffer and a little harder to fold, so the fold lines should be scored. Matte coating looks calmer and cuts glare under restaurant lighting but marks more easily. Full-colour CMYK covers photographs and menu items, and Pantone helps when a brand colour must match a menu or sign.
- Shapes: triangle or A-frame tent
- Common sizes: 4 x 6 in and 5 x 7 in finished
- Stock: 14 to 16 pt cardstock or heavier cover stock
- Coating: gloss, matte, UV or lamination for wipe-clean use
- Print: CMYK or Pantone, one or both faces
- Quantity: no minimum order
Writing it so it gets read
Put one message on each face. A specials list on one side and a QR code to your full menu on the other is cleaner than trying to squeeze everything in. Keep body text at a size you can read from about an arm’s length, and leave margin around the fold so nothing gets cut by the hinge.
Other print pieces to pair with it
If guests need a longer takeaway, custom flyers carry more detail than a tent can. Custom postcards work as a leave-behind offer, and presentation folders suit event packs. For bigger menus or brochures, see catalog printing, and browse presentation folders and print for more.
Send your size, shape and quantity, even if it is one, and TBPB will set up the layout and quote it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for custom table tents?
No. There is no minimum order, so you can print a handful for a single event or thousands for a restaurant group. The price-beat guarantee applies at any quantity.
What size should a table tent be?
Most are 4 by 6 or 5 by 7 inches finished. That is large enough to read from a short distance and small enough not to crowd a table. Tell us how much table space you have and how many words you plan to print.
Do table tents need coating?
If they sit near food or drinks, yes. A gloss or UV coating makes the surface wipeable, and lamination adds more spill resistance. Matte coating cuts glare but marks more easily. Ask for scored fold lines if you choose lamination.
What is the difference between a triangle and an A-frame tent?
A triangle has a flat base and two visible faces, so it is stable on a busy table. An A-frame is a simple two-panel fold, lighter and quicker, but it can tip over more easily. Use a triangle for daily service and an A-frame for one-off events.
Can I print both sides differently?
Yes. Each face can carry its own design, such as specials on one and a QR code on the other. Tell us if the two faces differ so the print setup is arranged correctly and the fold falls where you expect.
What paper thickness stands up on its own?
A 14 to 16 pt cardstock or a heavier cover stock generally holds a fold and stands without extra support. Lighter paper curls and falls in air-conditioned rooms. If the tent will be handled often, choose the heavier option.
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