Restaurant Scratch Off Promotions That Bring Guests Back
How restaurants and QSR brands run scratch off promotions: receipt drops, loyalty cards, prize legends, and print specs, with real per-card pricing.
When should staff hand out the card?
With the check, or in the bag for takeout. Both moments share a useful trait: the transaction is complete, so the card reads as a thank you instead of an upsell. Handing cards out at the door on arrival trains guests to see them as coupons, and the redemption rate drops.
What size card fits a check presenter?
The 2.75" x 4" small classic card is the workhorse. It fits a check presenter, a takeout bag, and a wallet, and it still has room for a headline, a prize legend, and a reveal area you can actually see. For high-volume handouts, table drops, street teams, festival booths, the 2" x 3.5" mini classic is our lowest cost per card. For a mailed neighborhood push, step up to the 4" x 6" medium so you can use the USPS postcard rate.
What should the prize legend look like?
Write it as a table on the back of the card, and make every tier real:
- One high-value tier that gets talked about, for example a dinner for four
- Two or three mid tiers, an appetizer, a dessert, a specialty drink
- A common tier that still has value, for example a fixed dollar amount off the next visit
The common tier is the one that decides whether the promotion works, because most guests land there. Make it something you are glad to honor on a Tuesday.
How do you keep a scratch off promotion profitable?
Three controls, all set before you print:
| Control | How it works |
|---|---|
| Return-visit condition | Reward redeems on a future visit, not the current check |
| Minimum spend | State it plainly in the terms, for example valid on orders over a set amount |
| Expiration window | A 30 to 60 day window drives the return trip and caps liability |
Print all three in the terms block. Vague terms are what cause arguments at the register.
Can a restaurant sell scratch off cards as a promotion?
No. Selling a scratch off card, or charging anything for a chance at a prize, turns the promotion into a lottery, which is a legal problem, not a printing one. Every card we print is a giveaway. If your goal is charitable, the compliant model is scratch and donate, covered on our nonprofits and fundraisers page.
Who writes the terms and the odds language?
You do. Restaurants and their counsel supply the disclaimer, prize legend, and any odds or no-purchase-necessary language required in their state. We lay it out cleanly and print what you approve, but we do not draft legal copy.
What stock holds up in a restaurant?
Standard 12pt C2S handles a check presenter, a pocket, and a car console fine. If cards live in a bag with hot food or get stuffed in an apron all shift, look at 14pt or 16pt on the cardstock weights page. When you do not want the reveal readable by holding the card up to a light, ask about the 280gsm blue-core security stock.
Classic silver or a full-color reveal?
Classic silver or gold is the right default for a receipt drop: it reads as a scratch off instantly and keeps the per-card cost low. Choose a full-color reveal when the payoff is visual, a photo of the entree, a seasonal illustration, a brand character, and budget roughly 20% to 30% more than the equivalent Classic card.
How much does a restaurant scratch off run cost?
At the 250-card minimum, small classic starts at $425, about $1.70 each, and mini classic starts at $365, about $1.46 each. High-volume runs bring mini down toward $0.08 per card. Full tiers sit on the pricing page, and there are no setup fees on standard orders. A quote comes back within one business day.
How many cards should a single location order?
Count your average covers or tickets per week, then multiply by the number of weeks you want the promotion live. Most single locations land between 1,000 and 5,000 cards for a one to two month run. Multi-unit groups usually print one design for all locations and use a small variable field for store number so redemption can be tracked by site.
How long does production take?
Standard production is 7 to 10 business days after proof approval, with 3 to 5 day rush available when the schedule allows. Digital proofs are free and typically come back the same day. For a holiday or seasonal promotion, place the order four to six weeks ahead so training and POS notes can be ready before the cards land.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best size scratch off card for a restaurant?
The 2.75" x 4" small card for check presenters and takeout bags, and the 2" x 3.5" mini when you need the lowest cost per card for high-volume handouts.
What is the minimum order?
250 cards. That applies to every scratch off size we print.
Can guests buy the cards?
No. Cards are giveaways. Charging for a chance at a prize would make the promotion a lottery.
Should the reward apply to the current check?
Make it redeemable on a future visit. That is what turns a discount into a return trip.
How fast can we get them?
7 to 10 business days after proof approval, plus 3 to 5 day rush when available. Quotes come back within one business day.
Related guides
Share your artwork or use our Design-It-Yourself tools. We proof every job before printing. Orders ship in 7-10 business days.