Business Card Size: Standard Dimensions by Country

The standard business card size in the US and around the world, the pixel size to design at, and how bleed and safe zones work so nothing gets cut off.

Updated

A business card layout showing the 3.75 × 2.25 inch bleed area, the 3.5 × 2 inch trim line and the 3.25 × 1.75 inch safe zone, next to the outline of a bank card for comparison

A standard US business card is 3.5 × 2 inches (88.9 × 50.8 mm). Most of Europe uses 85 × 55 mm, and several other countries have their own size. All of them are close to the size of a credit card, which is why they fit in the same wallets and holders.

Business card sizes by country

Region mm Inches Ratio
US and Canada 88.9 × 50.8 3.5 × 2 1.75
Europe (most countries) 85 × 55 3.35 × 2.17 1.55
UK and Ireland 85 × 55 3.35 × 2.17 1.55
Australia and New Zealand 90 × 55 3.54 × 2.17 1.64
Japan 91 × 55 3.58 × 2.17 1.65
China 90 × 54 3.54 × 2.13 1.67
Credit card (ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1) 85.60 × 53.98 3.37 × 2.125 1.59

To see a card at its real size, the actual size viewer shows a credit card on your screen once calibrated. Hold your business card up to it to compare.

When you design a card for printing, there are three sizes to know (US card shown):

Area Size What it is
Bleed 3.75 × 2.25 in (95.25 × 57.15 mm) The full design. Backgrounds and photos should reach this edge.
Trim 3.5 × 2 in (88.9 × 50.8 mm) Where the card is cut: the final size.
Safe zone 3.25 × 1.75 in (82.55 × 44.45 mm) Keep text and logos inside this, so nothing gets cut.

The bleed and the safe margin are each ⅛ inch (3.175 mm) on every side. European printers usually ask for 3 mm bleed: a design size of 91 × 61 mm for an 85 × 55 mm card.

Business card size in pixels

Print designs need 300 pixels per inch (DPI) to look sharp:

Card Without bleed With ⅛ in bleed
US 3.5 × 2 in 1050 × 600 px 1125 × 675 px
Europe 85 × 55 mm 1004 × 650 px 1075 × 720 px

For a digital card, such as an email signature or a profile image, 1050 × 600 pixels is still a good size: it stays sharp on high-resolution screens. Use the pixels to inches converter for any other size or resolution.

Paper thickness

Business cards are printed on card stock, commonly 14 pt to 16 pt (about 0.35 to 0.4 mm), or 300 to 400 g/m² in metric. Thicker cards feel more premium; very thick cards (32 pt and up) may not fit in some card holders.

Folded and other shapes

  • Folded cards are 3.5 × 4 inches flat, folding to 3.5 × 2.
  • Square cards are often 2.5 × 2.5 inches or 2 × 2 inches.
  • Mini (slim) cards are about 3.5 × 1.5 inches or 3 × 1 inches.

Unusual sizes stand out but won’t fit standard holders and wallet slots, so most people stick with the standard size.

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard business card size?

In the US and Canada, 3.5 × 2 inches (88.9 × 50.8 mm). In most of Europe, 85 × 55 mm (3.35 × 2.17 in). Both are close to the size of a credit card, so they fit standard wallets and card holders.

What size is a business card in pixels?

1050 × 600 pixels at 300 DPI, the usual resolution for print. With a ⅛ inch bleed on every side, design at 1125 × 675 pixels (3.75 × 2.25 inches).

Is a business card the same size as a credit card?

Almost. A credit card is 85.60 × 53.98 mm (3.37 × 2.125 in), set by the ISO/IEC 7810 standard. A US business card is slightly longer and narrower; a European one is almost exactly the same size.

What is bleed on a business card?

Extra artwork, usually ⅛ inch (3 mm), that extends past the edge of the card. Cards are printed on large sheets and cut, and the cut can be off by a fraction of a millimeter; bleed means a background color still runs right to the edge instead of leaving a thin white line.

More measuring guides