Guide
Tented vs. flat place cards
Both styles do the same job, they show a guest to their seat, but they sit differently on the table and print differently on the sheet. Here is how to choose, and how to get a clean result from each.
Flat
Flat cards
A flat card is a single printed rectangle, usually 3.5 by 2 inches, that lies on the plate, the napkin or the table. It is the simplest to make and the most economical with paper: ten cards fit on a US Letter or A4 sheet, and you cut them apart along the dotted lines. Flat cards photograph beautifully in a place setting and suit a more relaxed or modern table.
Tented
Tented cards
A tented card folds in the middle and stands on its own like a little roof. Because it stands, it is easy to spot from a step or two away, which helps when guests are walking the room to find their seats. On a tented layout the name prints on the lower half and again, mirrored, on the upper half, so after the fold it reads from both sides of the table. The printed panel is twice the height of the finished card to make room for the fold, so four cards fit per sheet rather than ten.
Choosing
Which to choose
Choose flat for a clean, modern look, for tight budgets, or when the card sits on each plate. Choose tented for large rooms and round banquet tables, for a more formal feel, or whenever you want the name readable from a distance. There is no wrong answer, it comes down to the room and the look you are after.
Printing and folding
A clean fold every time
On plain cardstock, print at 100 percent scale, cut the panels out, then fold along the centre. We mark the fold with small ticks in the margin rather than a line across the card, so nothing prints on the finished crease. Scoring along that line first, with the back of a knife against a ruler, gives a crisp fold that stands straight. Prefer to skip the folding? There are pre-scored tent sheets from brands like Avery and DECAdry, and pre-cut flat sheets too. Pick the matching layout and the print lands on the cards, ready to snap apart. For more detail see our complete printing guide.
Questions
Common questions
Should I use flat or tented place cards?
Flat cards are simplest and lie on the plate or table. Tented cards fold to stand on their own and are easy to read from a distance, which suits round banquet tables. If guests approach the table on foot to find a seat, a standing tent card reads sooner.
Does the name print on both sides of a tent card?
Yes. On a tented layout the name prints on the lower half and again, rotated, on the upper half, so once folded it reads from both sides of the table.
How many cards fit on a sheet?
A flat 3.5 by 2 inch card lays out ten to a US Letter or A4 sheet. A tented card uses a panel twice as tall to allow the fold, so four fit per sheet. Pre-cut tent stock varies by brand.
Try both and see
Switch between flat and tent layouts and watch the sheet update.
Try it with your list