Visitor sign in sheet
A log for the front desk or the gate: who came, who they came to see, and when they arrived and left.
Saved designs
What a front desk log is for
A visitor sheet answers three questions after the fact. Who was here? Who were they here to see? Were they here at the time something happened? Everything on the sheet should serve one of those, and nothing more, because people will not write a paragraph at a reception counter.
| Column | Why it earns its place |
|---|---|
| Name and company | Who, and on whose behalf. |
| Visiting | The person inside who is responsible for the visitor. |
| Time in | Starts the record. |
| Time out | Ends it. Without it you cannot tell who is still on site. |
| Signature | A deliberate act, so a line is not filled in by someone else. |
Placing the sheet
Put it on a clipboard at standing height, with a working pen, and a small sign saying “Please sign in and sign out.” Change the sheet daily so the names of earlier visitors are not on display to the next person in line. Set the pages option to two or three if your lobby is busy.
Questions
What should a visitor log record?
Name, company, who they are visiting, time in, time out and a signature are the usual set. Add a badge number or vehicle plate with a text column if you need one.
Why is time out on the sheet?
It tells you who is still in the building. Visitors rarely come back to the desk to sign out, so put the sheet where they pass on the way out.
Landscape or portrait for a front desk?
Landscape. With six columns the cells are wide enough for a company name and a signature.
How long should I keep old sheets?
That depends on your workplace policy and local rules. Many offices keep them for a few months. This site does not keep paper sheets for you, because they are never uploaded.
Can visitors sign in on a tablet instead?
A digital sheet works from a QR code on a phone. It is aimed at short events; for a permanent reception log, paper or your building’s own system may suit better.