The ultimate guide to custom scratch off tickets & cards.
Promotional scratch off cards and tickets have been around for decades — but in today's world of marketing fatigue and advertising overload, they're making a powerful comeback. Here's everything you need to know about custom scratch off printing.
Why scratch & win promotions?
Scratch & wins tap into powerful psychological triggers — curiosity, anticipation, and instant gratification. Unlike traditional print promotions or digital ads, scratch cards invite people to physically engage with your brand. They create mystery ("what's under the scratch off?") and reward the customer immediately with a prize, discount, or special offer.
Higher engagement & ROI
Superior engagement and redemption rates compared to traditional print promotions and digital ads — which often leads directly to higher ROI.
A memorable brand experience
Creates a positive, memorable moment for the customer — especially when you leverage the "every card is a winner" prize strategy.
Flexible for any budget
Flexible prize structures fit any budget and make it easy to distribute prizes of varying values. Grand prizes cost more, but they really maximize engagement.
4 perfect use cases.
How custom scratch off cards and tickets are used often depends on the type of organization running the promotion.
Drive sales & retention
The most common use case for scratch off tickets: irresistible promotions that generate revenue by helping you acquire more customers and maximize customer lifetime value.
Incentivize & recognize staff
Motivate your team with gamified rewards. Scratch off cards can reveal bonuses, gift cards, or other perks — making workplace programs more fun and engaging.
Boost fundraising
Scratch tickets are excellent for maximizing donor engagement and giving. They add excitement to fundraising and are especially effective for charitable events and raffles.
Engage & reward students
Schools and training programs use scratch cards as interactive learning tools and reward systems that keep students motivated.
Different distribution methods.
Never run a scratch off promotion before? Here are the most effective ways to get your custom scratch off tickets and cards into customers' hands.
In-person, before point of sale
Handing out cards before a purchase builds excitement and lifts conversion. Customers often spend more when they know they could unlock a discount or special offer.
In-person, after point of sale
Giving a scratch ticket with the receipt or product strengthens retention — turning a one-time shopper into a repeat buyer and increasing lifetime value.
At events & trade shows
Scratchers are fantastic icebreakers. They attract foot traffic, encourage interaction at your booth, and help your brand stand out in a crowded room.
Direct mail campaigns
Scratch off postcards and inserts cut through mailbox clutter. A tactile, interactive element dramatically increases open and response rates versus traditional mailers.
Door-to-door & community
For local campaigns, handing out cards door-to-door, at street fairs, or through community partners drives immediate awareness and participation.
Inside packaging
Tuck scratch off cards inside product boxes, bags, or delivery orders to surprise customers and encourage repeat purchases.
Website & digital link
Many people don't realize 100% digital scratch offs exist. Share a link to your scratch off via your website, social media, email, SMS, and digital ads.
Types of scratch off cards & tickets.
You might be surprised to learn there are quite a few different types of scratch off cards and tickets to choose from.
Custom Scratch Off Tickets / Cards
The classic look most people picture — fully customized with your branding. Standard sizes range from 2"×3.5" up to 6"×9".
See Custom Scratch OffsOnline Sweepstakes Add-On
Combine physical cards with digital redemption. Customers scratch to reveal a unique code they redeem online.
See Offline to Online Scratch OffsDigital / Virtual Scratch Offs
No physical card at all — a simulated online scratch off on a custom, branded landing page with data collection built in.
See Digital Scratch OffsScratch Off Raffle Tickets
A hybrid between a scratch off card and a raffle ticket — offering not just one, but two chances to win.
See Raffle Ticket Scratch OffsScratch Off Postcards & Mailers
Drive direct mail response rates with irresistible scratch-to-reveal offers embedded right in your postcards.
See Scratch Off MailersScratch Off Door Hangers
A unique way to promote local businesses, services, or events. Customers scratch for discounts or prizes right on their front door.
Scratch Off Bottle Toppers
Perfect for beverages, breweries, wineries, and special events. A scratch off element on the bottle neck hanger boosts purchase incentive.
Scratch Off Magnets
Functional and fun — these stay on the customer's fridge long after the promotion ends, keeping your brand top of mind.
Scratch & Sniff & Scented Cards
Combine scent marketing with interactive scratching. Great for product sampling — perfume, food, beverage, or wellness products.
See Scratch & Sniff & Scented CardsHow to choose a scratch off printer.
Scratch offs are specialty products, so you'll need a specialty printer. Here's what to look for — and how we stack up.
Reputation
Lots of positive reviews are the best indicator of a good printer. Compared to other scratch off printers, Scratch Off Systems has the most — and the best — Google reviews by a wide margin.
Experience
We've been in business since 1998, with more than 10,000 customers across 100+ countries — from small mom-and-pop shops to the biggest household-name brands.
Quality
We're consistently recognized for the quality of both our products and our customer service — because we don't outsource anything. Sales, design, and production are all handled in-house by a team that has done this thousands of times.
Security
Scratch off promotions often involve real prizes, so security matters. We protect the integrity of your campaign with secure variable-data printing, unique control numbers on every piece, and careful handling of your prize files — so winning cards can't be identified or tampered with before they reach your audience.
Turnaround & reliability
We ship the vast majority of our orders on time. In fact, we're reliable enough that some of our largest customers trust us to warehouse their scratch off inventory and fulfill both cards and prizes to their locations and winners on demand.
Design & artwork: what you need to know.
When planning your artwork, you'll have three important choices to make.
Standard vs. custom size / shape
Most customers opt for a standard card size, but we can die-cut custom sizes and shapes that thematically match your business or promotion.
Custom vs. classic scratch
Choose a classic scratch off (1" circle or 1"×1" square in silver or gold), or upgrade to a custom scratch off in any size, shape, and full color — unlocking a lot of creative designs.
DIY vs. done-for-you design
Our talented design team can handle your artwork with your input for a small fee — or you can supply your own using our artwork specifications and downloadable templates.
Prizes: what you need to know.
We get a lot of questions about prizes — understandably, since they're one of the most unique components of custom scratch cards and tickets. Here are the basics.
How we print prizes
We use variable data printing technology to print prizes on each card before the scratch off material is applied — so different prizes are not considered different artwork variations. Every order includes up to 10 different prizes at no additional cost. Need more than 10 unique variations? You can upgrade to unlimited prize variations for a small upcharge.
Prize strategy & structure
We recommend combining two strategies to maximize success: every card is a winner and tiered prize levels. "Every card is a winner" gives everyone a positive outcome (you can manage costs with smaller discounts or lower-value prizes), while tiered prize levels reserve a select number of higher-value prizes that maximize engagement.
Submitting your prizes
You'll submit your prize list through our easy online prize file creator. Before you do, you'll need to know two things: what the unique prize variations are, and how many of each you're offering.
- Coolers10
- Thermoses40
- Beer koozies100
- Water bottles100
Note: not every card has to be a "winner," though we do recommend that each one is. Questions about prizes? Email sales@scratchoff.com or call 216-649-7800 — and see our prize specifications page for even more detail.
Value-added products & services.
Beyond printing custom scratch cards, we provide turnkey solutions to support your entire promotion.
Warehousing & fulfillment
No need to store extra tickets yourself — we securely warehouse your inventory and pick, pack, and ship to your locations as needed. We can also fulfill physical prizes and e-gift cards directly to your winners.
Supporting print materials
Scratchers work best when paired with materials that reinforce your campaign — posters, table tents, and other signage. We're a one-stop shop for all your promotional printing needs.
Prize sourcing
We can help you source branded promotional items and other types of bulk prizes for your promotion.
Similar promotional products.
Looking to grow your campaign beyond scratch offs? We also print these interactive favorites.
Custom Pull Tabs
The classic peel-open reveal — a fun, tamper-evident format ideal for fundraisers, giveaways, and instant-win promotions.
See Custom Pull TabsPeel-to-Reveal Cards
A peelable label hides your offer or code until the customer is ready — perfect when you want a scratch-style reveal without the scratch material.
See Peel-to-Reveal CardsScented Cards & Labels
Fragrance-infused scratch & sniff printing that engages the sense most closely tied to memory and emotion. Choose from 70+ stock fragrances (or a custom scent) across cards, labels, stickers, magnets, and packaging — with aromas that last 12–24 months.
See Scented Cards & LabelsFrequently asked questions.
Still have questions? Here are the ones we hear most often.
Can I identify winning cards or cards with specific prizes?
What sizes are available for custom scratch off cards?
- 2" × 3.5"
- 2" × 6"
- 3" × 5"
- 4" × 6"
- 6" × 9"
What is the turnaround time for custom scratch off tickets?
What is the minimum order for scratch off cards?
Can I create my own scratch off tickets without professional printing?
Ready to launch your scratch off promotion?
From classic cards to fully digital experiences, our in-house team has printed and fulfilled scratch offs for over 10,000 customers since 1998.
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Standard turnaround time is 5–7 business days after artwork approval. Rush service available.
Why Scratch Off Systems
- Interactive mailers return up to 10x the ROI of a regular postcard.
- You're provided with a dedicated project manager through to final delivery.
- ★★★★★ Rated 4.9/5 across 300+ Google reviews — read them →
One of our interactive printing specialists will also email you a detailed quote that includes your packaging and shipping options.
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Because your project includes a custom size/shape or a quantity over 10,000 postcards, wWe'll put together custom pricing for you. A member of our team will reach back out within 1 business day.
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