Industry Insights
Standard Business Card Size in the UK (85 × 55 mm)
May
The standard business card size in the UK is 85 mm × 55 mm, which is 8.5 × 5.5 cm or 3.35 × 2.17 inches. When you send artwork to a printer, set the file up at 91 × 61 mm so there is 3 mm of bleed on every edge. At 300 DPI, that bleed file is 1075 × 721 pixels.
That is all most people need. The rest of this guide explains how the measurements work in practice: pixel sizes, bleed and safe zones, how the UK size compares with other countries and with a credit card, which paper and finishes to choose, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause reprints.
| Measurement | UK standard business card |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 85 × 55 mm |
| Centimetres | 8.5 × 5.5 cm |
| Inches | 3.35 × 2.17 in |
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 1004 × 650 px |
| Artwork with 3 mm bleed | 91 × 61 mm (1075 × 721 px at 300 DPI) |
| Portrait orientation | 55 × 85 mm |
Need cards printed to this exact size? Browse our custom foil business cards or get a free quote and we’ll confirm the right template before printing.
Business card size in mm, cm, inches and pixels
Printers in the UK work in millimetres, so 85 × 55 mm is the number to use whenever you are setting up a file. The other units are conversions of the same size:
- Centimetres: 8.5 × 5.5 cm
- Inches: 85 mm ÷ 25.4 = 3.346 in and 55 mm ÷ 25.4 = 2.165 in, usually rounded to 3.35 × 2.17 in
Inches are only useful if your design software or an overseas print site asks for them. If you have a choice, always work in millimetres, because rounding errors in inches can leave you with a sliver of white at the edge of the card.
Business card size in pixels
A printed card has no fixed pixel size. The number of pixels depends on the resolution (DPI) you design at. Here is what 85 × 55 mm looks like at common resolutions:
| Resolution | Trim size (85 × 55 mm) | With 3 mm bleed (91 × 61 mm) | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 DPI | 241 × 156 px | 258 × 173 px | Screen previews only |
| 150 DPI | 502 × 325 px | 537 × 360 px | Email proofs, draft mock-ups |
| 300 DPI | 1004 × 650 px | 1075 × 721 px | Standard for print |
| 600 DPI | 2008 × 1299 px | 2150 × 1441 px | Fine line art, small text, foil artwork |
For print, 300 DPI is the minimum that gives sharp results. If you build your card in Canva, Photoshop or Figma, create the document at 1075 × 721 px (or 91 × 61 mm at 300 DPI) and keep your important content inside the safe zone described below. Logos should be supplied as vector files (PDF, SVG or AI) wherever possible, so they stay crisp at any size.
Bleed, trim and safe zone explained
The trim size is the finished card. But printing is done on large sheets that are cut down afterwards, and the blade never cuts in exactly the same place twice. To stop thin white edges appearing, artwork is extended past the trim line. That extra area is the bleed.
| Area | Size | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Bleed | 91 × 61 mm | Background colour or image extends to here and is cut off |
| Trim | 85 × 55 mm | The final size of your card |
| Safe zone | 79 × 49 mm to 75 × 45 mm | Keep all text and logos inside this area |
The safe zone is a margin of 3 to 5 mm inside the trim line. Text placed closer than that risks being clipped or looking cramped once the card is cut.
Quick rules for bleed and safe zone
- Set the document to 91 × 61 mm and add trim marks or guides at 85 × 55 mm.
- Extend any background colour, pattern or photo all the way to the bleed edge.
- Keep names, phone numbers, logos and QR codes at least 3 mm inside the trim line, and 5 mm if you want a comfortable margin.
- Do not put thin borders close to the edge. A 1 mm border looks uneven if the cut shifts by half a millimetre.
- Export a PDF with the bleed included, not a flattened image of the trimmed card.
Portrait cards follow the same rules, only rotated: 55 × 85 mm trim and 61 × 91 mm with bleed.
UK business card size compared with other countries
The UK size of 85 × 55 mm is shared by most of Europe, but it is not a worldwide standard. If you trade internationally or design for overseas clients, it is worth knowing the differences.
| Region | Typical size | In inches |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 85 × 55 mm | 3.35 × 2.17 in |
| Europe (most countries) | 85 × 55 mm (some use 85 × 54 mm) | 3.35 × 2.17 in |
| USA and Canada | 89 × 51 mm | 3.5 × 2 in |
| Australia and New Zealand | 90 × 55 mm | 3.54 × 2.17 in |
| Japan | 91 × 55 mm | 3.58 × 2.17 in |
| India and Pakistan | Often 89 × 51 mm or 90 × 54 mm | About 3.5 × 2 in |
Two practical points follow from this:
- A US-sized file will not fit a UK template. The US card is 4 mm wider and 4 mm shorter, so a file built at 89 × 51 mm will either be stretched or end up with uneven margins if it is placed on an 85 × 55 mm card. Always rebuild the layout for the correct size rather than scaling it.
- Visiting card and name card mean the same thing. In some countries people say visiting card or name card, but it is the same printed contact card. In the UK, the standard size for any of them is 85 × 55 mm.
There is no law that fixes a business card size in the UK. 85 × 55 mm is simply the industry standard, which is why printers, card holders and wallet slots are built around it.
Business card size vs credit card size
People often compare the two because both live in a wallet. A standard bank card follows the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 format, which is 85.6 × 53.98 mm, with corners rounded to a radius of about 3.18 mm.
| UK business card | Credit or debit card | |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 85 mm | 85.6 mm |
| Height | 55 mm | 53.98 mm |
| Thickness | About 0.4 mm on 350 GSM board | 0.76 mm |
| Corners | Square, or rounded to about 3 mm | Rounded, about 3.18 mm radius |
The two are almost identical in footprint. A business card is about 0.6 mm narrower and 1 mm taller, so it fits in the same wallet slots, card holders and card-sized sleeves. The big difference is thickness: standard paper cards are roughly half the thickness of a bank card, which is why plastic or extra-thick cards (600 GSM and above) feel closer to a real payment card.
Other business card sizes and shapes
The standard format works for most businesses, but some brands deliberately choose something different. Always ask your printer for the exact template before you design, because non-standard sizes vary between suppliers.
| Format | Typical size | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard landscape | 85 × 55 mm | Almost every business | Nothing, this is the safe choice |
| Standard portrait | 55 × 85 mm | Designers, creatives, hospitality | Some card holders only take landscape |
| Square | Around 55 × 55 mm | Boutiques, creative studios | Does not slot neatly into standard wallets |
| Slim or mini | Varies by printer | Minimal brands, gift tags | Very little space for contact details |
| Folded | 85 × 110 mm flat, folding to 85 × 55 mm | Menus, price lists, extra information | Higher cost, needs a scored fold |
| Die-cut shapes | Custom | Memorable branding, packaging inserts | Extra setup cost, may not fit holders |
If you are considering a custom outline, our guide to what is die cutting explains how shapes are cut and what affects the price.
How much text fits on a business card
At 85 × 55 mm there is not much room, so readability has to come first. These are practical rules of thumb used by most designers:
- Name: 10 to 12 pt
- Job title and company: 8 to 10 pt
- Contact details (phone, email, website): 7 to 9 pt, with 7 pt as the lowest sensible size on a clean, uncoated or matte stock
- Line spacing: around 1.2 to 1.4 times the font size
- Social icons: roughly 3 to 4 mm high, using simple one-colour versions
- QR code: at least 15 × 15 mm with a clear border around it, tested before printing
If you want to show Facebook, Instagram or other social logos, use the platform’s official brand assets and follow its usage guidelines. In practice it is usually cleaner to print a simple icon and your handle rather than a full-colour logo.
Light text on dark backgrounds looks striking but fills in easily when printed small. If you use white or foil text on black, increase the font size by a point or two and avoid thin, delicate typefaces.
Choosing paper thickness and finish
Once the size is settled, the stock decides how professional the card feels. Thickness is measured in GSM (grams per square metre).
| Thickness | Feel | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 250 to 300 GSM | Light, flexible | Budget cards, high-volume handouts |
| 350 GSM | Firm, the UK standard | Most small businesses |
| 400 to 450 GSM | Thick and premium | Consultants, agencies, retail brands |
| 600 GSM and above | Ultra-thick, layered | Luxury brands, high-end services |
Popular finishes
- Matte lamination: smooth, modern, easy to read, and less prone to fingerprints.
- Gloss lamination: vivid colour and strong contrast, good for photography.
- Soft-touch: a velvety feel that suggests quality.
- Spot UV: a glossy coating on selected areas such as a logo.
- Embossing: raised elements that you can feel.
- Foil stamping: metallic gold, silver, rose gold or coloured detail. If you want this effect, see our custom foil business cards.
If your brand colours need to match your packaging exactly, ask for Pantone references rather than relying on screen colours. Our guide to PMS colour in UK printing and packaging explains how that works.
Want a premium finish? Foil stamping makes a logo catch the light and turns a standard 85 × 55 mm card into something people keep. Send us your artwork or ask for free design support, and we’ll quote your custom foil business cards.
Get a Free Foil Card QuoteUK paper sizes and how many cards fit on a sheet
People searching for UK paper sizes are often really asking how a business card relates to standard sheet sizes. UK and European paper uses the A-series:
| Size | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm |
| A6 | 105 × 148 mm |
| A7 | 74 × 105 mm |
| A8 | 52 × 74 mm |
A business card at 85 × 55 mm is not an A-series size. It sits between A7 and A8 in area. On an A4 sheet you can fit 10 cards (2 across and 5 down) at trim size, with no allowance for bleed, which is why home-printing templates are usually laid out that way. Commercial printers use larger sheets and place many more cards on each one.
Business card setup checklist
Before you send a file to print, check each of these:
- Document size is 91 × 61 mm (landscape) or 61 × 91 mm (portrait).
- Trim guides are at 85 × 55 mm.
- Backgrounds and images extend to the bleed edge.
- All text and logos sit at least 3 to 5 mm inside the trim line.
- Images are at least 300 DPI at the size they will be printed.
- Text is at least 7 pt, and light text on dark backgrounds is slightly larger.
- Fonts are outlined or embedded in the PDF.
- Colours are set up as CMYK, or as a named Pantone if you need an exact match.
- The QR code has been scanned from a printed proof or a screen at actual size.
- Phone number, email and website have been proofread twice, preferably by someone else.
Common business card mistakes
- Designing at the wrong size. Using a US template for a UK print job is the most common cause of misaligned margins.
- No bleed. The card comes back with thin white edges on one or more sides.
- Text too close to the edge. A phone number clipped by the cutter looks careless.
- Low-resolution logos. A logo copied from a website at 72 DPI will look soft in print.
- Too much information. If you cannot read it at arm’s length, it is too small or too crowded.
- Choosing the thinnest stock. A flimsy card undermines an otherwise professional brand.
- Ignoring how the card will be used. A card that goes inside a parcel needs a different approach from one handed over at a networking event.
Using business cards with your packaging
A business card is one of the cheapest branded touchpoints you can add to an order, and it works best when it matches the box it arrives in. A few practical ideas:
- Online shops: slip a card or thank-you insert into every parcel. If you are choosing e-commerce packaging boxes, leave an interior footprint of at least 90 × 60 mm so a standard card sits flat without bending.
- Corporate gifts and premium launches: a thick, foil-finished card looks right inside presentation boxes, where the unboxing is part of the message.
- Cafés, bakeries and takeaways: a small card in each order brings customers back. It pairs well with branded food boxes.
- Fully branded sets: if you want the card, tissue, sleeve and box to share colours and finishes, bespoke boxes let you design everything as one system.
- Seasonal campaigns: a discount card tucked into Christmas gift boxes wholesale orders is an easy way to encourage repeat purchases in January.
Whatever you choose, keep the same typography, colours and finishes across card and box. If you are still working out the right box for your products, explore our range of custom packaging boxes.
Matching your card to your box? Tell us your product, box size and quantity, and we’ll suggest the right box and insert size. Get a free quote →
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard business card size in the UK?
The standard size is 85 × 55 mm, which is 8.5 × 5.5 cm or 3.35 × 2.17 inches. It is the format most UK printers use and most wallets and card holders are made to fit.
What is the business card size in pixels?
At 300 DPI, a UK business card is 1004 × 650 pixels at trim size, or 1075 × 721 pixels if you include 3 mm bleed. At 72 DPI it is only 241 × 156 pixels, which is too low for print.
What is the business card size in cm?
8.5 × 5.5 cm for landscape, or 5.5 × 8.5 cm for portrait.
What is the business card size in inches?
About 3.35 × 2.17 inches. The US card is slightly different at 3.5 × 2 inches.
How big is a business card compared with a credit card?
A bank card is 85.6 × 53.98 mm and a UK business card is 85 × 55 mm, so they are almost the same footprint. Bank cards are about twice as thick.
What bleed do I need on a business card?
Three millimetres on each side, so the artwork file is 91 × 61 mm for an 85 × 55 mm card. Keep text and logos 3 to 5 mm inside the trim line.
What is the minimum font size for a business card?
Around 7 pt for contact details on a clean stock. Names and job titles should be larger, usually 8 to 12 pt.
Is there an official business card size in the UK?
No law sets one. 85 × 55 mm is the accepted industry standard, but you can choose a custom size if you are happy to pay for custom cutting and accept that it may not fit standard holders.
What is a visiting card or name card size?
They are the same product as a business card. In the UK, the usual size is 85 × 55 mm.
Final thoughts
For almost every UK business, the right choice is simple: design at 91 × 61 mm with bleed, trim to 85 × 55 mm, keep your text inside a 3 to 5 mm safe zone, and print on 350 GSM or thicker stock. Get those basics right and the design, finish and colour choices can do the creative work.
If you need help turning a card, a box or a full branded set into something that looks consistent from the first impression to the unboxing, our team can help. Browse our custom packaging boxes or ask for a free quote.
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