TicketRunQuick answer: A door prize ticket is a free numbered ticket handed to each guest as they arrive. The guest writes their name on the stub, drops it in a box and keeps the matching half. During the event you draw stubs (or random numbers) and call out the winners. The generator above is ready for door prizes.
How to run a door prize draw
- Print tickets for everyone you expect, plus spares. Number them so you know how many people came in.
- At the door, give each guest one ticket. They write their name on the stub and drop it in the box.
- Draw at set times or at the end. Pull a stub, or use the random number picker with the range you handed out.
- Call the number twice and give the winner a short time to claim the prize before drawing again, if your rules say they must be present.
Door prize vs raffle
| Door prize | Raffle | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket cost | Free with entry | Bought separately |
| Tickets per person | Usually one | As many as they buy |
| Stub details | Name is often enough | Name and phone, so absent winners can be reached |
| Must be present | Common | Often not |
Because a door prize ticket comes with admission, the rules that apply can differ from a paid raffle. If entry is paid, check whether your local rules treat it as a raffle.
Ideas that make door prizes run smoothly
- Use the Stub heading to print “Door prize entry” so the stub's purpose is clear.
- For several prizes, add them in order to the picker's prize list and draw them one by one; each winner is removed from the next draw.
- At a multi-day event, print each day in a different colour or with a day prefix such as SAT- and SUN-.
- Count the tickets left at the end to get an attendance figure.
How many door prize tickets to print
Print one ticket per expected guest plus about a sheet of spares, and number from 1 so the last ticket handed out tells you how many people came. If guests arrive through more than one entrance, give each door its own range (for example 1–200 at the front and 201–400 at the side) so the stacks never overlap. Ten tickets per page means 300 guests need 30 sheets.
Frequently asked questions
What is a door prize ticket?
A free numbered ticket given to each guest on arrival. One half goes in a box for the draw and the guest keeps the other half.
Do door prize tickets need a name?
A name on the stub helps if the winner has to be found, and it stops arguments over lost tickets. A phone number is optional for door prizes.
How do I pick a door prize winner?
Draw a stub from a well-mixed box, or enter the range you handed out into the TicketRun winner picker, which draws numbers with an unbiased random generator.
More ticket types and guides
Last updated · Written by the MiniTools team. General information, not legal advice.