Custom A4 Table Tents

Card Weight, Print and Finish

A4 is tall enough that thin card will bow, so we usually suggest a heavy board of around 350 to 400 gsm. It holds a crisp fold and stays upright even under air conditioning. Uncoated card has a natural, writable surface; silk or gloss card shows photographs with more depth.

For anything handled at the table, lamination is worth considering. Matt lamination cuts glare from overhead lights and resists the odd splash, while gloss lamination makes food photography look richer. Soft-touch lamination gives a velvety feel that suits upmarket bars and hotel lounges.

We print in full colour on both sides as standard, with spot colours available when a brand colour has to match exactly. Spot UV can pick out a logo or headline so it catches the light, and foil adds a touch of polish on cocktail lists and wedding tables. Foil and spot UV are compared side by side in our print and finish options guide.

Laying Out a Menu or Promotion on A4

Treat each face like a short poster. Put the most important message at the top third, where it is seen first from a seated position, and keep body text at a size that can be read without picking the tent up. Around 11 to 12 point is a good minimum for menu items, with prices aligned so they are easy to scan.

Use one face for the main message and the other for something supporting, such as allergen information, a QR code to the full menu, or details of a loyalty scheme. Keep a clear margin away from the folds, because anything too close can disappear into the crease.

If you send a design, we check it before printing and flag text that sits too close to a score line or an image that is too low in resolution. If you have only a logo and a list, we can arrange the layout and show it on the proof. Hotels that put a tent in every room usually order matching door hangers for guest rooms from the same artwork.

Where A4 Table Tents Work Best

Pubs and restaurants use them for set menus, Sunday lunch offers and drinks lists. Hotels place them in lounges, rooms and breakfast areas to promote spa treatments, room service or local partner offers. Conferences and awards dinners use them as table guides showing the agenda, menu and sponsors in one place.

Retailers and showrooms put A4 tents on counters to explain a finance offer or a product feature, and estate agents and banks use them in reception areas. Because they are flat-packed until folded, they are easy to store and swap when the message changes.

Schools, clubs and charities find them handy too. A tent on each table at a quiz night, prize-giving or fundraising dinner can show the raffle prizes, the order of the evening and a donation QR code, and it keeps the room tidy compared with loose flyers that end up on the floor. For a one-off fundraiser, cheaper shaped flyers for each table can do the same job for a single evening.

Making Printed Tents Last Longer

A table tent lives a harder life than most print. It gets moved when tables are wiped, leaned against glasses, and picked up by curious guests. A few choices make a real difference to how long it looks presentable. Lamination is the first, because it seals the surface against moisture and fingermarks. A locking base is the second, because it stops the fold weakening each time the tent is knocked.

Think about how often the content changes, too. If prices or dishes move every few weeks, keep those details on a removable insert or behind a QR code and print the tent itself with information that stays the same, such as your logo, opening hours and signature dishes. That way one print run lasts much longer and reprints are smaller. Menus, loyalty cards and the other printed marketing pieces for venues can share the same artwork so reprints stay consistent.

Finally, order a few spares. Tents do go missing, get damaged in a busy service, or are needed for an extra table at a function. Having a small reserve in the back office avoids a gap on the floor while you wait for a reorder.

Measure the Table, Then Pick the Fold

Before anything else, measure the depth of your smallest table. An A4 portrait tent with a locking base needs about 80 mm of table and stands nearly 300 mm tall, so on a narrow bar shelf a landscape or slim 105 mm face may suit better. Once the size is settled, choose flat or pre-folded delivery: flat if menus change often and you store them, pre-folded if you want them on tables the day they arrive.

Artwork works best as a PDF with 3 mm bleed and nothing important within 5 mm of the score lines; if you only have a logo and a list, upload the files for a free proof and we will lay it out. Count your tables and add roughly ten per cent for spares. The custom quote arrives by email within one working day, printing takes 4–7 working days after you sign off the proof, and tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses is free and takes 2–3 working days. Tents that arrive creased or misprinted are reprinted or refunded when reported within 10 days.