Business Card Sizes
The standard business card size in the United States and Canada is 3.5 by 2 inches (88.9 by 50.8 mm). Most of Europe and the UK use 85 by 55 mm instead, close enough to a bank card to share the same wallet slot. It is increasingly common to move away from the plain rectangle, with square and rounded-corner cards both in regular use. A card built to the ISO 216 standard is the same size as A8, 74 by 52 mm oriented as a card.
US & Canada measures 88.9 millimetres wide and 50.8 millimetres tall.
Dimensions of All Business Card Sizes
The Business Card Sizes run from US & Canada at 88.9 × 50.8 mm to Iran at 85 × 48 mm. Each size, with its typical use:
| Size | mm | cm | inches | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US & Canada | 88.9 × 50.8 | 8.9 × 5.1 | 3.5 × 2 | wallets and card holders in the US and Canada |
| Europe & UK | 85 × 55 | 8.5 × 5.5 | 3.35 × 2.17 | wallets and card holders across continental Europe |
| ISO 216 | 52 × 74 | 5.2 × 7.4 | 2.05 × 2.91 | wallets in countries that print cards to the ISO 216 A series |
| Japan | 91 × 55 | 9.1 × 5.5 | 3.58 × 2.17 | the meishi exchange at the start of a Japanese business meeting |
| Australia | 90 × 55 | 9.0 × 5.5 | 3.54 × 2.17 | wallets and card holders across Australia |
| Philippines | 88.9 × 50.8 | 8.9 × 5.1 | 3.5 × 2 | wallets and card holders across the Philippines |
| China | 90 × 54 | 9.0 × 5.4 | 3.54 × 2.13 | wallets and card holders across China |
| Scandinavia | 90 × 55 | 9.0 × 5.5 | 3.54 × 2.17 | wallets and card holders across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland |
| Hungary | 90 × 50 | 9.0 × 5.0 | 3.54 × 1.97 | wallets and card holders across Hungary |
| Iran | 85 × 48 | 8.5 × 4.8 | 3.35 × 1.89 | wallets and card holders across Iran |
Dimensions are portrait (short edge first). Centimetre, inch and pixel values are derived by formula, not separate standards.
Standard Business Card Dimensions
Standard business card dimensions on this page anchor to the US & Canada size, 3.5 × 2 in (88.9 × 50.8 mm). The countries below are listed against that same figure. The table gives all units at once, including pixels at the two resolutions a print or design brief usually asks for.
| Unit | Width | Height | Width × height | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 88.9 | 50.8 | 88.9 × 50.8 mm | |
| Centimetres (cm) | 8.9 | 5.1 | 8.9 × 5.1 cm | |
| Metres (m) | 0.089 | 0.051 | 0.089 × 0.051 m | |
| Inches (in) | 3.5 | 2 | 3.5 × 2 in | |
| Feet (ft) | 0.29 | 0.17 | 0.29 × 0.17 ft | |
| Points (pt) | 252 | 144 | 252 × 144 pt | |
| Picas (pc) | 21 | 12 | 21 × 12 pc |
For pixels, resolution decides the count. At 300 DPI, the print-quality benchmark, a US & Canada card is 1050 × 600 px. At 600 DPI, used for fine detail or an inkjet proof, it doubles to 2100 × 1200 px. A 72 DPI screen mockup only needs 252 × 144 px.
Bleed, Trim and Safe Area
Bleed, trim and safe area are the three measurements a print-ready business card file needs, not one. Trim is the finished 3.5 × 2 in size, where the cut happens. Bleed extends any background colour or image 0.125 in (3 mm, the standard print-industry margin) past the trim line, so a small shift in the cutter never leaves a white edge. Safe area keeps text and logos the same 0.125 in inside the trim line, so nothing important risks being cut off. Toggle each layer below to see it on its own.
International Business Card Sizes
International business card sizes are the standard printed-card dimensions used for professional cards by country, ranging from 52 × 74 mm (ISO 216, the smallest) to 91 × 55 mm (Japan, the largest). Each country or standard sets its own figure rather than following one global convention, so the size a wallet or a card holder is built for changes depending on where the card was printed. The table above lists all the countries on this page at a glance; the notes below add the context and comparisons behind each figure.
US & Canada Card Size
US & Canada Card Size measures 3.5 × 2 in (88.9 × 50.8 mm), the anchor size on this page and the one nearly all templates, printers and card holders in North America are built around.
Europe & UK Card Size
Europe & UK Card Size measures 85 × 55 mm (3.35 × 2.17 in), the size most of continental Europe and the United Kingdom use, close to but not identical to a credit card.
ISO 216 Card Size
ISO 216 Card Size measures 52 × 74 mm (2.05 × 2.91 in), listed short edge first the standard ISO way; laid flat as a card it reads 74 × 52 mm. This is A8, the smallest commonly used ISO 216 size, and some countries print business cards to it instead of a national convention. It is a different, narrower shape than the Europe & UK size above, not the same size under another name.
Japan Card Size
Japan Card Size measures 91 × 55 mm (3.58 × 2.17 in), close to the European size but 6 mm wider. The formal exchange of one at the start of a meeting is part of Japanese business etiquette.
Australia Card Size
Australia Card Size measures 90 × 55 mm (3.54 × 2.17 in), the same figure as the Scandinavian size below, a little wider than the European card and a little narrower than the Japanese one.
Philippines Card Size
Philippines Card Size most commonly follows the 3.5 × 2 in (88.9 × 50.8 mm) US & Canada convention, though some shops also offer 82 × 55 mm or a rounded 90 × 50 mm.
China Card Size
China Card Size measures 90 × 54 mm (3.54 × 2.13 in), close to, but a fraction shorter than, the Australian size.
Scandinavia Card Size
Scandinavia Card Size measures 90 × 55 mm (3.54 × 2.17 in) across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, the same figure as the Australian card and 5 mm wider than the European one.
Hungary Card Size
Hungary Card Size measures 90 × 50 mm (3.54 × 1.97 in), one of the narrower conventions in Europe: the same width as the Scandinavian card but 5 mm shorter.
Iran Card Size
Iran Card Size measures 85 × 48 mm (3.35 × 1.89 in), the most compact size on this page. Its width matches the European card, but the height is noticeably smaller.
Business Card Format Variants
Business card format variants go beyond the standard size a printer defaults to. Four turn up often enough to name:
| Format | Inches | Millimetres | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 3.5 × 2 | 88.9 × 50.8 | The default nearly all printers and wallets are built for. |
| Square (small) | 2.17 × 2.17 | 55 × 55 | A compact square, distinct from the larger square below. |
| Square (large) | 2.56 × 2.56 | 65 × 65 | A bigger square with more room for a logo-led design. |
| Mini | 3.5 × 1.5 | 88.9 × 38.1 | Standard width, three-quarters the height, used for tags and inserts. |
| Folded | 3.5 × 4 (open) | 88.9 × 101.6 (open) | Folds once to a standard 3.5 × 2 in closed size, doubling the space inside. |
How a Business Card Compares With a Credit Card?
A business card compares closely with a credit card in most countries, though the two are not identical anywhere. A credit or debit card follows ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1, a fixed 85.60 × 53.98 mm worldwide. The Europe & UK business card size above, 85 × 55 mm, is close enough to pass for one at a glance, which is why it fits a wallet card slot so well. The US & Canada size is a little longer and narrower than ID-1, and the ISO 216 card is a different shape again, noticeably taller and narrower than any payment card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a European business card?
85 by 55 mm, close to the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 credit card size of 85.60 by 53.98 mm.
How does a business card compare with a credit card?
Not exactly, though it comes close in some countries. A credit or debit card (ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1) is a fixed 85.60 by 53.98 mm, and the Europe & UK business card, 85 by 55 mm, is close enough to pass for one. The US & Canada and ISO 216 cards are each a noticeably different shape.
What DPI should a business card be designed at?
300 DPI for print, with a small bleed margin added outside the trim size so nothing white shows at the cut edge. At 300 DPI a US & Canada card is 1050 by 600 pixels.
✓ Member dimensions per Regional Convention. Centimetre, inch and pixel values derived by formula. Last verified . Editorial Process →