How Big Is a Business Card? Sizes in Inches and Pixels
The common US business card trim size is 3.5 × 2 inches, which equals 88.9 × 50.8 millimeters. At 300 pixels per inch (PPI), the trim-only raster size is 1050 × 600 pixels. Portrait orientation swaps the width and height.
Those numbers describe the finished trim, not every print file. Bleed, safe-area, color, and export requirements vary by printer and product. Download the selected printer's current template before preparing final artwork.
Reviewed
Standard size business card dimensions
| Use | Inches | Millimeters | Pixels at 300 PPI | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common US landscape trim | 3.5 × 2 | 88.9 × 50.8 | 1050 × 600 | Finished size |
| Common US portrait trim | 2 × 3.5 | 50.8 × 88.9 | 600 × 1050 | Same trim, rotated |
| VistaPrint standard full-bleed file | 3.61 × 2.11 | Use its current template | 1083 × 633 | Supplier-specific artwork size |
| VistaPrint standard safe area | 3.36 × 1.86 | Use its current template | 1008 × 558 | Supplier-specific safe boundary |
| MOO standard full-bleed artwork | 3.66 × 2.16 | 93 × 55 displayed | 1098 × 648 | Supplier-specific artwork size |
| Example only: 0.125-inch bleed on every edge | 3.75 × 2.25 | 95.25 × 57.15 | 1125 × 675 | Use only if the printer requires it |
In landscape orientation, a common US business card is 3.5 inches wide and 2 inches high. Some tools write this as 3.5 x 2 inches. Standard business card dimensions vary by market, printer, finish, and card shape.
Square business cards are a different product, not a rotated version of the US rectangle. A business card is also not a credit card specification. Similar-looking cards can use different trim, corner, material, and safe-area rules.
VistaPrint and MOO publish different full-bleed dimensions. Do not mix one supplier's bleed with another supplier's safe area or product template. MOO also offers a separate MOO-size card, so check the exact product rather than relying on a brand name alone.
Convert business card size to pixels
Use this formula:
pixels = physical size in inches × PPI
At 300 PPI, 3.5 inches becomes 1050 pixels and 2 inches becomes 600 pixels. That is why the common trim-only business card size in pixels is 1050 × 600. Some interfaces show the same value as 1050 x 600 pixels. The business card size in px for portrait orientation is 600 × 1050.
Supplier files can be larger. VistaPrint, for example, lists a standard full-bleed file of 1083 x 633 pixels and a 1008 x 558 pixel safe area at 300 PPI. Treat both as supplier-specific values, not universal dimensions.
Pixel dimensions are incomplete without a PPI assumption. A 1050 × 600 image is not correct at every resolution. Changing only the PPI metadata does not create missing image detail. Review raster photographs, logos, and small text at the intended physical size.
Vector elements behave differently from raster images. A vector path can remain sharp when resized, but an SVG may still contain embedded raster images. SVG alone does not prove that a file has the correct bleed, color conversion, fonts, or printer approval.
Separate trim, bleed, and safe area
- Trim is the edge of the finished card.
- Bleed extends background artwork beyond the trim so a small cutting shift does not leave an unintended white edge.
- Safe area keeps names, contact details, logos, and QR codes away from the cut edge.
The bleed area sits outside the trim. Extend the background color or full-bleed image beyond the edge of the card to the template's bleed boundary. This helps prevent unintended white borders after trimming. Keep text, logos, and QR codes inside the safe area.
No single bleed value applies to every business card. CorelDRAW describes 0.125 inch as a common example. VistaPrint and MOO publish different full-bleed files for their products. Use the printer's template rather than adding a generic amount from memory.
VistaPrint, for example, lists a 3.36 × 1.86-inch safe area for its standard card. That is a VistaPrint specification, not a rule for every provider. Keep essential content inside the safe boundary shown by the selected printer.
Choose landscape or portrait from the content
Landscape is familiar and gives a long horizontal line for a name, role, email address, or URL. Portrait can suit a short name, centered mark, or vertical composition. Rotating the common 3.5 × 2-inch trim gives the same finished area.
Choose orientation after listing the required content. Give the Front one recognition job. Use the Back for a supporting message or one clear next step. For a broader two-sided hierarchy, see the Front and Back design guide.
Before arranging the layout, decide what to put on the front and back.
Do not shrink essential text or a QR code merely to preserve decoration. Print a full-size paper proof and check the real reading distance before ordering a batch.
Plan a business card in MARKFOLDS
Open the MARKFOLDS Generator, choose Others, and describe the business card's purpose, orientation, approved copy, and visual direction. The current custom-size input accepts whole-millimeter values from 30 to 600 mm.
Because 88.9 × 50.8 mm uses decimal values, the custom input cannot represent that trim exactly. A rounded 89 × 51 mm canvas may help with visual planning. It is not an exact US business card production preset or a printer template. Confirm the final file setup with the chosen provider.
MARKFOLDS supports coordinated Front and Back digital artwork and PNG delivery. SVG export depends on your plan and the saved design. Read Product Facts and Pricing before relying on a specific export.
MARKFOLDS does not automatically add printer bleed, crop marks, imposition, CMYK conversion, font outlining, or PDF/X conformance. It does not select a printer, print cards, or certify a file as press-ready.
If the card includes a QR code, use a stable URL and label the destination. MARKFOLDS supports a static supplied URL; it does not provide dynamic destination management or scan tracking. Keep the code inside the printer's safe area and test a final-size proof on more than one phone. The QR placement and testing guide explains the general checks.
Business card file checklist
- Confirm the exact printer and card product.
- Download that product's current template.
- Separate trim, bleed, and safe-area boundaries.
- Choose landscape or portrait from the approved content.
- Check every name, role, phone number, email address, URL, and QR destination.
- Review raster images at the intended physical size.
- Export only in a format the printer accepts.
- Inspect a proof before a larger print run.
For another wallet-sized format with different product rules, compare the gift card size guide. For insert formats, use the thank-you card size guide. Do not treat those dimensions as interchangeable with a business card.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a standard US business card?
A common US finished size is 3.5 × 2 inches, or 88.9 × 50.8 mm. Other countries, printers, and products use different dimensions, so confirm the selected provider's current template.
What is the standard business card size in pixels?
At 300 PPI, a 3.5 × 2-inch trim is 1050 × 600 pixels. Portrait orientation is 600 × 1050 pixels. These are trim-only calculations; a bleed file is larger and depends on the printer.
How do I set up bleed in a business card design?
Download the chosen printer's template. Extend background artwork to its bleed boundary. Keep essential text, logos, and QR codes inside its safe area. Export the required format and inspect a proof. MARKFOLDS does not automatically add bleed or certify printer readiness.
Can MARKFOLDS create an exact 88.9 × 50.8 mm business card file?
Not through the current whole-millimeter custom-size input. You can use a rounded size for design planning, then prepare or adapt the final file with the printer's exact template and requirements.
Is an SVG automatically print-ready?
No. SVG can preserve scalable vector elements. It does not establish bleed, CMYK conversion, font handling, PDF/X conformance, or printer acceptance. Check the actual file and the printer's delivery rules.