How to Print Tickets and Boarding Passes at Home (Ticketmaster, Airlines, Events)

Quick answer: You can print a ticket at home only if it was issued as a printable ticket. For Ticketmaster, that means tickets with the Print-at-Home delivery method: sign in on the website, open the order under My Tickets, and click Print once it appears. Mobile-only tickets, including Ticketmaster SafeTix, can't be printed. For flights, check in online (usually starting 24 hours before departure) and choose the print option, then print at 100% scale on plain white paper so the barcode scans.

Published November 1, 2026 · By Lauren Elward, Castle Ink

Key Takeaways

• The delivery method decides everything. Print-at-Home and PDF tickets can be printed; Mobile Entry tickets can't.
• Ticketmaster's Print button appears only when tickets are ready, and some events release them close to the date.
• Screenshots don't work for rotating barcodes. SafeTix and AXS Mobile ID must be shown live in the app or wallet.
• Boarding passes print after online check-in, which opens about 24 hours before departure on most US airlines.
• Print at actual size in normal or best quality. Draft mode and shrunken barcodes cause most scanning failures.
• No printer? A mobile pass, an airport kiosk or a library or print shop all work.

How Do I Print Tickets From Ticketmaster?

Sign in to Ticketmaster in a web browser, find the order, and click Print. This only works when the order's delivery method is Print-at-Home. Ticketmaster's help page lists these steps:

1. Sign in to your account on ticketmaster.com (desktop or mobile browser).
2. Go to My Tickets and open the order.
3. Click Print once it appears. If it's missing, the tickets may not be ready yet; some event organizers unlock them on a set date.
4. Enter the verification code Ticketmaster emails you.
5. Open the ticket file (Ticketmaster suggests Adobe Reader) and print it.

Print one copy per ticket. Ticketmaster warns that each barcode scans once: if someone uses a duplicate first, the other copy is rejected as already scanned. Reprint only if the original is damaged, and destroy the old one. If the PDF won't open or print, see how to print a PDF.

Why Can't I Print My Ticketmaster Tickets?

Usually because they're Mobile Entry tickets, which Ticketmaster says can't be printed from your account or emailed. Most big concerts and pro sports events now use Mobile Entry with SafeTix, a barcode that refreshes every few seconds so it can't be copied. The San Diego Padres' SafeTix page, for example, says printouts and screenshots won't be accepted at entry.

If your order has no Print button:

• Check the delivery method on the order page or confirmation email. If it says Mobile Entry or mobile ticket, there's nothing to print.
• Add it to your phone's wallet. Many events let you add Mobile Entry tickets to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet from the Ticketmaster app, so they're available with a weak signal.
• Wait for the release date if the order says tickets aren't available yet.
• No smartphone? Contact the venue box office before the event. Some can issue a paper ticket or check you in with ID, but policies differ by venue.

Can I Print Tickets From StubHub, SeatGeek or AXS?

Sometimes. Resale sites pass along whatever type of ticket the seller had, so the listing or order page tells you whether you'll get a printable file or a mobile ticket.

• StubHub: PDF tickets are labeled Electronic. StubHub's help center says to open Orders, choose Get tickets, then View tickets to download the PDF, which you can print. It also notes downloads may stop at the event's start time, so get them early. Mobile transfer tickets arrive in the original ticketing app (often Ticketmaster or AXS) and can't be printed. Steps can differ slightly by country site.
• SeatGeek: Many tickets are mobile, and SeatGeek's help page notes some venues require you to show the ticket on a phone rather than on paper. If your order offers a printable PDF, print it like any other ticket.
• AXS: AXS Mobile ID tickets are digital only. The Houston Rockets' AXS guide, for example, says they can't be printed for entry and screenshots won't scan.
• Small venues, museums and local events (Eventbrite and similar) often send a PDF or email ticket that prints fine. Read the confirmation email to be sure.

Got the ticket in an email? Our guide to how to print an email covers Gmail, Outlook and Apple Mail.

How Do I Print a Boarding Pass at Home?

Check in online on the airline's website, then choose the option to print your boarding pass. Most US airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure; Delta and American both use that window.

1. Go to the airline's website on a computer and choose Check in. Have your confirmation code and last name ready.
2. Confirm passengers, seats and any bags.
3. Choose Print boarding pass. Some airlines open a printable page; others offer a PDF to save or email first. American, for example, offers print, email to your phone, or a saved PDF, according to The Points Guy's check-in guide.
4. In the print window, set the scale to 100% and print in portrait on letter paper.
5. Print one pass per traveler and per flight. Connecting flights often have separate passes.

When you can't print at home:

• Check-in hasn't opened yet. Boarding passes don't exist until you check in.
• International trips often need a passport or visa check, so the airline may send you to the counter or kiosk before issuing a pass.
• Itineraries on two airlines sometimes print only the first airline's pass. Get the rest at the connecting airport or in the second airline's app.

Times and options change and vary by route, so confirm on your airline's check-in page before you travel.

What Print Settings Make a Barcode Scan Reliably?

Print at actual size, in normal or best quality, on plain white paper. Ticket barcodes and boarding-pass codes (usually 2D codes such as PDF417, Aztec or QR) need clean, sharp edges to scan. These settings matter most:

• Scale: 100% or Actual size. Avoid Fit to page or Shrink oversized pages when the ticket already fits on letter paper; shrinking makes the code smaller and harder to read. If the edges are cut off, see printer cutting off the edges of the page.
• Quality: Normal or Best. Draft or ink-saver modes print a lighter, grainier code.
• Color: black and white is fine. Grayscale saves color ink and gives the barcode the most contrast. Our guide to grayscale vs. monochrome and draft mode explains the difference.
• Paper: plain white letter paper. Skip glossy photo paper, which can glare under scanners, and colored paper, which lowers contrast.
• Orientation: portrait, unless the ticket is clearly designed for landscape.

How Do I Print a Ticket or Boarding Pass From My Phone?

Open the ticket or boarding pass in your phone's browser or as a PDF, then use the share menu. On an iPhone, tap the Share button, then Print, and pick an AirPrint printer. On Android, open the menu (often three dots), choose Print or Share > Print, and select your printer. Your phone and printer need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Airline and ticketing apps often don't have a print option, because they're built for mobile passes. Use the airline's mobile website instead, or email the PDF to yourself and print from there. If the printer doesn't show up, see how to print from your phone or AirPrint not working.

What If I Don't Have a Printer?

Use a mobile pass if you can, or print somewhere else:

• Mobile boarding pass: Most US airlines offer one in their app or by email or text. Take a screenshot as a backup for a static airline pass if your airline allows it, but keep your phone charged.
• Airport kiosk or counter: Kiosks print boarding passes with your confirmation code or ID.
• Public library: Most charge a small per-page fee and let you print from email or a USB drive.
• Print and ship stores: UPS Store, FedEx Office and office supply stores usually print from an email or upload for a fee. Services vary by location.
• Hotel business center or front desk: Many will print a boarding pass for guests.

On a shared computer, sign out of your airline or ticket account afterward and delete the downloaded file. Boarding-pass barcodes can contain your name and booking code, so don't post photos of them online either.

Why Is My Printed Barcode Blurry or Not Scanning?

A barcode that won't scan is usually too light, streaked, shrunk or smudged. Check each:

• Faded or gray print: low ink or draft mode. See faded text fixes, or HP printer not printing black if black is missing.
• White lines through the code: clogged nozzles. Run a printhead cleaning; why is my printer printing streaks walks through it.
• Smudged code: let inkjet prints dry for a minute before folding, and fold the page so the crease doesn't cross the barcode.
• Code printed too small: reprint at 100% scale.
• Blank pages: see why is my printer printing blank pages.

If a valid ticket still won't scan at the gate, the venue box office or airline agent can usually look it up by name or confirmation number.

How Much Ink Does a Ticket Use, and How Can I Save?

Very little, as long as you print in black. Many e-tickets include full-color ads and logos that use more ink than the barcode itself, so set the print window to Black and white or Grayscale, and print only the pages with barcodes. A dependable black cartridge matters more than color here, because a weak black is what makes barcodes fail.

For HP DeskJet and ENVY printers, the Remanufactured for HP 67XL black cartridge is a good backup to keep in the drawer before a trip. Older HP models such as the DeskJet 3630 and OfficeJet 3830 use the HP 63XL black and tri-color 2-pack. A small laser printer prints the sharpest barcodes of all; owners of Brother models like the HL-L2350DW and MFC-L2710DW can use our compatible Brother TN760 toner. For other models, try Find Ink by Printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Your Printer Stocked

Trips and game days don't wait for a cartridge to arrive. Castle Ink has supplied remanufactured ink cartridges and compatible toner since 2005, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Order by 4 PM ET Monday through Friday and it ships the same day, with free shipping over $50.

• HP ink cartridges and HP toner
• Brother toner cartridges
• Canon ink cartridges
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Printing other travel documents? See how to print a PDF for fixes when a file won't print.

Sources

• Ticketmaster Help: How does Print-at-Home work?
• MLB, San Diego Padres: Ticketmaster SafeTix
• StubHub Support: How to download the electronic (PDF) tickets from my purchase
• SeatGeek Help: The venue can't scan my tickets. What should I do?
• NBA, Houston Rockets: Mobile ticketing guide (AXS Mobile ID)
• Delta Air Lines: How to check in
• The Points Guy: How to check in for an American Airlines flight

About the author: Lauren Elward writes Castle Ink's printer help guides, drawing on more than 20 years of family experience in printers, ink and toner.