Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US): The Precise Guide

Business cards still do quiet but important work. They sit in wallets, slide across meeting tables, and bridge the gap between a quick chat and a later email. To do that job well, they need to match standard business card dimensions so they print cleanly, fit card holders, and look intentional.

This guide breaks down standard Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US), shows how they translate into pixels for digital design, and explains what to watch for with bleed, safe areas, and special finishes. You can hand these specs directly to a designer or plug them into your design tool without guessing.

Standard Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US)

The two main standards you will run into are the international ISO standard and the North American standard.

ISO standard size (Europe and much of the world)

The most common international size is based on ISO 7810 ID‑1, the same format used for bank cards.

ISO standard business card dimensions:

• Size: 85 mm × 55 mm

• Aspect ratio: 1.545:1 (approx.)

A software consultancy in Germany, for example, will usually print cards at 85 × 55 mm. That card will slide into the same wallet slot as a debit card and match local card holders and folders.

When designing for ISO cards:

• Set the document size to 85 × 55 mm.

• Add bleed (often 3 mm on every side), so the print file becomes 91 × 61 mm.

• Keep logos and text inside a safe area, usually 3–5 mm from each trimmed edge.

US and Canada standard size

In the United States and Canada, printers default to a slightly wider, shorter rectangle.

US standard business card dimensions:

• Size: 3.5 in × 2 in

• Aspect ratio: 1.75:1

A real estate agent in Texas, for instance, will almost always hand out 3.5 × 2 inch cards. Card scanners, desk organizers, and off‑the‑shelf card sleeves are built around this format.

For US cards:

• Set the document size to 3.5 × 2 in.

• Add bleed (commonly 0.125 in on each side), giving a full layout of 3.75 × 2.25 in.

• Keep critical content at least 0.125–0.25 in away from the trim line.

Quick comparison: ISO vs US

Region / standardFinished size (mm)Finished size (inches)Typical use case exampleISO / Europe85 × 55 mm3.35 × 2.17 inAgencies, consultancies, banks in EUUS / Canada89 × 51 mm3.5 × 2 inSmall businesses, freelancers, corporate offices

If a tech startup in London and a SaaS vendor in San Francisco trade cards, the difference in Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) will be noticeable but still small enough that both fit most wallets.

Other Common Business Card Sizes and Variations

Standard Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) cover most needs, but some brands lean on alternative sizes to stand out. Non‑standard sizes work best when you know the trade‑offs for printing, cost, and storage.

Square business cards

Square cards immediately look different in a stack of rectangles.

Typical sizes include:

• 2 in × 2 in (about 51 × 51 mm)

• 2.5 in × 2.5 in (about 64 × 64 mm)

A boutique design studio might choose a 2.5 × 2.5 inch square card with a minimal logo on one side and a QR code on the back. It signals a design‑driven identity but will not fit some standard card holders.

Slim or mini business cards

Slim cards feel more like bookmarks than traditional cards.

Common sizes:

• 3.5 in × 1.5 in (about 89 × 38 mm)

• 3 in × 1 in (about 76 × 25 mm)

A cocktail bar could print 3.5 × 1.5 inch mini cards that list a signature drink on one side and contact details on the other. The unusual shape catches attention, but text space is limited, so the layout must stay simple.

Folded business cards

Folded cards double the surface area while keeping a standard footprint when closed.

Standard folded sizes:

• US folded: 3.5 in × 4 in, folded to 3.5 × 2 in

• ISO folded: 170 × 55 mm, folded to 85 × 55 mm

A law firm might use a 3.5 × 4 inch folded card. The front shows the logo and partner name, the inside lists practice areas, and the back holds a QR code linking to a secure client portal. When folded, it still fits any standard US business card holder.

Bleed, Trim, and Safe Area: Protecting Your Design

Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) describe the finished, trimmed size. Print files must extend beyond that size to avoid white edges and protect important content.

Bleed: extending color and images

Bleed is the extra area that extends past the final cut line. It prevents thin white lines from appearing if the cutting blade shifts slightly.

Typical bleed values:

• US: 0.125 in (3.175 mm) on each side

• ISO: 3 mm on each side

Example for a US card:

• Finished size: 3.5 × 2 in

• With bleed: 3.75 × 2.25 in

If a coffee shop prints a card with a full‑bleed photo of latte art, the imageConfirmDismiss should extend into the bleed area. That way, even if the cutter drifts by a fraction of a millimeter, the front still looks edge‑to‑edge.

Trim line: the final edge

The trim line marks where the card will be cut. Everything outside is bleed. Everything inside becomes the final product.

Design tools usually show this as a visible box. When setting up Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) in software like Adobe Illustrator, Figma, or Affinity Designer, you define:

• The trim size (e.g., 85 × 55 mm or 3.5 × 2 in)

• The bleed amount around that size

A print shop in Toronto, for example, may request a PDF with trim marks visible so the finishing team can align cutting equipment accurately.

Safe area: keeping text and logos intact

The safe area sits inside the trim line. Critical content should stay inside this zone to avoid being cut off or looking cramped.

Typical safe area margins:

• US cards: keep text at least 0.125–0.25 in from the trim edge

• ISO cards: keep text at least 3–5 mm from the trim edge

Imagine a marketing consultant’s card with a tagline along the bottom. If the text baseline sits only 1 mm from the trim, a slight shift during cutting can slice off part of the letters. Moving that text 4–5 mm inside the edge protects it.

Business Card Dimensions in Pixels for Digital Design

Many designers work in pixels, especially when starting in tools designed for screen interfaces. To match Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) to pixels, you need a resolution value, usually 300 DPI (dots per inch) for high‑quality print.

US standard size in pixels

For a 3.5 × 2 inch card at 300 DPI:

• Width: 3.5 in × 300 = 1050 px

• Height: 2 in × 300 = 600 px

With 0.125 in bleed on each side:

• Bleed width: 3.5 + 0.25 = 3.75 in → 1125 px

• Bleed height: 2 + 0.25 = 2.25 in → 675 px

So a full US layout including bleed is 1125 × 675 px at 300 DPI.

A freelance developer designing a quick card mockup in Figma can create a frame at 1125 × 675 px, set export to 300 DPI, and send the resulting PDF to a printer with confidence.

ISO standard size in pixels

The ISO size, 85 × 55 mm, needs conversion from millimeters to inches first.

• 1 inch = 25.4 mm

• Width: 85 ÷ 25.4 ≈ 3.346 in

• Height: 55 ÷ 25.4 ≈ 2.165 in

At 300 DPI:

• Width: 3.346 × 300 ≈ 1004 px

• Height: 2.165 × 300 ≈ 650 px

With 3 mm bleed on each side:

• New width: 85 + 6 = 91 mm → 91 ÷ 25.4 ≈ 3.583 in → 1075 px

• New height: 55 + 6 = 61 mm → 61 ÷ 25.4 ≈ 2.402 in → 721 px

A SaaS company in Paris can hand these exact pixel dimensions to a remote designer who works primarily in Sketch or Figma, avoiding any confusion about print sizing.

Choosing the right DPI

For print, common resolutions include:

• 300 DPI: standard for quality business cards

• 350 DPI: sometimes requested for very fine text or small details

If a local print shop in New York asks for 350 DPI, you can recalculate:

• US card at 3.5 × 2 in → 3.5 × 350 = 1225 px, 2 × 350 = 700 px

Maintaining correct Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) while adjusting DPI ensures sharp results without changing the physical size.

How to ChooseConfirmDismiss the Right Business Card Size

Picking between Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) and any custom variation depends on where you operate, how you hand out cards, and what information you need to include.

Match regional expectations

If most of your clients and partners are in one region, use that region’s standard.

• A fintech startup serving mainly US banks should pick 3.5 × 2 in.

• A logistics company working across Germany and the Netherlands should use 85 × 55 mm.

When a Berlin‑based founder attends a conference in San Francisco, US‑sized cards still work fine. However, printing them locally in Europe may cost more or require special handling. Sticking to ISO at home usually keeps pricing and production simple.

Align with brand personality and content

Size affects both style and practicality.

• Standard sizes work best for conservative fields like finance, law, and healthcare. A private equity firm that wants to project stability should not fight the standard.

• Square or mini sizes fit creative industries. A streetwear label can hand out 2 × 2 inch cards with bold artwork and a single QR code.

• Folded cards help when you need extra space. A software integrator could place API endpoints, support hours, and a short onboarding checklist inside a folded card.

Always mock up your information first. If you find yourself shrinking text below 7–8 pt to fit everything, either move to a folded format or trim the content.

Consider storage and accessories

Cards interact with physical objects:

• Wallet slots

• Desktop card holders

• Binder sleeves

• Card scanners

A sales rep who travels with a slim card case should stick with standard Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) so cards do not bend or fray at the edges.

A tattoo studio that displays cards at the counter may accept a non‑standard square format, because the cards live in a custom holder, not a wallet.

Practical Design Tips for Standard Business Card Dimensions

Getting the dimensions right is the baseline. The next step is to design within those limits so the card stays readable and on‑brand.

Typography and font size

On a 3.5 × 2 inch or 85 × 55 mm card, text can become cramped quickly.

Practical ranges:

• Name / primary role: 9–12 pt

• Contact details: 7–9 pt

• Tagline or secondary info: 7–8 pt

A cybersecurity consultant, for example, might use:

• 11 pt for the name

• 9 pt for the title and phone number

• 8 pt for a short tagline like “Security reviews for SaaS teams”

Anything below 7 pt risks becoming hard to read on uncoated stock.

Layout and hierarchy

Use the limited space to highlight what matters most.

On a standard US card:

• Top left or center: logo

• Center or left block: name and role

• Bottom or right block: phone, email, website

A photographer could place a full‑bleed imageConfirmDismiss on the front and move all text to the back. The Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) stay standard, but the layout feels more like a mini portfolio.

Color, finish, and material

Card dimensions interact with paper choice and finishing.

Examples:

• A matte laminated 3.5 × 2 inch card with spot UV on the logo suits a B2B SaaS vendor. The standard size keeps costs predictable; the finish adds a premium touch.

• A recycled 85 × 55 mm card with a simple one‑color logo works well for a sustainability consultant. The size follows ISO norms; the material tells a story.

Heavier stocks (like 16 pt or 18 pt) feel more substantial at standard Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US). Oversized cards in very thick stock can feel awkward and bulky.

Common Mistakes with Business Card Dimensions

Several recurring issues appear when people first work with Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US). Avoiding them saves time and reprints.

Designing at screen resolution

Creating a design at 72 DPI or 96 DPI and then scaling up will produce blurry print results.

Example mistake:

• File size: 350 × 200 px at 72 DPI

• Printed at 3.5 × 2 in → text and logos look soft

Correct approach:

• Start at 300 DPI with the proper pixel dimensions from the beginning.

Ignoring bleed and safe area

Leaving no bleed or placing text rightConfirmDismiss on the trim line leads to visible flaws.

A restaurant that prints daily special cards without bleed may see thin white edges around colored borders. Adding 0.125 in bleed around a 3.5 × 2 inch layout solves it immediately.

Mixing units or standards

Switching between inches and millimeters mid‑project can distort the final size.

Example:

• Creating a file at 90 × 50 mm by mistake instead of 85 × 55 mm

• Sending ISO dimensions to a US printer that expects 3.5 × 2 in

Always confirm whether a printer expects Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) in millimeters or inches and match that from the start.

FAQs about Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US)

What is the standard business card size in the US?

The standard US business card size is 3.5 × 2 inches (about 89 × 51 mm). Most US printers, card holders, and scanners use this format by default.

What is the standard business card size in Europe?

Across most of Europe, the standard size is 85 × 55 mm, aligned with the ISO 7810 ID‑1 format. This matches many bank cards and ID cards.

Can US and ISO business cards fit the same wallets?

Yes. The difference between Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) is only a few millimeters. Both usually fit standard wallet slots, though card holders with very tight tolerances may favor one size.

How much bleed should a business card have?

Most printers recommend 0.125 in (3.175 mm) bleed on each side for US cards and about 3 mm for ISO cards. Always confirm the exact value with your print provider.

What DPI should be used for business card designs?

Use at least 300 DPI for print. For very fine text or detailed graphics, some printers prefer 350 DPI, but 300 DPI remains the standard starting point.

Are square business cards a good idea?

Square cards, such as 2 × 2 in or 2.5 × 2.5 in, can stand out visually and work well for creative brands. However, they may not fit standard card holders and can cost more to print.

Can the same design work for both ISO and US sizes?

Yes, but it needs careful adjustment. Keep key content inside a central safe area, then export two versions: one at 85 × 55 mm and one at 3.5 × 2 in, each with its own bleed settings.

What is the best business card size for QR codes?

Standard Business Card Dimensions (ISO & US) both work well for QR codes. A US card at 3.5 × 2 in or an ISO card at 85 × 55 mm has enough space for a QR code of 0.8–1 in (20–25 mm) wide plus supporting text.

Do digital business cards still need standard dimensions?

Digital cards displayed on phones do not require fixed physical dimensionsConfirmDismiss, but when exporting a design as a shareable imageConfirmDismiss or PDF, using standard Business Card DimensionsConfirmDismiss (ISO & US) keeps it ready for print if needed later.