In the time of internet and technology, business cards still play an important part when it comes to marketing. No other form of marketing or advertising can achieve so much for its size and cost. But what exactly does “size” mean it terms of business cards? What is the standard business card size of the modern business card? Unfortunately there is no easy answer to this question. Simply because an international rule for a standard business card size does not exist. Generally speaking there is no one size fits all in terms of business card dimensions. There might have been an attempt to standardize the size of business cards, when they existed only as a piece of paper, but today’s business cards come in all different shapes, sizes and not to forget materials.
Standard business card size according to region
If you are a designer and your client doesn’t specify the size and shape, you should probably go for what is commonly used in your client’s country. The United States and Canada use a standard business card size with a dimension of 3.5 x 2 inches (89 x 51 mm). In Europe many countries, go with a standard business card size of 85 x 55 mm, which equals 3.346 x 2.165 inches, which is slightly less wide but higher than a North American business card. Countries like Australia and New Zealand use a standard business card size of 90 x 55 mm, equal to 3.54 × 2.165 inches. Don’t forget to take adjustments for printing into account and add a bleed area on top of the dimensions to ensure the design is not cut off when printed.
Today many people believe that a business card should fit well in your wallet for easy storage and come in a similar size to bank or credit cards. Most bank and credit cards have a dimension of 85.60 × 53.98 mm (3.370 x 2.125 inches). The business card size which most European countries like Ireland, Germany, France or the UK use would be with 85 x 55 mm the closest.
When Designing your own
For individuals that would like to design their own business cards, size doesn’t really matter. However, you should always think about how your business card will be received. As mentioned before, one of the most important points when it comes to the size of a business card is easy storage. If a business card is too small or too large, the person you hand your business card to, might think twice about keeping it around.
If you would like to design your own business cards this print on demand site for business cards is a good place to start. In a few simple steps you can create your own individual design by uploading your own photos or graphics and adding your information. If you would rather not attempt to design your own you can always choose from these fantastic business card designs from designers all around the world.
Check out our fantastic post about modern business cards
