# QR codes on table tents

> A table tent is read from 40–80 cm, so the ten-to-one rule asks for a 4–8 cm code; in practice 3–4 cm works because diners lean in or pick the tent up. Use error correction M, matt laminate, and print the code on both faces.

Source: https://useqr.app/qr-codes-on/table-tents · Last reviewed 2026-08-21 · UseQR is free forever, MIT licensed, no signup.

---

| Typical scan distance | **40–80 cm** |
|---|---|
| Minimum code width | **3–4 cm** |
| Error correction | **M** |

## The numbers

| Situation | Distance | Code width needed |
|---|---|---|
| Diner leans in or picks the tent up | 30–40 cm | 3–4 cm |
| Diner scans across the table | 80 cm | 8 cm |

Strictly, the [ten-to-one rule](/docs/print/the-10-to-1-distance-rule) says a code scanned
across a table needs **8 cm**. Almost no tent design allows that, and it does not need to:
a table tent is the one piece of signage the reader can move. Design for the lean-in at
**3–4 cm** and the geometry solves itself. The full arithmetic is in
[QR code size for a table tent](/docs/print/qr-code-size-for-a-table-tent).

## Glare is the failure mode

Table tents are almost always gloss-laminated, and diners view them at **30–45°** — not
straight on. Overhead pendant lights and downlighters reflect off gloss laminate at exactly
that angle, laying a white specular band across the code. No error-correction level
recovers a code behind glare; the camera never sees the modules at all. This is the single
most common reason a [menu code](/menu-qr-code) works in the print proof and fails at the
table.

Fixes, in order of effectiveness:

- **Matt or soft-touch laminate.** Costs pennies more and removes the problem.
- Anti-glare (satin) laminate if the printer offers nothing else.
- Keep the code in the **lower half** of the tent face, where the viewing angle to
  overhead lights is shallower.

More on the physics in [glossy surfaces and glare](/docs/print/qr-codes-on-glossy-surfaces-and-glare).

## Print both faces

A tent has two or three faces and diners sit on all sides of the table. Duplicate the code
on **every face** — a one-sided tent silently halves scans. Keep contrast to spec while
you are at it: dark modules on a light ground with at least a **40% luminance difference**,
and a clear [quiet zone](/glossary/quiet-zone) of four modules that the tent's border
artwork must not invade.

## The base matters

Tents get knocked over, and a face-down tent scans zero times. Use **300 gsm or heavier**
stock, a proper locking-tab base rather than a taped edge, and a footprint of at least
8 × 8 cm. Acrylic sign holders with paper inserts survive cleaning sprays better than bare
card and let you swap the insert without reprinting the structure — useful when the
[menu](/qr-codes-on/menus) changes.

## FAQ

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

At least 3–4 cm square. That covers a diner leaning in to 30–40 cm. If you want the code
to scan from a seat across the table, roughly 80 cm away, it needs 8 cm — so most designs
should optimise for the lean-in instead.

### Why does my table tent QR code scan in the office but not in the restaurant?

Almost always glare. Gloss laminate under overhead lighting reflects a white band across
the code at the 30–45° angle diners actually view it from. Reprint with matt laminate, or
move the code lower on the tent face.

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

Yes. Diners sit on every side of the table, and a tent face they cannot see is a code they
cannot scan. Duplicate the code identically on each face of the tent.

### What error correction level should a table tent QR code use?

M is right. Table tents live indoors, get replaced often, and the main threats — glare and
small size — are not the kind of damage error correction repairs. Higher levels just add
density and make the code harder to scan at this size.

## Try it

- https://useqr.app/url
- https://useqr.app/menu
- https://useqr.app/size-calculator
- https://useqr.app/validate