Thanksgiving Place Cards: Free Printable Tent Cards for Guests

How to make Thanksgiving place cards

Type one guest name per line, pick a design and a size, and the cards update as you type. Each card is a flat rectangle with a dashed fold line across the middle. The name prints on the front half and, if you leave the box ticked, upside down on the back half so guests on both sides of the table can read it.

Press Print, cut along the dashed outer line, and fold on the middle line so that the card stands like a tent.

Print at actual size

Cards are sized in inches. In the print dialog, set scale to 100 percent (sometimes called Actual size, not Fit to page) and choose Letter paper. Print one page first and hold a card up to check that it is about 3.5 inches wide. Cardstock stands better than printer paper; many home printers handle light cardstock, so check what yours allows.

• Standard cards are 3.5 × 4 inches flat and stand 2 inches tall, four per page.
• Small cards are 3.5 × 3 inches flat and stand 1.5 inches tall, six per page.
• Names above 40 characters are shortened, and long names print in a smaller size.

Designs

There are four simple designs made in the browser from borders, stripes and one leaf shape. Classic has a thin double border. Autumn leaf adds a small leaf above the name. Harvest stripe adds a band of three autumn colors along the edge. Plain prints only the name, which uses the least ink.

Where to seat people

Place cards help most when the table is large or guests do not all know each other. Seat people who like the same topics next to each other, put the kids where an adult can reach them, and give a guest who is new to the group a seat next to someone friendly. Seat elders near the kitchen path if walking is hard for them. Set the cards out before guests arrive, and keep a few blank ones for surprise guests.