The standard business card size is 3.5″ ×2″. It is the finished size of a business card. However, if you want to add a bleed area, the sizes get different.
What you will learn?
How to create a business card
Whether you are a businessman or a graphic designer, you may need to create an attractive and professional business card. If you are a businessman, having an engaging and creative business card gives you business the right image. If you are a graphic designer, creating a fantastic business card may give you more orders and good feedbacks.
Mainly I propose two software for creating a business card. One is adobe photoshop, and the other is adobe illustrator. Also, there are so many software packages designed to create a business card. If you don’t have much knowledge to use these software packages to create your own and unique business card, websites like canva may offer you some free and paid templates of business cards. It will be easy to change those templates to the way you want.
Standard business card sizes
Business card sizes are varying from country to country. Different countries use different dimensions when printing and designing a business card. Usually, in the united state and Canada, it is 3.5″ ×2″. If you are a designer or businessman outside the united states and Canada, you can create a business card with the dimensions of 51mm×89mm or a 1.75 aspect ratio.
Many designs include a bleed. The bleed area acts as a safe area when cutting the business card. Bleed area consists of an extra 1/8 inch, which extends beyond the finished edges of your business card. Usually, a business card is printed with a bleed, and the bleed is removed after the cutting. The purpose of bleeds is to avoid having white borders after cutting the business card.
Here is an example business card that may give you a clear understanding of the bleed and business card size.
Tips for creating a business card
- Make sure the size is equal to 3.75″ ×2.25″ if you are willing to include the bleed. Keep in mind that the bleed is not a compulsory one. It just gives a safety when cutting the business card. If you are not willing to include the bleed, use 3.5″ ×2″ sized document page.
- If you are willing to create a vertical design, switch the height and width of the document page.
- Never place your valuable images and texts beyond the safe zone.
- Put a border beyond the safe zone. Then there will be no issue when cutting the business card.as an example, your phone number will not be trimmed off.
Two-sided business card
These kinds of cards will help you to place more information and more images of a particular business or person. This has become more popular in firms because the effectiveness becomes double.
When designing a two-sided card, just create a sperate page for the backside with the same specifications.
Folded business cards
This is another innovative card type. It is also called as tent cards. This is also can be used as a handy mini brochure or a greeting card. When creating a folded card, set your file size to 3.75″ ×4.25″ if you want to include the bleed. If you want to design without the bleed, take 3.5″ ×4″ as your file size.
Final words
Keep in mind that the business card size is not regulated by someone, or it is not a law to make a 3.5″ ×2″ sized business card. The format is based on the tradition and convenience of the country and society. Some countries use the credit card as their default size, and some countries create smaller business cards than 3.5″ ×2″ once. However, some countries have standardized the process of business cards, and they have created a standard size for their cards. So if you are a graphic designer, just take a look at the client’s requirements and his/her country’s regulations before designing a business card.
Also see:- what does a graphic designer do?
