Business card size guide (US, Europe and square)
The standard US business card is 3.5 × 2 inches. In Europe and most other countries it's 85 × 55 mm. Add 1/8 inch (about 3 mm) of bleed on every side and keep text at least 1/8 inch inside the edge.
Common business card sizes
| Type | Size | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|
| US standard | 3.5 × 2 in (88.9 × 50.8 mm) | United States and Canada |
| European | 85 × 55 mm (3.35 × 2.17 in) | Europe and most of the world |
| Square | 2.5 × 2.5 in or 2 × 2 in | Creative and boutique brands |
| Slim | 3.5 × 1.75 in | Minimal, modern designs |
Bleed and safe area
Printers trim cards from bigger sheets, and the cut can move slightly. So:
- Bleed: extend background colours and photos 1/8 inch (0.125 in, about 3 mm) past every edge, so no white line shows after trimming.
- Safe area: keep names, phone numbers and logos at least 1/8 inch inside the trim edge.
- Resolution: photos and logos should be about 300 pixels per inch at printed size.
CatalogProFlow's business card templates already include bleed and a safe area, so you only need to change the words, colours and logo.
Front and back
Most cards are printed on both sides: name and contact details on one side, logo or a short message on the other. A QR code linking to your website or menu is a useful addition to the back.
Questions
- What is the standard business card size in pixels?
- At 300 pixels per inch, a 3.5 × 2 in card is 1050 × 600 pixels, or 1125 × 675 pixels with 1/8 inch of bleed on each side.
- Should a business card be horizontal or vertical?
- Either works. Horizontal is most common; vertical stands out and suits portrait photos or tall logos.
- How much information should go on a business card?
- Your name, role, business name, phone, email, website and maybe one line about what you do. Fewer, larger words read better.