TicketRunQuick answer: A numbered raffle ticket generator prints a unique, sequential number on each ticket and the same number on its stub, so you don't have to type numbers into a template or run a mail merge. Set the first and last number above, choose how the numbers look, and download a PDF ready to print and cut.
Number formats you can make
| Setting | Example | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Digits: Auto | 001 … 500 | The default. Every number has the same width, which sorts and reads more easily. |
| Digits: No zeros | 1 … 500 | Small events where zeros look odd. |
| Fixed digits | 00001 … 00500 | When later batches will go past the current number of digits. |
| Prefix | A-001, B-001 | Several raffles or ticket colours at one event, or a year code such as 27-001. |
| Suffix | 001-PTA | Marking which group sold the ticket. |
| Label | No. 001, # 001, Ticket 001 | Change or clear the word printed before the number. |
| Start anywhere | 501 … 1000 | Printing a second batch that carries on from the first. |
Why matching stub numbers matter
The stub is your record of who bought each ticket. If a stub and ticket ever disagree, a winner can't prove their win, or two people can claim the same number. Hand-typed templates and copied pages are where that usually goes wrong. TicketRun draws both halves from the same number in a single pass, so they can't drift apart, and a sheet with a jam can be reprinted on its own because every page shows its sheet number and range.
Cut-and-stack numbering
If you cut the whole print run at once on a stack cutter, ordinary page order leaves you with piles like 1, 11, 21, 31… that have to be sorted by hand. Choose Cut-and-stack and TicketRun lays the numbers out so each pile comes out in sequence. With 1,000 tickets at 10 per page you print 100 sheets; after cutting, the first pile holds 0001–0100, the second 0101–0200, and so on.
- Choose Number order: Cut-and-stack before downloading.
- Print all sheets and keep them together in the order they came out of the printer.
- Cut the stack along the crop marks. Each pile is a complete run you can band into books.
Seller books and the tracking sheet
For raffles sold by volunteers, open Seller books and tracking sheet in the generator. Enter the tickets per book (25 is common) and tick Print the book number on each stub. Then download the seller log: one row per book with its number range, the seller's name and phone, and columns for tickets sold, unsold tickets returned, cash due and cash received. At the end, sold + returned + missing should add up to the tickets printed.
Generator, Word template or numbering machine?
| Method | Numbering | Effort for 500 tickets |
|---|---|---|
| TicketRun | Automatic on ticket and stub, any range | One PDF; print and cut |
| Word template | Typed by hand, or SEQ fields or mail merge | Set up fields or a data source, then check every page (see how) |
| Numbering stamp | Stamped by hand, two impressions per ticket | 1,000 stamps |
| Pre-printed double roll | Factory numbered, no event details | Buy and tear; no custom text |
Frequently asked questions
What's the largest range I can number?
Up to 20,000 tickets per PDF and numbers up to 99,999,999. For a bigger run, make several PDFs with consecutive ranges, for example 1–20000 and 20001–40000.
Can I skip numbers or reprint a few tickets?
Yes. To reprint, set the first and last number to just the tickets you need, for example 137 to 137. Keep the same prefix and digits so the reprint matches.
Does the number print on the stub and the ticket?
Yes, by default. You can switch the stub to big-number style for coat check or admission tickets, or turn the stub off for drink tickets.
How do I number tickets for two different raffles?
Use a prefix (for example A- and B-) or a different colour for each raffle, so stubs from the two drums can't be mixed up.
More ticket types and guides
Last updated · Written by the MiniTools team. General information, not legal advice.