If you’re looking to create professional-looking custom printed raffle tickets from the comfort of your home, Raffles for Less has you covered with templates, tools, and inspiration to make your raffle a success.
Raffles have always been a fun, engaging, and effective way to raise funds or add excitement to an event. Whether it’s for a school fundraiser, a church community gathering, or a corporate prize draw, raffle tickets remain at the heart of participation. Traditionally, organizers relied on professional print shops or online services for ticket production. But today, with digital tools and printable templates, anyone can make custom printed raffle tickets from the comfort of their own home.
Why Make Your Own Raffle Tickets?
Making raffle tickets at home has grown in popularity because of three main reasons: control, cost, and convenience.
- Cost savings: Professional printers can be costly, especially when you only need a small batch. DIY printing allows you to create tickets for just the price of paper and ink. This makes it easy to produce cheap custom raffle tickets without compromising design.
- Creative freedom: DIY means you can fully personalize your raffle tickets. Want your school mascot, your nonprofit logo, or a theme that matches your event? No problem. These personalized raffle tickets make your fundraiser more engaging and memorable.
- Convenience: Need tickets for tomorrow’s event? By using templates and a simple raffle ticket generator, you can have tickets designed, printed, and cut within hours.
Of course, if you need hundreds or thousands of tickets with security features, a professional partner like Raffles for Less can deliver ready-to-use tickets quickly. The best solution depends on your time, budget, and event size.
Materials You’ll Need to Print Raffle Tickets at Home
Before diving into design and printing, let’s get your supplies ready.
- Card stock or heavy paper: Standard printer paper is too flimsy. Use 65–110 lb card stock for durability and a professional feel.
- Printer with enough ink: A good-quality inkjet or laser printer will give your tickets sharp text and graphics.
- Cutting tool: A paper cutter is ideal for straight lines. Scissors work but may slow you down.
- Perforating tool (optional): For detachable stubs, a perforator or scoring tool adds polish.
- Templates or software: This is where your raffle ticket design ideas come to life. Tools like Microsoft Word, Canva, or specialized raffle ticket generator platforms make design simple.
Pro Tip: If you’re new to DIY printing, practice on regular paper before using card stock. That way, you can test alignment, fonts, and numbering without wasting materials.
Step 1: Choose Your Raffle Ticket Template
The easiest way to get started is with a pre-made template. Templates ensure proper sizing, numbering space, and stub placement. You can find free and premium templates online that allow you to customize details like:
- Event name and date
- Organization name or logo
- Ticket price
- Prize information
- Sequential ticket numbers
When choosing a template, look for designs that are clean and readable. Too many colors or fonts can make tickets look cluttered. Many organizers prefer simple, bold layouts that highlight the prize or the cause.
If you’d like to see real-life examples of professionally designed raffle tickets, browse the Samples page on Raffles for Less for inspiration.
Step 2: Generate Sequential Ticket Numbers
One of the most important parts of a raffle ticket is its unique number. Without numbering, tracking entries and identifying winners becomes impossible.
Here’s how to generate numbers easily:
- Excel Method:
- Enter “001” in the first cell.
- Drag down the fill handle to auto-generate a sequence (002, 003, etc.).
- Format numbers to display with leading zeros (e.g., 001–500).
- Enter “001” in the first cell.
- Word Mail Merge: Import your Excel list into Word and merge the numbers into your template.
- Raffle Ticket Generator Tools: Many online platforms automate numbering when you create your design. This is especially helpful for beginners who want to avoid formatting errors.
By setting up a proper numbering system, you’ll avoid duplicate numbers and keep your raffle fair and organized.
Step 3: Customize Your Raffle Ticket Design
This is where your creativity shines. Incorporating raffle ticket design ideas not only makes your tickets attractive but also builds excitement for your event. Here are a few approaches:
- Theme-based designs: Match your raffle ticket to the theme of your event (e.g., holiday raffle with festive colors).
- Logos and branding: Add your nonprofit or company logo for recognition.
- Prizes spotlight: Use space on the ticket to highlight your top prize—this motivates buyers.
- Color-coded tickets: If you’re running multiple raffles, use different colored tickets for each prize pool.
Keep your design simple, with 2–3 colors and easy-to-read fonts. The goal is clarity—your participants should instantly understand what the ticket is for and how to enter.
If you’re not comfortable designing from scratch, professional raffle ticket printing services like Raffles for Less offer ready-made designs you can personalize with your event details.
Step 4: Print Your Raffle Tickets
Once your template and numbering are ready, it’s time to print. Here are your options:
Printing at Home
- Best for batches under 200 tickets.
- Use “high quality” print settings for sharper results.
- Print multiple tickets per page to save paper.
- Allow ink to dry fully before cutting.
Printing Professionally
If you need hundreds or thousands of tickets, outsourcing may be more cost-effective. Services like Raffles for Less specialize in producing custom printed raffle tickets in bulk with fast turnaround times. You can also order raffle tickets online directly, saving hours of manual cutting and organizing.
Step 5: Cut and Assemble Your Tickets
After printing, separate your tickets into individual pieces. A paper cutter gives you cleaner, straighter lines than scissors. If your tickets include detachable stubs, score or perforate them for easy tearing.
Organize the tickets numerically and keep them in a secure container until your event. This prevents lost tickets and ensures smoother distribution.
Step 6: Add Security Features (Optional)
While not always necessary for small raffles, adding security features can help prevent fraud. Here are a few methods:
- Logos and branding – harder to replicate than plain tickets.
- Unique ticket IDs or QR codes – for larger events, codes allow easy scanning and validation.
- Specialty paper – watermarked or holographic paper adds authenticity.
Most home organizers don’t need these extras, but if your raffle involves high-value prizes, it may be worth investing in professional printing with built-in features.
Creative Raffle Ticket Ideas
Looking for inspiration to make your tickets stand out? Here are some ideas:
- Vintage style: Use old-fashioned fonts and layouts for a nostalgic feel.
- Photo tickets: Include an image of your prize, like a vacation destination or product.
- Interactive designs: Add a scratch-off section to reveal bonus entries.
- Eco-friendly tickets: Print on recycled paper or offer digital tickets alongside physical ones.
These raffle ticket ideas add personality and can increase excitement among participants.
Mistakes to Avoid When Making Raffle Tickets at Home
DIY tickets are convenient, but beginners often stumble into the same issues:
- Forgetting essential details: Always include event name, date, and ticket price.
- Duplicate numbering: Double-check your sequence before printing.
- Low-quality paper: Flimsy tickets tear easily and look unprofessional.
- Overcomplicated designs: Keep it simple—legibility matters more than flashy graphics.
- Ignoring regulations: Some states have laws governing raffles. Verify local rules before selling tickets.
By avoiding these mistakes, your DIY tickets will look professional and function smoothly.
When to Choose Professional Printing Services
While making tickets at home is great for small raffles, larger events benefit from professional solutions. Here’s why:
- Time savings: Printing and cutting hundreds of tickets can take hours. Professional printers deliver them ready to use.
- Durability: Commercial printing produces sharper, longer-lasting results.
- Customization: Services offer advanced features like booklets, barcodes, or foil stamping.
- Affordability at scale: For big orders, professionally printed tickets can actually be cheaper than DIY.
If your event requires more than 500 tickets, explore the Pricing page at Raffles for Less to see affordable bulk options.
Why Choose Raffles for Less?
At this point, you may be wondering—should I make tickets at home or order them? The answer depends on your event size and goals. For small fundraisers, DIY can work fine. But when you need professionally designed, durable, and secure tickets, Raffles for Less makes the process simple.
Here’s why many organizations trust us:
- Affordable pricing: We specialize in cheap custom raffle tickets without sacrificing quality.
- Personalization: Get fully personalized raffle tickets with your branding, colors, and prize details.
- Convenience: You can contact us anytime for support with designs, orders, or reprints.
- Transparency: Explore our About Us page to learn more about our mission and dedication to helping fundraisers succeed.
Whether you want to print raffle tickets online quickly or need large-scale production, we’ve got you covered.
Conclusion: The Best of Both Worlds
Making raffle tickets at home is easier than ever thanks to templates, online tools, and DIY printing. For small-scale events, you can save money and enjoy complete control by producing your own tickets. Just follow these steps:
- Choose a template.
- Generate sequential numbers.
- Customize your design.
- Print on card stock.
- Cut and assemble tickets.
- Add optional security features.
But when your raffle grows, or you need professional polish, remember that raffle ticket printing services like Raffles for Less are just a click away. You can easily order custom raffle tickets online, browse samples, and choose the package that fits your event.
By combining DIY flexibility with professional reliability, you’ll always have the right solution for your event’s needs. Whether it’s a handful of personalized raffle tickets for a small fundraiser or thousands of custom printed raffle tickets for a major charity gala, your tickets will look professional, inspire confidence, and drive participation.