Political Door Hangers: Name, Issues and Disclaimer

What has to go in the paid-for line?

For a federal race, start with the FEC guide to advertising and disclaimers. Public communications that expressly advocate for or against a clearly identified federal candidate, or that solicit contributions, are among the pieces that need a disclaimer. The printed rule is in 11 CFR 110.11: the disclaimer has to be clearly readable, contained in a printed box set apart from the other contents, and printed with a reasonable degree of color contrast.

The line says who paid for the piece and whether a candidate authorized it. The exact wording depends on who pays and who authorized it, so copy the form that fits your committee from the FEC page and 11 CFR 110.11 for a federal race, or from your state election office for a state or local race, and put the box where a reader sees it without hunting. Do not shrink it to make room for a fourth issue.

State and local races follow that state's election law, not the FEC rule. Check the state election office before you approve art for a state, county, or city race. A federal disclaimer does not automatically satisfy a state disclaimer, and a state line does not replace a federal one. This is general information, not legal advice.

A common mistake to avoid is a disclaimer in type so small, or in a color so close to the background, that it fails the "clearly readable" test. If you cannot read the box at arm's length, it is not done.

Where can a canvasser leave the hanger?

Hang it on the doorknob. Never put it in a mailbox. 18 U.S.C. 1725 covers anyone who knowingly puts unstamped mailable matter in a letter box with intent to avoid paying postage. The longer local rules, including no-soliciting signs, are in are door hangers legal.

Skip a door that posts a refusal. City solicitation ordinances and HOA or gated-community rules vary, and a hanger that is fine on one block can be unwelcome on the next. Ask the local clerk or the association before a crew walks a building that controls its own doors. This page is general practice for a knob hang, not a permit guide.

Give each person a count of doors, not a pile with no route. A hanger left in a stack on a porch is litter. One hanger on the knob is the placement the piece was cut for. Bring back the extras. A damaged piece should not be forced onto a door.

Which door hanger size fits the message?

We print two sizes. Both are UV gloss cover stock, full color on both sides, with a handle slot, and the minimum is 250. The door hanger size guide compares the two rectangles in more detail. The short version for a campaign:

The 3.5 x 8.5 in hanger is the narrower piece. 250 are $246.09. It fits a name, an office, three short issues, and a compact disclaimer box if the type stays large enough to read. It is the right sheet when the message is already short.

The 4.25 x 11 in hanger is the taller, wider piece. 250 are $385.19. Use it when the boxed disclaimer, the how-to-vote lines, and three issues will not fit on 3.5 x 8.5 in without shrinking the name. Paying more for a larger sheet and then filling it with small type misses the point. The extra room is for the lines that have to stay readable, including the disclaimer.

No point weight is published for the cover stock, so we will not invent one. There is no tear-off coupon. Order on the door hanger page. Campaign signs and other election pieces live on the political signs hub.

How many should you order for a precinct?

Count the doors on the routes volunteers will actually walk. Order at least that many. We do not publish a response rate, a typical precinct size, or a doors-per-hour figure, so none of those should set the quantity. A guessed reply percentage is how a campaign overbuys or runs out.

The smallest run is 250. If the door count falls between two published quantities, order the next quantity up. A walk of more than 250 doors is not covered by the 250 price. The next step on 3.5 x 8.5 in is 500 at $267.49, then 1,000 at $331.69. Add a few pieces for damage only if you want a spare in the bag. Do not double the order because of a rate we never stated.

One artwork is one line. A second design, such as a different language or a different district, is a second item. Say so on the order so the proofs do not get swapped. Quantities in the table are for one design.

How much do political door hangers cost?

Every row is UV gloss cover stock, full color on both sides, with the handle slot. Prices are the printed hangers. Artwork and shipping are separate.

A 2,500 run of 3.5 x 8.5 in is $513.59, so Design it for me is free on that item. A 1,000 run of 4.25 x 11 in is $438.69, which is under $499, so the design add-on is still +$29.99 there. A 2,500 run of the larger size is $652.69, and the design add-on is free on that item. There is no production setup fee. Sending a file is still not free: AI image to print is $14.99 per item.

How do proof approval and shipping work?

Production is 3 to 5 business days after you approve the proof. Approve on a weekday before 12 PM Central and that approval counts the same day, so production starts the next business day. After noon, or on a weekend, it counts from the next business day. Ground transit is about 3 business days after production. We do not promise an arrival date, and we do not name a carrier.

Any file or photo you already have goes through AI image to print for $14.99 once per item, not once per side. Design it for me is +$29.99 with two revisions, free when the hanger item itself is $499 or more. A free digital proof comes after the order. Nothing prints until you approve it.

On the proof, check the name, the office, the three issues, the election date and voting details for your race (verify them before you approve), the QR code and the short link under it, and the paid-for box: it should be set apart, large enough to read, and in a color that contrasts with the field behind it. Confirm the handle slot does not cut through the name.

Flat $10 ground shipping is per product. A door hanger order is one $10, whatever the quantity, as long as it is that one product. Add yard signs or postcards and each of those products has its own $10.

Need door hangers or other custom printing? Inline Graphics helps businesses, churches, schools, and event organizers across the country design and print cards, banners, signs, decals, displays, and marketing materials that get noticed. Contact us today for a quote.