Event ticket printing: sizes, numbering and security tips

Start with how tickets will be sold and checked

A ticket is part of a system, not just a piece of paper. Before designing, answer three questions. Who sells the tickets: a box office, volunteers, local shops, or an online store that also issues printed tickets? How will they be checked: torn at the door, scanned, or marked on a list? And what happens to the stub: kept for raffle draws, used for reconciliation, or discarded?

The answers change the design. Volunteer sales need number blocks that can be assigned and reconciled. Scanning needs a unique code per ticket. Raffle draws need a stub with space for a name and phone number. Map the flow on paper first, using your venue layout as a guide; the article on event print planning from the floor plan shows how to connect printed pieces to each point in the guest journey.

Ticket sizes and stubs

Most printed event tickets are long and narrow so they fit in a wallet or pocket, and they are sized so several fit on a standard press sheet. See the event ticket product page for the sizes currently available.

Place the perforation so the stub is clearly separate, and repeat the ticket number on both sides of the perforation. Keep text and the number at least 0.125 in away from the perforation line, since tearing is never perfectly straight.

What to print on every ticket

Guests keep tickets in pockets and on fridges for weeks, and they will look at them for answers on the day. Include everything they need to arrive at the right time and place.

• Event name and organizer.
• Day of the week and date, written out, such as Saturday, October 17.
• Door time and start time, if they differ.
• Venue name and full street address.
• Admission type: general admission, reserved seat, VIP, or table number.
• Section, row and seat if reserved.
• Price, or Complimentary for comps.
• Unique ticket number.
• Short terms: no refunds, age limits, and anything else that applies.
• A website or phone number for questions.

Write the date with the day of the week. It catches mistakes, since a date and day that do not match on the proof is a red flag, and it helps guests plan. Read every ticket detail aloud on the proof, then have someone else read it again.

Numbering and variable data

Sequential numbering is the backbone of ticket control. Each ticket gets a unique number, often with a prefix for the event or ticket type, such as GALA0001 or VIP0001. If different price tiers exist, give each its own range or prefix so staff can see the type at a glance.

Modern digital presses can print different data on each ticket in the same run, which is called variable data printing. That means unique numbers, different seat assignments or individual QR codes can be printed without separate plates or setups. Provide the printer with a spreadsheet of values or a numbering range, and confirm the start and end numbers on the proof.

If you use QR codes, generate one per ticket that links to a record in your list or ticketing tool. At the door, scanning marks the ticket used, so a copied ticket fails the second time.

Security features that make copying harder

Most community events do not need bank level security, but a ticket that anyone can photocopy invites problems. Layer two or three of these, depending on the value of the ticket.

• A foil accent or raised finish that a copier cannot reproduce.
• A numbered holographic sticker applied to each ticket.
• A colored paper or unusual texture that you do not use for any other printed piece.
• A background pattern with fine lines that blurs when copied.
• A unique QR code checked against a list at the door.
• A stamp or signature applied at the point of sale.

Match the effort to the risk. A free community concert may need nothing more than numbering. A sold out gala with 200 dollar tickets deserves foil, holograms and scanning.

Managing sales and reconciliation

When volunteers or partner businesses sell tickets, assign each seller a block of numbers and record it: seller name, number range and date issued. After the event, or at set checkpoints, collect unsold tickets and cash, and check that the numbers add up. Stubs from sold tickets make this easy, because each stub carries the number and often the buyer's name.

For raffles, check your state's rules before printing, because many states regulate who can hold a raffle and how tickets must be sold. Print the stub with lines for the buyer's name and phone number and keep all stubs in a secure container until the draw.

Paper, finish and the door experience

Tickets are handled repeatedly, so choose a sturdy cover stock that holds up in a pocket. A 14 pt stock works well, and matte or uncoated finishes let staff write or stamp on them. Gloss makes photos pop but can smudge stamps.

Think about the moment of entry. Clear signage, such as a retractable banner that says Tickets and Will Call, keeps lines moving. Give door staff a pen, a stamp, a scanner or a printed list, and a container for stubs. A good door experience starts before the first ticket is torn.

Build your ticket design in the Voqado Studio, leaving a clear area for the variable number or code, and have the proof reviewed by someone who has worked the door at a similar event.

Get the free Small Business Print Planner

The free Small Business Print Planner includes an event friendly 12 month calendar, a quote comparison sheet and an order checklist, so tickets, signs and programs are all ordered with time to spare.

Event ticket checklist

• Decide how tickets are sold, checked and reconciled before designing.
• Choose a ticket size and whether you need a stub.
• Include day and date, times, venue, admission type and terms.
• Print a unique number on the ticket and the stub.
• Add security features that match the ticket value.
• Assign number blocks to each seller and log them.
• Check state rules if the ticket doubles as a raffle entry.
• Brief door staff and have tools ready at entry.