Place Card Maker
Create place cards and table name cards from Excel, CSV, or Google Sheets. Map fields once, then export the full batch as one PDF.
Import Excel, CSV or Sheets
Bring in guest names, table numbers, meal choices, seats, or notes from the list you already have.
Customize the template
Choose a design and adjust fonts, colors, spacing, card size, and optional guest details.
Export print-ready PDF
Preview the full sheet and download a PDF for A4, US Letter, Avery, 6-per-sheet, or custom paper.
Five Spreadsheet Columns to One Printable PDF
Start with Name, Table, Meal, Seat, and Note in the spreadsheet you already have. One row becomes one card; one layout becomes the complete PDF batch.
Excel, CSV & Sheets Import guest names, table numbers, meal choices, seats, and notes instead of typing every card by hand.
Import guest names, table numbers, meal choices, seats, and notes instead of typing every card by hand.
Fonts, colors & templates Choose a ready-made place card template, then adjust typography, color, spacing, and card details.
Choose a ready-made place card template, then adjust typography, color, spacing, and card details.
A4, Letter & Avery PDF Preview the full sheet and export a print-ready PDF for A4, US Letter, Avery, 6-per-sheet, or custom cardstock.
Preview the full sheet and export a print-ready PDF for A4, US Letter, Avery, 6-per-sheet, or custom cardstock.
Prepare the Five-Column Guest List
Use one row per guest with Name, Table, Meal, Seat, and Note. Name is required; the other four columns can stay blank when they are not needed.
Name | Table | Meal | Seat | Note
Keep these five values in separate columns. That structure works in Excel, CSV, and Google Sheets and lets one shared design generate the full PDF.
| Guest Name | Table | Meal | Seat | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Johnson | Table 3 | Vegetarian | A1 | Bride's family |
| Liam Carter | Table 3 | Fish | A2 | Speaker |
| Olivia Smith | Table 6 | Kids Meal | B4 | — |
One guest per row
Keep each guest on a separate row so the editor can generate one card per person without guessing.
Guest name is the only true requirement
Start with a clean name column. Add table, meal, seat, or notes only if you want them in the design.
Meal is optional but useful
A Meal column helps when you need cards to double as catering or dietary reminders.
Avoid merged cells
Simple rectangular data imports cleanly. Merged cells and multi-name rows usually create confusion.
What this looks like inside the editor
You can import from file, add guests manually, and keep optional fields like meals in the same guest list.
Import from spreadsheet
Bring in Excel, CSV, or Google Sheets instead of typing every guest manually.
Keep optional fields together
Fields like table number, meal, and notes stay attached to each guest and can be mapped into the card.
Edit rows without leaving the page
You can fix names, change seats, or update table assignments before generating the final batch.
How to Turn a Spreadsheet into a Place Card PDF
Prepare one clean guest list, choose a design, preview the merged cards, and export a PDF that is ready for a home printer or cardstock.
Import your guest list
Start with the spreadsheet you already have. The editor can work with names alone, or with extra fields such as table number, meal choice, and notes.
Choose an Excel or CSV file from your device, or connect Google Sheets if that is part of your workflow.
Each guest stays tied to the row data, so the card content remains consistent during editing.
Bring in your list first so the design is built around real guest data instead of placeholder text.
Choose a layout that already fits your event
Instead of designing from a blank canvas, start from a template close to your use case, then adjust typography, spacing, and card size.
This is usually the fastest path for weddings, dinners, corporate seating, and classroom cards.
You only need one good base design before generating the full batch.
Templates shorten the time to first result and reduce layout mistakes for new users.
Map fields and preview the real output
Once the design is in place, preview the merged result with actual names and event data. This is where you catch overflow, awkward line breaks, or missing fields.
Confirm that long names still fit, table numbers look right, and optional fields like meal or seat appear correctly.
Adjust once at the template level instead of fixing cards one by one.
Previewing the merged result early is the fastest way to avoid printing errors.
Generate the PDF and print the full batch
After the layout looks right, export the full set as a print-ready PDF. If the seating plan changes, you can update the data and generate the set again.
Use the same design for the full guest list instead of rebuilding anything manually.
This is especially useful when final seating changes happen close to the event date.
The final export step should feel like a batch operation, not another round of manual layout work.
Ready to turn your guest list into finished place cards?
Go back to the place card maker, import the sheet you already have, and build the first draft with real data instead of placeholder names.
Place cards, name cards, and table cards — same card, different names
Wedding planners, hosts, and caterers use different words for the same printed card at a table setting. Here is how the terms map to this tool — and what is actually a different product.
Terms that usually mean the same printed card
If you need a small card with a guest name at a table setting, these names usually mean the same workflow below.
Place card
The standard wedding-industry term for a card at an assigned seat. Often tent-folded on the plate or set in a holder. This maker generates one card per guest from your spreadsheet.
Name card or table name card
Common in the UK, corporate events, and casual dinners. Same physical product as a place card — a printed guest name at the table. See also the table name card page for conference and gala setups.
Seating card
Sometimes used interchangeably with place card, especially for holiday dinners. It can also refer loosely to any seating stationery; here it means the individual name card at each setting, not a large seating chart.
Tent-fold or folded table card
Describes the format, not a separate product. Choose a tent layout in print settings when you want cards that stand upright without a holder.
Related terms that are different products
These sound similar but solve a different job. Use the linked page when that is what your event actually needs.
Why people move from manual formatting to a place card maker workflow
Once users understand the data format and the four-step flow, the final decision usually comes down to speed, confidence, and how painful late edits will be.
What makes this workflow worth using
These are the practical reasons users stick with it after the first batch, especially when the guest list changes more than once.
You stop rebuilding cards one by one
The spreadsheet stays as the source of truth, so one layout can drive the whole batch instead of turning every guest into a mini design task.
You can check the merged result before spending paper
Previewing real names, tables, and meals catches the mistakes that usually appear too late in Word or design tools.
Late seating changes are no longer a disaster
When names move, tables change, or meals update, you revise the data and regenerate the set instead of manually editing every affected card.
It feels safer for guest data
Excel and CSV files are read locally in the browser. Google Sheets uses a separate bridge handoff, so review the privacy policy before using it for sensitive guest data.
Good fit for these kinds of cards
The same workflow works across several common use cases. You are mostly changing the template and the columns you print.
Place Card Maker FAQ
Common questions from first-time users before they print their first batch.
Still have questions?
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