Door Hangers

Custom door hangers are printed cards with a die-cut opening that hangs over a door handle, used for local marketing, service notices, hospitality and route-based promotion. We print them in standard and custom sizes on weather-resistant stock, with perforated tear-off coupons and tracking options. Orders start at 200 units.

Two practical points before you order. The die-cut opening has to fit the handles in your target area, and lever handles need a different cut from round knobs. And door hangers exist largely because of a legal constraint on the alternative, which is worth understanding before you plan a campaign.

Why Door Hangers and Not Mailboxes

This is the reason this format exists at all, and plenty of businesses learn it the expensive way.

In the US, placing anything in a residential mailbox without postage is prohibited under federal law. Mailboxes are reserved for mail bearing postage, and dropping flyers, leaflets or cards into them exposes you to penalties. That applies to the mailbox itself and to the flag area, and the fact that everyone’s seen it done doesn’t make it lawful.

A door hanger sits on the handle, not in the mailbox, which is what makes route-based distribution viable. Two things worth building into a campaign anyway:

• Check local solicitation rules. Some municipalities and many HOAs restrict or require permits for door-to-door distribution, and “no soliciting” signage should be respected both legally and commercially.
• Respect the signage. Leaving material at a door marked no soliciting generates complaints rather than customers.

We print the hangers rather than advise on distribution law, so confirm local requirements for your area before a large campaign.

The Hole Has to Fit the Handles on Your Route

More campaigns are wasted on this than you’d think. A door hanger that won’t go over the handle gets left on the step, blows away, and reads as litter rather than marketing.

• Round knobs are the easy case, and standard die-cuts are drawn for them.
• Lever handles need a wider opening or a slit extending from the hole, because the lever’s fixed end blocks a simple round cut.
• Newer builds and commercial properties skew heavily toward levers. If your route is new-build residential, apartments or commercial, specify for levers rather than assuming knobs.
• A combination die with a hole plus an extended slit covers both, which is the safe choice when you don’t know the housing stock.

Tell us what your target area looks like. If you’re unsure, walk a street and look at ten doors. It takes five minutes and it decides the die.

Weather Is the Other Failure Mode

Door hangers live outdoors, sometimes for days, and they’re often distributed in the morning and found in the evening.

• Caliper matters. Below roughly 14pt, hangers curl, tear at the hole and blow off in wind. 14pt to 16pt is the sensible working range for outdoor use.
• Coating sheds rain. A gloss or UV coating gives real protection against light rain and morning dew. Uncoated stock turns to pulp.
• Synthetic stock for severe conditions. For multi-day placement or wet climates, a plastic or synthetic face stock survives where paper won’t.
• Ink fades in direct sun. For anything left out for extended periods, UV-stable inks and a laminate keep the colour.

If your campaigns run in winter or in a wet region, mention it. It changes the stock recommendation, not just the price.

Sizes and Formats

Common sizes we produce, though every job is cut to your specification:

Formats worth considering:

• Perforated tear-off coupon at the base, so the offer stays with the customer after the hanger is binned
• Business card perforation, giving a card they keep in a wallet
• Double-sided printing, since the hanger flips as it hangs and both faces get seen
• Fold-over hangers for more content in the same footprint

Tracking Your Campaign

Door hanger campaigns fail most often because nobody can tell whether they worked. Cheap fixes we build in:

• Unique promo codes per route or neighbourhood, so you learn which areas respond
• QR codes to a dedicated landing page with its own analytics, rather than your homepage
• A dedicated phone number or extension for the campaign
• Batch-specific offers with an expiry date, which both creates urgency and dates the response

Print these variations using digital printing and the extra cost is minimal, while the information you get back shapes every campaign after it.

Who Uses Door Hangers

• Home services: landscaping, pest control, cleaning, HVAC, roofing, plumbing
• Real estate: neighbourhood farming, just-sold notices, valuation offers
• Restaurants and takeaway: menus and launch offers in a delivery radius
• Political and community campaigns: canvassing and event notices
• Hospitality: do not disturb, housekeeping and room service cards
• Utilities and contractors: service notices, missed-visit cards, scheduled works
• Gyms, salons and local retail: launch offers and membership drives

Stock and Finishing

• 14pt to 16pt cardstock: the working range for outdoor use
• Gloss or UV coating: rain and dew resistance
• Matte coating: better for handwritten additions, less weather resistance
• Synthetic stock: for multi-day placement and wet climates
• Kraft: natural look for artisan and eco-positioned businesses
• Spot UV, foil and embossing: available where the campaign justifies it
• Perforations: tear-off coupons and cards
• Variable data printing: route codes, personalisation, sequential numbering

What Our Customers Say

“Working with Daniel on our first custom packaging order was a great experience. He made everything easy to understand and guided us through each step. Communication was quick, pricing was fair, and the quality of our boxes exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend!” Casey, CTO

“Really impressed with the quality of my packaging. The Grand Packaging delivered results that truly exceeded my expectations. Working with Daniel was super smooth. The design support was amazing, customer service was excellent, and overall the experience was very positive.” Debbie Muller, Designer

Pricing and Minimum Order Quantity

The minimum order for custom door hangers is 200 units. Custom shapes, synthetic stock and specialty finishes may need a higher run.

Door hangers are inexpensive per piece, which makes the distribution labour the real cost of a campaign. That’s an argument for spending slightly more on stock and design than the minimum, since the delivery cost is the same whether the hanger is good or not.

First-time customers currently receive 20% off their first order.

How Your Order Is Produced

1. Send your requirements. Size, quantity, stock, whether your route has knobs or lever handles, and any perforation or tracking requirement.
2. Receive your quote and template. With the die drawn for the handles in your target area.
3. Approve the proof. We check bleed, colour mode, resolution, and that key content sits clear of the hole and any perforation.
4. Request a physical sample (optional). Order within 30 days and the cost is credited back. Hang it on a real door on your route.
5. Production. Printing, coating, die-cutting and perforating.
6. Quality check and dispatch. Bundled and shipped.

Standard production runs 8 to 12 days after proof approval, plus transit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum order for custom door hangers?

The minimum is 200 units. Custom die-cut shapes, synthetic stock and specialty finishes may require a higher quantity to run economically.

How long does production take?

Standard production is 8 to 12 days after proof approval, plus transit time.

Can I put flyers in mailboxes instead?

No. In the US, placing anything without postage in a residential mailbox is prohibited under federal law, which is precisely why door hangers exist as a format. Hanging material on the handle avoids the mailbox entirely. Check local solicitation rules and respect no-soliciting signage before a large campaign, and confirm requirements for your area with your own advisor.

Will my door hanger fit lever handles?

Only if it’s cut for them. A standard round hole suits knobs but won’t pass over a lever handle, since the lever’s fixed end blocks it. Levers need a wider opening or a slit extending from the hole. A combination die covers both, which is the safe option when you don’t know the housing stock on your route.

What thickness should a door hanger be?

14pt to 16pt for outdoor use. Below that, hangers curl, tear at the hole and blow off in wind. If your campaign runs in wet weather or hangers stay out for several days, ask about coated or synthetic stock.

Will they survive rain?

Coated stock handles dew and light rain. Uncoated stock does not, and turns to pulp quickly. For multi-day placement or consistently wet climates, a synthetic face stock is the reliable option.

Can I add a tear-off coupon?

Yes. A perforated coupon or business card at the base means the offer stays with the customer after the hanger itself is discarded, which is usually the highest-value addition you can make to the format.

How do I know if the campaign worked?

Build tracking in before you print. Unique promo codes per route, QR codes pointing to a dedicated landing page rather than your homepage, or a campaign-specific phone number all cost very little with digital printing and tell you which neighbourhoods actually respond.

Why Businesses Order Door Hangers From Us

• Die cut for your route. Knob, lever or combination, decided before printing rather than discovered on delivery day.
• Stock specified for weather. Coating and caliper matched to how long hangers stay out and in what conditions.
• Tracking built in. Route codes, QR codes and variable data at minimal extra cost.
• Content checked against the cut. Key messaging kept clear of the hole and perforations.
• Sample credited back. Hang one on a real door before printing thousands.
• One named contact. The same consultant across every campaign.
• US-based support. Quotes, proofs and phone support in US hours from our St. Petersburg, Florida office.

Request a Quote for Custom Door Hangers

Tell us the size, the quantity, and whether the doors on your route have knobs or levers. If you’re not sure, walk a street and look at ten doors before you order.

Call: +1 (630) 228-1764 Email: sales@thegrandpackaging.com Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET

Distribution guidance is general information, not legal advice. Confirm federal, state and local requirements with your own advisor. Last updated: September 2026.