QR code size for a table tent

Size table-tent QR codes at 3–4 cm — the diner directly in front sits 30–40 cm away, but the person across a four-top is 70–80 cm out and must lean in or turn the tent. Print the same code on both faces; a single-sided tent shows half the table a blank back.

The geometry of a table

A tent stands in the middle of the table, which means no two diners share a scanning distance:

Seat	Distance to tent	10:1 width
Directly in front	30–40 cm	3–4 cm
Beside it on a two-top	45 cm	4.5 cm
Across a four-top	70–80 cm	7–8 cm

An 8 cm code does not fit a tent panel once the quiet zone and a caption join it, so the honest compromise is: 3–4 cm minimum, 5 cm where the panel allows, and accept that the far seats lean in or pull the tent closer — which diners do without thinking, provided the tent is within reach and light enough to move.

A standard tent panel is roughly A6 (105 × 148 mm) or DL folded. On A6, a 5 cm code plus quiet zone and a one-line caption occupies about half the panel — the right amount. The panel's other job is the call-to-action: a tent with "Scan for the menu" converts; a bare code is furniture.

Print both faces

The failure unique to tents: a beautiful code on one face, and the blank back presented to half the table — or worse, the printed face turned toward the aisle because it looks tidier to staff resetting tables. A tent is a two-faced object; duplicate the code on both faces so orientation stops mattering. It costs nothing on a duplex run and roughly doubles the code's availability. (Triangular tents have a third face — use it.)

Error correction and finish

EC Q. Tents live at arm's length of every drink on the table; splashes, wipe-downs and scuffed corners are the localised damage error correction is built for. As with menus, specify matt laminate — tents stand directly under the table's light source, and gloss turns that geometry into a permanent hotspot.

Keep the payload short — a menu link or review link at version 2–3 keeps modules above 1 mm even at 3.5 cm. Confirm with the size calculator, and before ordering fifty tents, verify the artwork decodes and scan a made-up proof from the far side of a real table — the two-minute test that catches everything the pre-press checklist lists.

FAQ

What size should a QR code be on a table tent?

3–4 cm minimum, 5 cm if the panel allows. Diners directly in front are 30–40 cm away, but seats across a four-top are 70–80 cm out, so bigger is genuinely better here.

Should the QR code be on both sides of a table tent?

Yes. A tent faces two directions, and a single-sided print shows half the table the blank back. Duplicating the code on both faces costs nothing on a duplex print run and doubles availability.

Can people across the table scan a table tent code?

At 70–80 cm a 4 cm code is below the ten-to-one line, so they lean in or slide the tent closer — normal behaviour as long as the tent is movable. If the tent is fixed or weighted, size up to 5 cm or more.

What error correction level should a table tent use?

Q. Tents collect splashes, wipe marks and dented corners, which are exactly the localised damage that 25% error correction repairs. Pair it with matt laminate to avoid glare under overhead lights.