Door Hanger Templates: Wording for Campaigns, Sales and Events
A door hanger is the piece of printed literature you leave on a door handle when nobody answers. Many doors on a canvass go unanswered, so the door hanger is often the only thing a household sees from you. A good one says who you are, why you came and what to do next, in the few seconds someone gives it on the way inside.
This post gives you door hanger templates you can copy for political campaigns, door-to-door sales and community groups, explains what to put on the card and how to print it, and covers the rules that catch people out, starting with the mailbox. For the rest of the work that happens on a canvass, see what a canvass actually involves.
What to put on a door hanger
A door hanger that works usually has five parts.
- A headline that explains the visit. "Sorry we missed you" works because it tells the reader someone came to their door in person, which is the whole point of canvassing.
- One message. One reason to vote for the candidate, one offer, or one event. A door hanger with five messages is read as none.
- One next step. Visit a website, call a number, scan a code or come to an event. Make it the most visible thing after the headline.
- Space for a handwritten note. A blank line where the canvasser can write "Stopped by Saturday, Maria" turns a printed card into a personal visit.
- Who it is from. Your name or your organization's name and how to reach you, plus any disclaimer the law requires, covered below.
Door hanger templates you can copy
Replace the words in brackets with your own. Keep the rest short: a door hanger is read standing up.
1. Political campaign: sorry we missed you
Front: Sorry we missed you! [Candidate name] for [office]. A volunteer stopped by today to hear what matters to you.
Back: [Candidate name] is running for [office] because [one sentence on the main issue]. Election Day is [date]. Learn more at [website]. Note from your volunteer: ________. [Paid for by line, if required.]
2. Political campaign: election reminder
Front: Election Day is [date]. Your vote decides who represents [area].
Back: Find your polling place and hours at [official election website]. Early voting runs [dates] at [location]. [Candidate name] for [office]. [Paid for by line, if required.]
Point voters to your state or county election office for polling places and deadlines rather than printing details that might change.
3. Door-to-door sales: sorry we missed you
Front: Sorry we missed you! [Your first name] from [company] stopped by today.
Back: We are [doing work / offering service] in your neighborhood this week. [One offer, such as a free inspection or a neighborhood discount]. Call or text [number], or book at [website]. Note: ________.
4. Home services: work nearby
Front: We are working on a home on your street.
Back: [Company] is [replacing a roof / servicing an air conditioner] at [street name]. While our crew is nearby, we can [offer]. [Licensed and insured, if true.] Call [number] or visit [website].
Only name a neighbor's address if the customer has agreed to it, and only print claims about licensing or insurance that are true for your business.
5. Community group or nonprofit: event invitation
Front: You are invited: [event name], [date and time].
Back: Join your neighbors at [place] to [purpose of the event]. Everyone is welcome. Questions? Contact [name] at [phone or email]. [Organization name].
6. Petition or issue campaign: we will be back
Front: We stopped by about [issue or petition].
Back: We are collecting [signatures / support] for [one sentence]. We will be back in your neighborhood on [date], or you can reach us at [phone or website]. [Organization name].
Check the local rules for petitions before you promise a return visit: who may circulate a petition and where varies from one place to the next.
Sizes and printing
Most printers offer a standard door hanger size of 3.5 by 8.5 inches, and many also offer a larger size around 4.25 by 11 inches, although the exact large size differs from printer to printer. The cards come die-cut with a hole, and often a slit, so they hook over a handle. Download your printer's template before you design, so the text stays clear of the hole and the cutting edge.
Use a heavy card stock that will not blow away or fold in the rain, put the headline at the top where the card is read first, and leave a light-colored area for the handwritten note.
The rules to know before you hang one
Never put a door hanger in a mailbox
Federal law makes it an offense to put unstamped material in a mailbox, and the Postal Service's rules count anything attached to the box or hung from it. The penalty is a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization. Hang the card on the door handle, and leave the mailbox alone even when it is the easiest place to reach.
Political door hangers may need a disclaimer
For federal campaigns, the Federal Election Commission requires printed campaign materials paid for by a political committee to carry a "paid for by" disclaimer. It has to be in a printed box set apart from the rest of the content, in type large enough to read clearly, with enough color contrast. Its wording depends on who paid for the piece and whether the candidate authorized it. State and local races follow state rules, which vary, so check with your state or local election office before you print.
Local rules on literature vary
Cities and towns set their own rules for handing out literature. Some require a permit or registration for commercial distribution, some limit the hours, and some require distributors to honor "No Soliciting" or "No Handbills" signs. Two cities a few miles apart can have very different rules, so check yours before a sales or commercial drop.
Political and religious literature has stronger protection. The US Supreme Court has held that a town cannot require a permit before people go door to door to share political or religious views, while commercial solicitation can be regulated more closely. Whatever the law allows, honoring a "No Soliciting" sign is the courteous choice.
Tracking door hangers in Beacon
A door hanger only pays off if you follow up. In Beacon, canvassers record "Left Literature" as the result for a door where nobody answered, on the phone, with or without signal. The result stays on each contact, so you can see which doors got a card and plan a second visit on a different day or at a different time.
Every door result is recorded with the canvasser who entered it, so a field manager can see what happened on each street. Our page on Beacon by industry shows how campaigns, sales teams and community groups use it.
For what to say when someone does answer, read handling objections at the door. In apartment buildings, where building rules may not allow door hangers in the hallways, see canvassing apartments and multi-unit buildings.
Common questions
What should a door hanger say?
Who you are, why you came, and one clear next step, with space for a short handwritten note. "Sorry we missed you" headlines work well because they tell the reader a person came to the door.
Can you put a door hanger in a mailbox?
No. Federal law prohibits putting unstamped material in a mailbox, including hanging it from the box, and the fine can reach $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization.
What size is a door hanger?
The most common size is 3.5 by 8.5 inches. Many printers also offer a larger card around 4.25 by 11 inches. Use your printer's template so the hole and the trim line are in the right place.
Do political door hangers need a "paid for by" line?
For federal campaigns, printed materials paid for by a political committee need a disclaimer in a printed box. State and local races follow state law, so check with your state or local election office.
Is it legal to leave door hangers?
Generally yes, on the door itself, but local rules vary. Some places require a permit for commercial distribution, limit the hours, or require you to honor "No Soliciting" signs. Check your city's rules before a commercial drop.
Plan the drop before you print
Print enough cards for the doors on your walk lists, and give each canvasser a way to record which doors got one. Try Beacon free for 14 days and run your next literature drop from a walk list.
