How to create and print buffet cards: format, content and step-by-step guide

Which size works for buffet cards?

Buffet cards are fold-over table cards (tent cards): each card is 100 × 139 mm and is folded in the middle into a standing card of 100 × 69.5 mm. The bottom half is the front with the dish name; the top half is the back with ingredients and allergens, printed upside down so both sides read upright after folding. Standing cards are easy to read on a buffet from both sides.

4 cards fit on one A4 sheet in portrait (210 × 297 mm), arranged 2 × 2 – by default for plain paper or card stock (margins 5 mm left/right, 9.5 mm top/bottom). Neighbouring cards share one cut line – no white strip between them. Cut lines are dashed and marked with small scissors symbols; the fold line is dotted. The card background runs up to the cut line and the text keeps at least 4 mm distance from it, so a slightly uneven cut never leaves a white edge. That makes the cards easy to cut with scissors or a paper cutter.

Alternatively, choose the “4-up label sheets” layout in the print settings: the cards are then 99.1 × 139 mm (folded 99.1 × 69.5 mm) and sit exactly on the positions of common 4-up A4 label sheets (labels 99.1 × 139 mm, e.g. type L7169; columns 2.5 mm apart, rows touching).

What goes on the front?

• The dish name – large and readable from a distance.
• Optionally a subtitle such as “with basmati rice”.
• Optionally labels like vegetarian, vegan or spicy.
• Optionally the business logo.

What goes on the back?

• Ingredients in descending order.
• The major allergens – preferably with full names.
• Optionally notes such as “contains alcohol” or additives.

Step by step with Catering Cat

• Create a dish – by name, voice description or AI suggestion.
• Select ingredients; review and approve allergen suggestions.
• Select dishes and a template in the Print Studio.
• Generate the PDF and print single-sided at actual size (100 %) – cut along the dashed lines (scissors symbols), fold along the dotted line.
• Stand the folded cards on the buffet.

Tips for clean printing

• Always choose “actual size / 100 %”, never “fit to page”.
• Single-sided printing is enough – no printer with two-sided printing needed.
• Heavier paper (e.g. 250–300 gsm) looks premium and stands better.
• Alternatively, choose the “4-up label sheets” layout in the print settings and print on 4-up A4 label sheets (99.1 × 139 mm, e.g. type L7169).

Frequently asked questions