Standard US business card dimensions are 3.5 x 2 inches, measured at the finished edge. That's the usual answer to “what size is a business card?” and a listed size for all four Angels Print products covered here. Your artwork file may need additional space for bleed, so confirm the selected product's requirements before setting up the document.
Which business card dimensions should you choose?
Start with the finished size. A 3.5 x 2-inch rectangle gives you a familiar format for contact details, while a different shape changes how you arrange the same information. Choose the format before designing; squeezing an existing layout into a smaller width can leave names and phone numbers difficult to read.
3.5 x 2 inches. This size is available for Classic Business Cards, Clear Plastic Business Cards, Die Cut Business Cards and Double Thick Duplex Cards. For a vertical design, the same rectangle reads as 2 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall. Confirm artwork orientation with your selected configuration.
3.35 x 2.16 inches. Classic and Clear Plastic Business Cards both list this option. It's narrower and taller than the standard US rectangle. Treat it as a separate layout size, especially if your design uses a border or places contact details close to an edge.
2 x 2 inches. Classic Business Cards list this size for square and circle shapes. The outside measurements match, but the usable layout does not: a circle removes the corner areas available on a square. Keep that distinction in view before positioning text.
Custom dimensions. Classic, Die Cut and Double Thick Duplex Cards list Custom Size. The configurator confirms available dimensions and combinations. Clear Plastic Business Cards list two named sizes, so ask about any other dimensions before preparing artwork for that product.
Does a thicker card need a larger size?
No. Thickness and face dimensions are separate choices. You can select the listed 3.5 x 2-inch size across these four products while changing the stock or construction. Decide how much room your information needs first, then choose the material.
Classic Business Cards offer 14PT and 16PT coated stocks alongside uncoated cover and Classic Crest options. Depending on the stock, listed finishes include glossy, dull matte or UV high-gloss. Front Only and Front and Back printing are available. The configurator confirms which finish works with your stock.
Clear Plastic Business Cards list 30PT clear, frosted and white plastic. Their listed printing option is Front Only, with 1/8-inch rounded corners. Plan your information for one printed face. Don't build a two-sided layout on the assumption that every business card product supports it.
Double Thick Duplex Cards include 28PT coated cover in two layers and 24PT uncoated options. Select the size deliberately: this product's default dimensions are 4 x 6 inches, although 3.5 x 2 inches is available. A product name alone doesn't confirm that the initial configuration is business-card size.
How do custom shapes and corners affect the layout?
Die Cut Business Cards list Custom Shape, with a 3.5 x 2-inch size and a Custom Size option. Those outside measurements don't tell you how much room remains inside a particular outline. Settle the shape and its artwork requirements before placing your contact details.
Rounded corners also deserve attention. Classic and Double Thick Duplex Cards list 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch corner options, subject to the selected configuration. Text positioned tightly into a square corner may need to move inward when that corner becomes rounded.
Give the edge some room. A thin border can make small trim differences more visible, and slight trim variation is normal in printing. Follow the specified safe area rather than judging clearance from an enlarged screen preview.
What changes the price besides business card size?
Compare complete configurations. Stock, printed sides and finishing selections can change what you're ordering, even when the dimensions stay at 3.5 x 2 inches. Die Cut Cards list foil and raised spot UV options; Double Thick Duplex Cards also list painted edges. Availability depends on the selections.
The catalogue starting prices refer to different default runs. They aren't matched quotes for the same quantity, size and finish.
Classic Business Cards: from $1000.00, with a listed default run of 17450 pieces.
Clear Plastic Business Cards: from $1000.32, with a listed default run of 661 pieces.
Die Cut Business Cards: from $1000.10, with a listed default run of 2256 pieces.
Double Thick Duplex Cards: from $1000.46, with a listed default run of 789 pieces.
Choose the quantity you need in the configurator. Classic Cards list quantity choices from 50 to 20000, while Clear Plastic Cards list choices from 50 to 1000. Die Cut and Double Thick Duplex Cards list choices from 100 to 5000. These menus contain specific increments, not every number between their endpoints.
Checkout gives the final price for your selected configuration. If people need to write on the card, settle that requirement before choosing a finish; the guide to choosing a writable business card stock covers that separate decision.
How should you set up the artwork file?
Separate finished size from file size. Trim is the intended finished edge. Bleed is artwork extending beyond that edge where required. The safe area keeps important content inward from the cut. A 3.5 x 2-inch product listing doesn't establish the bleed amount or safe-area distance.
Read the requirements beside the selected product's artwork upload. Use its listed file types and follow its size instructions. A print-ready PDF can be useful for a finished layout, but don't assume a universal PDF setup applies to every material or custom shape. Ask about missing requirements before building the file.
Check images at final print size. Enlarging a small raster logo can expose softness that wasn't obvious in its original view. Also inspect the layout at its intended physical size so you can judge the readability of smaller contact details.
Review the selected printed sides against your files. Classic, Die Cut and Double Thick Duplex Cards list Front Only and Front and Back; Clear Plastic Cards list Front Only. Uploading artwork or seeing a preview does not confirm that it is ready for production.
What should you check before placing the order?
Confirm the finished dimensions in the order, particularly if you started with Double Thick Duplex Cards or changed shapes during configuration. Then compare the artwork with that selection. An attractive preview cannot correct a mismatch between a 4 x 6-inch order and a business-card layout.
Check spelling and contact details before payment. A digital proof by email is available on request, but manufacturing starts immediately after payment. If you need proof review, discuss it with Angels Print before paying. Screen colors may not exactly match the printed result.
Order through Business Card Printing, call Angels Print at (818) 806-9006 to confirm your size and artwork requirements, or visit 8511 Lankershim Blvd, Sun Valley, CA 91352. Pickup at the shop is always free.
Frequently asked questions
What size are business cards in the US?
The standard US business card size is 3.5 x 2 inches at the finished edge. All four products covered here list that size. Confirm bleed and safe-area requirements separately before preparing the artwork file.
What is the average business card size?
If you mean the usual US format, use 3.5 x 2 inches. That's a standard size rather than a calculated average. Other listed Angels Print options include 3.35 x 2.16 inches and 2 x 2 inches, depending on the product and shape.
What size should my business card file be with bleed?
Use the bleed requirement provided for your selected product. The finished dimensions alone don't establish the complete file size. If a bleed amount or safe-area requirement isn't listed, ask Angels Print before preparing the file.
Can I order thick business cards at the standard size?
Yes. Double Thick Duplex Cards list a 3.5 x 2-inch option alongside larger formats. Select it deliberately because the product's default dimensions are 4 x 6 inches. Available stocks and finishes depend on the configuration.