An acrylic table tent is the cheapest piece of signage in a restaurant and the one most handled: every customer picks it up, turns it over and puts it down. The design has to survive that, plus soup.
A restaurant group in Singapore ordered 400 tents for a menu refresh. By month three, 60 had been replaced, almost all for the same reason: the fold had relaxed and the tents lay flat on the tables.
Acrylic table tent folds and thickness
- 3 mm: A5 tent, 210 mm wide, single piece folded
- 5 mm: A4 tent or bar-top use
- Fold: machined V-groove, or two pieces bonded at 100 degrees
- Base: 2 mm recess or silicone strip on polished tables
The fold is the failure point. A scored line on 3 mm acrylic looks fine when new and relaxes after a few hundred openings. A machined V-groove holds the angle because it removes material rather than compressing it.
Inserts, printing and the spill problem
The tent is a frame; the message is the insert. A card insert slid into a pocket is replaceable when the menu changes, which is why most chains specify pockets rather than printed panels.
Printing directly on the acrylic is the alternative, and it looks better, but a menu change means new tents. For seasonal menus, pockets win; for a fixed brand message, print wins.
Liquids are the practical enemy. A tent with a 6 mm open gap at the base lets a spilled drink run through rather than pool against the paper edge. Small detail, longer insert life.
Where the tent carries a QR code for ordering, the angle matters more than on a paper menu: a tent at 100 degrees leans toward the reader, at 70 degrees it reflects the ceiling lights and the code will not scan from a seated position.
For counter units that hold the same printed collateral, the pocket detail overlaps with acrylic brochure holders, and the print and finish options are in the retail signage and display guide.
Send your insert size, fold type and quantity to oversales@rpplexiglass.com for a table tent quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What thickness acrylic for a table tent?
3 mm for double-sided tents up to A5, 5 mm for A4 or where the tent is used on a bar top with heavy handling. A 3 mm tent 210 mm wide flexes visibly when picked up.
Why do acrylic table tents fall flat?
The fold. A single score line on 3 mm sheet relaxes with use and the tent opens to 180 degrees. A V-groove machined fold, or a bonded two-piece tent, holds its angle for years.
How do you stop a table tent sliding?
Base contact area. A flat bottom is fine on a tablecloth and slides on a polished table. A 2 mm recessed base, or a silicone foot strip, keeps the tent where it was placed.