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Negative Split Productions
Race timing and technology

Race bib design best practices

Tony SappOctober 29, 20264 minute read
Race bib design best practices: what makes a race number easy to read

A bib is a keepsake once the race is over. Before that, it is a tool that course marshals, volunteers, photographers and your timer all have to read, and a good bib is designed for them first.

Make the number the biggest thing on the bib

Almost none of those people are standing close to the bib, and every one of them needs the number before anything else. Give it most of the bib, set it in heavy digits, and print it dark on a plain light background.

Two versions of the same bib side by side. The hard to read version has thin white digits over a gradient background with a sponsor logo behind the number. The easy to read version has heavy dark digits on white, with the event name in a band above and sponsor logos in a band below.
Heavy digits. Thin and condensed fonts look elegant on screen and disappear at a distance.
Nothing behind the number. No photos, patterns, gradients or watermark logos under the digits.
Dark on light. Light digits on a busy or mid-tone background lose their contrast fast.
The same number of digits on every bib. We use four digits at our events. Every design balances the same way, and the numbers are easier to read back on finish line video or for photographers tagging photos after the event.

Give everything else its own band

A standard bib is 7.5 by 6 inches, and that space goes quickly. Put the event name, logo and distance in a band across the top, sponsors in a row across the bottom, and keep the middle for the number.

Diagram of a 7.5 by 6 inch bib. An event band across the top holds the logo and event name, the number fills the middle, and a sponsor band runs across the bottom. A note says the timing chip goes on the back.

One number range and one color per distance

If your race has more than one distance, give each its own block of numbers: 1000 to 1999 for the half, 2000 to 2999 for the 10K, and so on. A different primary color for each distance makes them easier still to tell apart. A course marshal can then spot a 5K runner heading out on the half marathon loop at a glance.

Timing does not need it. We can score one continuous run of numbers across every distance, so the choice is yours.

Three bibs for a half marathon, 10K and 5K in blue, green and orange, numbered 1412, 2428 and 3073, with ranges of 1000 to 1999, 2000 to 2999 and 3000 to 3999.

Leave names off the bib

For most events we recommend against printing names. A named bib belongs to one person, so every runner in the pickup line needs their particular bib found for them. Without names you can use dynamic bib assignment: the volunteer hands over the next bib in the stack and records the number against the runner in the check-in app, which keeps the pickup line moving.

The back of the bib carries the chip

We install the timing chip on the back of the bib, so whatever is in front of the bib is in front of the chip. Tell runners to wear it on the front, flat and unfolded, outside their outer layer, and to pin it at the corners rather than through the chip.

Printing on the back and tear-off tags are both options we can add if your event has a use for them.

Lock the artwork by the order date

We order bibs by the Friday three weeks before your race, and quantity, number ranges and artwork all need to be final that day. We can order later than that, but a late order adds fees for rush production or expedited shipping. The full timeline is in what your timer needs from you, and when.

What size is a standard race bib?7.5 by 6 inches.
Can you design our bib?Yes. We will lay out a clean bib at no charge, or have a professional designer build a fully custom one. Either way it arrives with your timing chips already installed.
Should each distance get its own number range?It helps your course marshals spot runners on the wrong course, and a different color per distance helps even more. It makes no difference to timing, so it is your call.
Need bibs for your race?We lay out your bib for free or build a custom design, and ship it with your chips installed.
What your timer needs from you, and whenWhy a few finishers have no timeMore from Behind the Finish Line
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