A print-at-home ticket is a PDF that you download, print on ordinary paper and carry to the venue. The barcode or QR code on the page is your ticket. Staff scan the paper at the gate, so what you need is a clean, full-page, unfolded printout. Below you'll find the exact steps, what to do if you have no printer, whether a phone can stand in, and how to check that a PDF is safe.
TL;DR
- A print-at-home ticket is a PDF with a unique barcode. Print it at full size on plain 8.5" x 11" paper, and bring the paper to the event.
- Only the first scan of a barcode usually gets in, so print one copy and keep the file private.
- Don't assume a phone screen works. Some venues' scanners can't read a PDF displayed on a phone, so check the venue's entry rules first.
- A PDF is safe when it comes from a seller that clearly says it is a resale marketplace, and it's risky when it comes from a stranger by text or social media.
- No printer? Print early at a library, office or shop, not on the day of the show.
Table of Contents
- What a print-at-home ticket is
- How to print your tickets, step by step
- What if you don't have a printer?
- Can you use your phone instead of printing?
- Can a PDF ticket be scanned twice?
- Are PDF tickets safe?
- Common problems and quick fixes
- Our perspective: paper is simple, but only if you plan
- Find your seats
- Your pre-event printing checklist
- FAQ
- Sources
What a print-at-home ticket is
When a seller lists tickets as print at home, you receive a file, usually a PDF, instead of a mailed envelope. The file holds the event name, date, section, row and seat, plus a barcode or QR code that is unique to that seat. One venue's FAQ states that a ticket printed this way is a valid ticket, and that any inkjet or laser printer of 300 dpi or better will do, in color or black and white.
The barcode is what matters. Your printer is only the delivery truck. Ink color, logos and fancy paper change nothing, but a smudged, shrunken or cropped barcode can make a scanner fail.
Print-at-home sits beside other delivery styles that you may see on a ticket listing. Mobile entry tickets live in an app or wallet and are not meant to be printed. Hard tickets are physical and mailed. Print-at-home is the one in the middle: instant, but on paper.
How to print your tickets, step by step
- Find the email or account page. After you buy, the seller delivers the PDF by email or through your order page. Download it to your device rather than printing from a preview window.
- Open it in a PDF reader. Use Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview on a Mac, or your browser's PDF viewer. Check that every page is there. Some orders put each seat on its own page.
- Set the print size to "Actual size" or 100%. "Fit to page" can shrink the barcode. Use standard 8.5" x 11" white paper.
- Print one copy of each page. Don't print a spare "just in case" and leave it lying around. More on that below.
- Check the printout. The barcode should be black, sharp and complete. Streaks from a low toner cartridge are the usual culprit. Reprint if lines are faint or broken.
- Protect it. Slide the pages into a folder or an envelope so they don't get creased, wet or torn on the way. Don't fold across the barcode.
- Keep the file off social media. Anyone with a photo of your barcode can try to use it.
Black-and-white is fine for most tickets. Use color only if the venue's instructions ask for it.
What if you don't have a printer?
This is the most common snag, and it's easy to solve if you start early:
- Print at a public library. Many libraries let you print a few pages for a small fee. Bring the PDF on a flash drive or email it to yourself.
- Use your workplace. Ask first, and print only your own tickets.
- Use a print or shipping shop. Copy centers will print from a USB drive or from an email.
- Ask a friend or neighbor. Send the PDF only to someone you trust.
Don't leave this for the afternoon of the event. A closed library or a jammed printer is not a reason a gate will let you in. Aim to have the paper in hand at least a day before the show.
Can you use your phone instead of printing?
Sometimes, but don't count on it. A PDF on a phone screen can fail at the gate for several reasons: glare, a dimmed screen, a barcode that is too small to scan, or a scanner that isn't set up for screens. The Pittsburgh venue above notes that although a phone may be able to display a print-at-home ticket, its scanners may not read the barcode properly, and it asks for a printed ticket. That's one venue's rule, but it shows why you should check.
Here's a simple way to decide:
| Situation | Best move |
|---|---|
| Venue says "printed tickets required" | Print it. No exceptions. |
| Venue accepts digital PDFs | Screen at full brightness, but still carry a printout as a backup |
| Ticket is labeled mobile entry | Don't print it. Open it in the app or wallet |
| You're unsure | Print it. Paper works at nearly every gate that accepts print-at-home |
If your phone is the only option, open the PDF itself (not a screenshot of a thumbnail), turn the screen brightness up, turn off auto-rotate and zoom so the barcode fills the width. Have the PDF saved offline in case cell service is poor in a crowded arena.
Can a PDF ticket be scanned twice?
No, and that's the point. Each barcode is unique, and the scanner records it on the first read. If a second copy shows up, the scanner flags it. The same venue FAQ explains that only the first scan of the barcode is allowed entry, and that disputes may be settled with the buyer's name and the last four digits of the card.
What that means for you:
- Printing twice isn't dangerous on its own, but it's a risk if one copy is lost, photographed or handed to someone else. Print one and keep it with you.
- Don't screenshot and share. A friend who scans your seat first can lock you out.
- If you are turned away because "it's already been scanned," go to the venue's box office or guest services right away and explain. Keep your order confirmation and email.
- Never post a ticket image online, even partly covered. Barcodes can be read from a clear photo.
Are PDF tickets safe?
The format isn't the risk. The seller is. A PDF from a clearly identified marketplace, delivered after a checkout on a site you chose, is normal. A PDF sent by a stranger in a direct message with a request for payment through a peer-to-peer app is where problems start.
The Federal Trade Commission offers useful guidance here. It advises that you check whether you're on a primary ticket source or a secondary marketplace. In a 2014 case about deceptive resale marketing, the agency alleged that some websites misled people into thinking they were buying from the venue when they were on reseller sites. It has also said that look-alike sites and ticket bots are reasons to be careful, and recommends buying from official channels when you can.
A quick safety checklist before you pay:
- Does the site say it's a resale marketplace and that prices may be above face value? If it hides that, leave.
- Does the URL or branding imitate a venue? Be wary of sites that pose as box offices.
- Is there a written guarantee covering delivery and entry?
- Are you paying by credit card, which gives you stronger dispute options than a cash app or wire?
- Does the seat match the venue map? Look up the section and row before you buy. Our guide to checking seat views before you buy shows how.
For a longer look at what separates a reliable seller from a risky one, read our guide to the most reliable ticket sites.
Common problems and quick fixes
The email never arrived. Check spam and promotions folders, then your order page. Delivery timing depends on the seller and the event, so look at the delivery details in your order. If the event is close and nothing has come, contact the seller at once.
The barcode looks faint. Replace the cartridge or switch to a different printer. Don't try to darken it by hand or trace it.
The PDF prints on two pages and the barcode is cut off. Reprint at 100% scale and confirm the print preview shows the whole barcode.
You forgot to print. Many venues have a guest services desk that can help, but policies vary, so don't count on it. Call the venue before you head over.
The ticket is a different delivery type than you expected. Look at the order confirmation. If it says mobile entry, it can't be printed, and printing a screenshot won't work.
Your name isn't on it. That's normal for resale. The ticket belongs to the barcode, not to a named person, unless the event states otherwise.
Our perspective: paper is simple, but only if you plan
We run a resale marketplace, and the questions we hear most are not about printers. They're about trust: will it arrive, and will it get me in? Print-at-home has one big advantage, which is that you can hold the ticket in your hand well before the show and check it. That removes a lot of day-of-event stress.
Our advice is plain. Buy from a seller who states clearly that it is a resale marketplace. Read the delivery details on the listing. Print the moment the PDF arrives, so you have time to fix a bad print or a missing page. Keep the paper in a folder, and keep the file to yourself.
That's also why we stand behind a 100% money-back guarantee: tickets should arrive before the event and be valid for entry. We built the marketplace for fans who want a seat at a show that has sold out at the box office, without guessing about what they're buying.
— Capital
Find your seats
If you're ready to pick an event, we list resale tickets across sports, concerts and theater. Browse concert tickets, sports tickets or theater tickets, or head to our home page to search by event. Listings show seating and delivery options, so check which delivery type your seats use before you check out. Prices on resale can be above or below face value, and each listing shows the price before you buy.
Your pre-event printing checklist
- Confirm the delivery type in your order (print at home or mobile entry).
- Download the PDF the day it arrives.
- Print at 100% on white 8.5" x 11" paper, one copy per page.
- Check that every barcode is sharp and whole.
- Put the pages in a folder with a photo ID and your card.
- Read the venue's entry rules, including bag policy and arrival times.
- Leave early enough to handle a rejected scan at guest services.
FAQ
Can you print mobile tickets?
Generally no. Mobile entry tickets are designed to be shown from an app or a phone wallet, and they aren't sent as a printable file. If you want paper, look for a listing marked print at home before you buy.
How do I print e-tickets if I only have a phone?
Download the PDF to your phone, then send it to a printer through a wireless print option, or email it to yourself and print from a library or shop computer. Set the scale to 100% so the barcode isn't shrunk. Do it a day or more ahead.
Can PDF tickets be scanned from a phone screen?
Sometimes, depending on the venue. Screen glare and scanner settings can cause failures, and some venues ask for paper for that reason. Check the venue's rules, and carry a printout as a backup.
Are PDF tickets safe to buy?
They are when the seller is a transparent marketplace you chose and you pay by a method with dispute protection. The FTC advises checking whether a site is a primary source or a resale marketplace. Be careful with unsolicited sellers and sites that imitate a box office.
What if I print two copies?
Only the first scan of a barcode will normally be accepted. If both copies are in your hands, you're fine, but if one is lost or shared, someone else may scan first. Print one copy and keep it safe.
Sources
- TicketNetwork and marketing partners settle charges of deceptively marketing resale tickets, FTC
- Cracking down on ticket bots that leave you out in the cold, FTC Consumer Advice