If you own a restaurant, you know how often table tents fade into the background, collecting dust next to the salt shaker. Sure, they might display your specials, a promo, or a nice graphic about happy hours, but most guests barely notice them. And during busy hours, your staff doesn’t have time to highlight those promos.
As a result, special offers go unnoticed, upsell opportunities slip by, and menus remain the same even when ingredients or prices change.
But that’s changing. Restaurants are turning static table tents into dynamic touchpoints with QR Codes, letting guests discover deals, customize orders, and explore new menu items on their own. It’s a simple shift that boosts sales and gives you real-time insights into what’s working, even when your team’s tied up.
Clearly, QR Codes on table tents are pulling more weight than just linking to a menu.
Table of contents
- How do table tents with QR Codes provide more than just menu access?
- Can QR Codes on table tents drive a higher average order value?
- How to create and track QR Codes on table tents
- Best practices for placing and designing QR Codes on table tents
- Start using smart QR Codes on your tables for free
- Frequently asked questions
How do table tents with QR Codes provide more than just menu access?
Your diners meet the table tents at the right time: seated and open to adding items to their orders. This can be either after they have placed their initial order and are waiting for it to come, or while waiting for someone to take their order.
So, having an interactive QR Code fills their time in more ways than you can imagine. Let’s look at some points that support this:
1. Keep your offers fresh with table tent QR Codes
QR Code table tents make it convenient to update prices, rotate specials, or highlight high-margin items without reprinting. You can make real-time changes in minutes if a dish runs out or your inventory shifts. That means no wasted materials or missed sales opportunities; just quick, flexible updates that keep your menu relevant and profitable.
2. Engage guests in real time with QR Codes
Table tents with QR Codes turn idle moments into interactive experiences. A simple scan gives them instant access to digital menus, combo deals, limited-time offers, and loyalty rewards. These dynamic touchpoints encourage them to explore more and even add items to their order, something printed menus simply can’t do.
From watching short videos of featured dishes to tapping through mobile-friendly deals, QR Codes offer an engaging, self-guided journey that keeps guests entertained and more likely to spend.
3. Reduce staff load with QR Codes on table tents
QR Code-enabled table tents help staff focus on service while guests discover offers themselves. This process supports staff during peak hours, reduces service errors, and ensures upsells happen consistently.
The following table highlights why QR Code-enabled table tents are much more beneficial than static ones.
| Feature | Static table tent | QR Code-enabled table tent |
| Real-time updates | No | Yes |
| Personalized offers | No | Yes |
| Inventory-based suggestions | No | Yes |
| Tracks engagement | No | Yes |
| Upsells automatically | No | Yes |
Can QR Codes on table tents drive a higher average order value?
One of the most significant advantages of QR Codes on table tents is how effectively they can influence guest behavior, including spending.
When guests place digital orders, they feel more comfortable customizing items or exploring the full menu at their own pace. In fact, check averages increase by $2-4, or roughly 12%, when guests order from a digital interface.
So how do you turn that digital behavior into higher spend at your tables?
Here are a few simple, guest-friendly ideas that your team can turn into table tent mockups using QR Codes:
1. Spin the wheel upsell campaign
Guests love a little gamification. Use a QR Code to launch a “spin the wheel” experience, where diners can win rewards like a free dessert with orders over $50 or discounts on premium combos. It’s fun, low-pressure, and gives guests a reason to spend more.
2. Chef’s special reveal with a QR Code
Add a QR Code that unlocks a “scan-only” surprise dish. This limited-edition special can be changed daily to keep things fresh. According to Toast’s Restaurant Trends, 79% of consumers actively seek specialty items, making this a smart way to drive impulse orders and upsells.
3. Time-based menu boosters
Dynamic QR Codes allow you to show different offers depending on the time of day. Promote quick add-ons like coolers or snacks at lunch, and highlight premium upgrades such as wine pairings and desserts at dinner.
By aligning offers with dining context, you encourage higher spending without reprinting a thing.
4. Group meal customizer
QR Codes can enable a shared ordering experience for larger tables, letting everyone add to a single cart from their own devices. As the group builds their order, clever upsell prompts suggest items such as shareable sides or family bundles like “Add 2 desserts, get the 3rd free.”
These gentle nudges boost total order value while speeding up the process for guests and staff alike. It also taps into social buying behavior. When one guest upgrades, others often follow suit, driving more value per table. Plus, it removes the added stress of splitting bills or placing orders individually, making the experience smoother for both guests and staff.
5. Scan to unlock secret pairings
Offer curated bundles through QR Codes, such as entrée and appetizer combos or wine pairings. These feel more like thoughtful suggestions than sales tactics, making guests more likely to add them to their order. Bonus: they often feature high-margin items.
6. Interactive feedback for add-ons
Encourage guests to scan and complete a short feedback form in exchange for a free add-on or discount on their next visit. This incentivizes return visits and lets you gather insights while gently pushing future upsells.
How to create and track QR Codes on table tents
Each QR Code campaign needs to start with a clearly defined objective. Consider the guests’ context and where and when they will scan the QR Code on the table tent to determine your goal.
Answering these questions will help you create effective QR Codes that achieve results. Let’s explore each step individually.
1. Picking the right QR Code generator
You can’t just grab any QR Code generator on the market. You have to specifically look for ones that offer dynamic QR Codes to fit your table tent requirements. Why dynamic? Because your restaurant’s offers, menus, and events are constantly changing.
Tip: Dynamic QR Codes let you update what the QR Code links to without changing the physical code on your tent, and The QR Code Generator (TQRCG) happens to offer two free dynamic QR Codes!
Beyond that, ensure your generator comes with scan analytics and branding options. You will want to see how many people are scanning, when, and even where they’re scanning from. Furthermore, look at customization capabilities to add your logo or change the color of your QR Codes to match your brand.
2. Defining the goal of your campaign
Clarify what you want to achieve with your QR Code. For example, are you trying to:
- Boost dessert sales? Link to a mouth-watering dessert menu with high-resolution photos.
- Get more loyalty program sign-ups? Send guests straight to a quick, mobile-friendly form.
- Collect valuable feedback? Send guests to a short, engaging survey, with an incentive for completing it.
- Encourage group orders? Use a shared cart experience to make it smooth and social.
If your goal isn’t clear, the landing page won’t be either, and guests will bounce. A confused customer rarely converts. For example, don’t link to your full menu if you’re trying to gather feedback. Take them straight to the feedback form.
3. Choosing the right QR Code type
Choosing between static and dynamic is just step one. The type of QR Code you create also matters. Want to collect feedback? You’ll need a survey QR Code. Sharing a menu or brochure? Go with a PDF QR Code. Promoting a social page, video, or multi-link experience? There are QR Codes for that, too.
If you’re unsure which type you need, try The QR Code Generator’s Smart Selector. It helps you figure it out in seconds, so that you can create the right experience without the guesswork.
Note: Static QR Codes are for things that never change. Maybe a one-time event flyer, or a link to your permanent “About Us” page. Once it’s printed, the content behind that code is locked in. If the link breaks or the offer changes, you must reprint the entire table tent.
4. Analyzing metrics to track success
A good QR Code generator will give you analytics so that you can track:
- Scan rates: How many times was your code scanned?
- Time of scans: Are people scanning more during lunch rush or dinner service? This tells you when your offers are most appealing.
- Conversion rates: Out of those who scanned, how many actually completed the desired action (e.g., signed up, ordered, submitted feedback)?
Understanding these metrics offers direct insights into customer behavior. TQRCG provides detailed analytics to track QR Code performance, encompassing total and unique scans, GPS-tracked scan locations, and device types.
5. A/B testing offers and placements
Running small, controlled experiments will help you learn what motivates your guests to scan and interact. So, don’t be afraid to A/B test.
Here are some examples of how you can experiment with table tent QR Codes:
- Test different CTAs: Put “Scan to Order” on half your table tents and “Scan for Secret Deals” on the other half. See which phrase drives more engagement. You might find that the “secret deals” section creates more curiosity and leads to more scans.
- Test different placements: Does the QR Code get more scans on the front of the table tent, or the back?
- Test different offers: Does a “free appetizer with main course” QR Code perform better than a “10% off your next visit” code?
Best practices for placing and designing QR Codes on table tents
Now that you’ve got your core strategy, let’s brush up on some more points to make your QR Codes look good and perform best.
- Print your QR Codes in vector formats: These can be formats such as SVG or EPS for ultimate sharpness, ensuring they’re always crystal clear. Maintain a generous “quiet zone” around the code and use a print resolution of at least 300 DPI to guarantee effortless scanning for every guest.
- Design with high contrast: Use dark QR Codes on light backgrounds for maximum visibility. While you can customize colors to align with your brand, always prioritize scannability; a pretty code that doesn’t scan is just a pretty picture!
- Add clear, action-oriented CTAs: These CTAs must be right next to the code. Phrases like “Scan for Today’s Deal,” “Tap to See Our Secret Menu,” or “Unlock a Surprise Here!” instantly tell guests what they’ll gain, making the decision to scan a no-brainer.
- Position table tents strategically: Place them near napkins, condiments, or anywhere guests naturally reach. Also, angle them just right so seated guests can comfortably scan without awkward stretching or leaning.
- Train your staff: Encourage your team to casually mention the QR Codes to guests, highlighting the benefit of scanning (e.g., “Check out our daily special right here!”). This friendly nudge boosts engagement without feeling pushy, smoothly integrating the digital experience.
Start using smart QR Codes on your tables for free
A QR Code on your table tents is an innovative, measurable way to boost your restaurant’s profits. We’ve seen how they can increase orders, sales, customer engagement, and feedback generation simply by being there at the right moment with the right offer.
With dynamic QR Codes, you’re in control, adapting to inventory changes, testing new ideas, and truly understanding what makes your guests tick. It’s about creating an uninterrupted, engaging experience that benefits everyone, including your diners, team, and revenue.
The best part is, you don’t have to commit right away. The QR Code Generator lets you create static and dynamic QR Codes at no cost, and they won’t expire even after your free 15-day trial ends.
Frequently asked questions
Table tents place the QR Code directly before a captive audience: guests already seated and often waiting for their order or service. This immediate proximity and available time significantly increase the likelihood of a scan, making it a far more effective and convenient interaction point than a distant wall poster.
Always link your QR Code to a mobile-friendly landing page that directly supports your campaign’s goal. This means the page must load quickly and be optimized for phone screens. Examples include interactive digital menus for ordering, concise QR Code feedback forms for collecting guest opinions, or engaging pages showcasing limited-time promotions.
Absolutely, yes! You can track detailed performance by using dynamic QR Codes from a generator that provides analytics. Implement UTM tagging for each table tent or even specific table sections. Then, you can measure overall scan rates and which specific tables, locations, or even offers generate the most scans and conversions.
For table tents, always choose dynamic QR Codes. Static codes are fixed once printed and are suitable only for unchanging information like a permanent website link. Dynamic codes, however, allow you to update the linked content anytime (e.g., daily specials, out-of-stock items, new promotions) without reprinting.
Yes, increasingly so! Post-pandemic, customer comfort with QR Codes has surged. Guests are highly likely to scan when the benefit is clear and compelling, driven by a strong call to action.
Definitely! Most quality QR Code generators allow extensive customization. You can match colors to your brand palette, add your restaurant’s logo directly within the code, and even choose different shapes or frames.
