The tent card trap

A name tent (or table tent) is the folded card that stands on a table so the name is readable from both sides. Sounds trivial — until you try it in Word. The classic mistake: printing one side upside down, so half the room sees a mirrored name. Avery's own templates get the orientation right only if you follow the feed direction exactly, which is why forum threads about tent cards run to dozens of frustrated replies.

Print preview of large fold-over name tents showing names upright on both halves
A tent card laid out correctly: each name prints upright on both halves with a centre fold line.

The correct geometry

For a folded tent, the sheet is divided in half. The name must appear upright on both halves — when you fold along the centre line, the two printed faces end up back-to-back and both read correctly to people facing either side of the table. Some designs also print a smaller duplicate name on the reverse for the card-holder's own reference.

Step by step

  1. List first. Names in a spreadsheet or pasted directly — one per row.
  2. Pick a tent template. In the studio, tent templates are the fold-over layouts with a centre fold line; flat cards are a different category.
  3. Import. Upload or paste — headers map automatically, unused columns are listed, not lost.
  4. Print at 100%. "Fit to page" moves the fold line off centre; print actual-size on card stock.
  5. Score, fold, stand. Crease along the printed line — a ruler edge or bone folder gives a crisp fold.
Display options showing cut lines toggle, print calibration and PDF export controls
Cut lines and print calibration live under Display options — calibration compensates printer feed offset.

When the fold line is slightly off

If every card folds a millimetre off centre, that is printer feed offset, not the template. Run the calibration wizard once — it prints a ruler sheet, you measure two offsets, and every subsequent page is compensated. Measured error after calibration stays under 0.35 mm.

What about Avery tent stock?

Pre-scored Avery tent sheets (5305, 5302 and compatible formats) work well if the layout matches the stock's two-up or four-up geometry — check the per-page count in the preview against your pack before committing cardstock. Plain A4 or Letter card stock with printed fold and cut lines is the cheaper, more flexible route for most runs.