GiftStubHow to make numbered gift certificates in 5 steps
- Pick a preset. Choose General, Salon, Massage & spa, Photography, Bakery, Auto detailing or Holiday. Each one fills in sample wording, a colour and a design that you can change.
- Write the certificate. Type your business name, the headline, the value or service, a short terms line and your contact details. Add your logo if you have one. The preview updates as you type.
- Set the numbering. Enter a prefix such as GC-, the first number and how many you need (up to 500). Zero padding keeps every number the same width, so GC-0007 sorts before GC-0010.
- Choose paper and design. Pick US Letter or A4, then Classic border, Modern or Minimal. Every design also prints clearly in black and white.
- Download, print and log. Download the PDF and print it at 100% (Actual size). Cut on the marks, tear or fold the stub on the dashed line, then add the numbers to the issue log or download the log CSV.
Why number your gift certificates?
A gift certificate is a promise to provide something later, often to a person you haven't met. A number turns each one into a record you can look up. When a customer hands one over, you can check the number against your stub or log, see whether it was already used, and see what it was sold for.
Numbers also make the end of the season easier. You can count how many certificates went out, how many came back, and which ones are still outstanding, without guessing from a pile of paper. A number doesn't make a certificate impossible to copy, but it means a copy with a number that's already marked redeemed stands out.
What the stub is for
The stub sits on the left of each certificate, behind a dashed tear line. It repeats the certificate number and has four blank lines: Issued to, Date, Amount and Redeemed. When you sell a certificate, fill in the stub, tear it off and keep it. The customer gets the certificate; you keep a paper record with the same number. When the certificate comes back, find the stub and write the redemption date on it.
Keep stubs in number order in an envelope, a recipe box or a small binder at the counter. If you also use the issue and redeem log, the stubs are your paper backup.
Sizes on US Letter and A4
Each page holds three certificates stacked in portrait orientation, with cut marks in the margins and at least half an inch of white space around the edge, so home printers don't clip anything.
| US Letter | A4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Whole piece (stub + certificate) | 7.5 × 3.22 in | 185 × 88 mm |
| Stub width | 2.18 in | 54 mm |
| Certificate after tearing off the stub | 5.32 × 3.22 in | 131 × 88 mm |
The certificate part is a little smaller than a standard #10 business envelope, so it slips in without folding.
Choosing a design
Classic border
A double frame, a serif headline and centred text. Suits salons, spas, bakeries and anything that's meant to feel like a gift.
Modern
Bold sans-serif type, left-aligned, with a colour bar on the right edge. Suits auto detailers, studios and trades.
Minimal
Black ink only and thin rules. The cheapest to print and the best choice for coloured or patterned paper.
All three designs use dark accent colours that turn into clear greys on a black-and-white printer. If you pick a very light colour, the tool darkens it slightly so the text stays readable on white paper.
Printing and cutting tips
- Print a test page first on plain paper at 100% / Actual size. If your print dialog says Fit to page or Shrink oversized pages, the certificates will come out smaller and the cut marks won't line up.
- Use cardstock for the real run. Certificates on heavier paper feel like a gift and survive a wallet. Feed one sheet first to check your printer handles it.
- Cut with a paper trimmer along the outer cut marks, then between the three pieces. Neighbouring certificates share a cut line, so one cut separates two.
- Make the stub easy to tear. Fold back and forth along the dashed line a few times, or run a perforating blade along it if you have one.
Digital gift certificates
Not every gift is handed over in person. The Certificate image button saves one certificate as a PNG without the stub, at twice screen resolution, ready to attach to an email or a text. Type the number you're selling into Number on the image first, then log that number as issued so it can't be sold twice by mistake.
Track what you sell and redeem
Below the tool there's a simple issue and redeem log. Add the numbers you printed, log a sale with the buyer's name and amount, and click Mark redeemed when a certificate comes back. You can search by number and export or import the log as a CSV that opens in any spreadsheet app. The log is stored only in this browser, so export it regularly as a backup.
Prefer a spreadsheet from the start? Issue log CSV downloads one row per printed number with empty columns for status, who it was issued to, amount, issue date, redemption date and notes.
Ideas by type of business
- Salon gift certificates: dollar amounts or named services, plus booking notes.
- Massage and spa gift certificates: session length, cancellation policy and packages.
- Photography gift certificates: session type, edited images and booking windows.
- Christmas gift certificates: holiday wording and a separate prefix for the season.
- Bakeries and auto detailers have presets in the tool too. Bakery wording covers order notice for custom cakes, and detailing wording covers appointments and vehicle size.
Frequently asked questions
Is GiftStub free?
Yes. Every feature is free, with no account, no watermark on the certificates and no limit on how often you use it. Each printed sheet has a small “Made with GiftStub” line in the bottom page margin, outside every certificate and cut line, so the certificates you hand out stay clean.
Will the stub always have the same number as the certificate?
Yes. The stub number and the certificate number are drawn from the same counter in one pass, so they can't drift apart the way hand-typed numbers can. The automated tests behind the tool check this for every position on every sheet.
How many gift certificates can I make at once?
Up to 500 in one PDF, which is 167 sheets at 3 per page. For more, make a second batch that starts where the first one ended, for example at 501.
What paper should I print gift certificates on?
Plain paper is fine for a test sheet. For the real thing, use a cardstock your printer can feed, such as 65 lb or 80 lb cover (about 176 to 216 gsm). Check your printer's manual for the heaviest paper it accepts.
Can I email a gift certificate instead of printing it?
Yes. Type the number you're selling into Number on the image and click Certificate image. You get a PNG of that one certificate, without the stub, sized for email or a text message. Log the number so you know it has been issued.
How do I keep track of which certificates were sold and redeemed?
Download the issue log CSV for a spreadsheet, or use the issue and redeem log under the tool. That log is stored only in this browser, so export it as a CSV regularly. The tracking guide explains a simple routine.
Do gift certificates need an expiry date?
The expiry date is off by default, and you can switch it on near the bottom of the form. Gift certificate expiry and fee rules vary by country and US state (US federal law limits expiry on many gift certificates). Check your local rules.
Is my information uploaded anywhere?
No. Certificates, logos and the log are made and kept on your device. The PDF is built in your browser and nothing you type is sent to a server.
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Last updated · Written by the Rooh Sites team. General information, not legal or tax advice.