Planning a race comes with a thousand moving parts — permits, volunteers, sponsors, packet pickup, timing, signage, and the inevitable last-minute curveballs. Designing the race bib shouldn’t be one of the stressful items on that list.
If you’re not a graphic designer, don’t worry. With a few simple guidelines, you can create a bib that looks great, functions well on race day, and even helps boost sponsor value.
Let’s walk through what matters most.
1. Start With the Non-Negotiables
Every race bib needs a few core elements to do its job:
✔ Bib number – large and legible
✔ Event name + Logo
✔ Participant category (if applicable)
– 5K / 10K / Marathon
– Age group
– Wave / Corral
– Elite / Wheelchair / Relay
✔ Timing chip area (if using chips)
✔ Safety pin holes or tear-offs
These are the “operational” pieces that help race staff, timers, volunteers, and medical teams quickly identify participants.
Pro tip: Test visibility from 20 feet away — that’s roughly the distance a timer or photographer sees runners in motion.
2. Pick Colors That Work on Race Day
Bold colors look great in marketing, but consider:
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Visibility in photos
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Contrast with bib numbers
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Weather (mud, rain, sweat)
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Athlete apparel (lots of black/navy/gray)
High contrast = better readability + better race photography.
Safe pairings:
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Black numbers on white background
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White numbers on dark backgrounds
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Yellow numbers on dark blue/black
Avoid: saturated red backgrounds — they swallow black numbers and blur in motion.
3. Use Sponsor Space Strategically
Race bibs aren’t just identifiers — they’re mini billboards with extremely high visibility and photo exposure.
Prime sponsor real estate includes:
📍 Top banner
📍 Lower corners
📍 Tear-off tabs (for coupons!)
📍 Back side (waivers, offers, QR codes)
If your event relies on sponsors, consider offering:
➜ “Presented by” top banner
➜ In-kind sponsors on tear-offs
➜ QR codes — minimum size 1" x 1" for easy scanning
➜ A/B tiers — premium vs general placement
Great sponsors love data. Being able to say:
“Your brand will be in 3,000 race photos”
…is a compelling upsell.
4. Don’t Overthink Typography
The race bib isn’t a typography contest. The most important thing is that numbers are readable by:
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Volunteers
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Timers
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Announcers
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Photographers
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Emergency staff
Good rules of thumb:
✔ Sans-serif fonts
✔ Bold + clean lines
✔ Avoid distressed/novelty fonts
✔ Minimum bib number height: 2 inches
✔ Minimum bib number stroke width: 0.125 inches
If you’re unsure, send us your draft — we’ll tell you if it scans well under race conditions.
5. Plan for Timing Chip Placement
If your race uses chip timing, placement impacts:
✔ read accuracy
✔ comfort
✔ bib rigidity
Common setups:
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Back of bib (most common)
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Shoe tag (triathlon/obstacle)
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Reusable chips (elite)
Tell your printer which chip system you use (e.g., ChronoTrack, MyLaps, Race Result) because different systems require different adhesives and mounting clearances.
6. Consider the Tear-Off Tab
Not every race needs one, but they’re powerful for:
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Meal tickets
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Beer garden access
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Raffle entries
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Drop bags
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Sponsor coupons
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T-shirt pickup
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Age verification
Tabs also streamline volunteers — and anything that makes volunteer work easier is a win.
7. Avoid the Last-Minute Crunch
We love a good rescue job (and we’ve done more than a few), but here’s a helpful ordering timeline:
Ideal: 4–6 weeks before race
Normal: 2–4 weeks before race
Crunch: < 10 days before race
Panic mode: < 5 days before race
If your race allows late registration or transfers, we can help you manage incremental orders without tearing your hair out.
8. Need Help? We Can Design It With You
Many race directors come to us with:
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A PDF mockup
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A sketch
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A logo folder
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An old bib they liked
We take it from there.
We can:
✔ design your bib
✔ prep sponsor artwork
✔ handle timing chip mounting
✔ help with best practices on bib numbering
✔ work with you packet pickup schedules
✔ ship to your venue or fulfillment team
You don’t have to be a designer to have great bibs — you just need a good partner.
Final Thought: Bibs Make Memories
Athletes keep bibs. They hang on walls, get scrap booked, and end up in gear closets for decades. A well-designed bib becomes part of the athlete’s story — and part of the race’s tradition.
If you want help designing your next bib (or just want eyes on your mock-up), reach out — we’re always happy to help.