In spite of the overly flashy and extravagant samples we currently see, a business card should be very simple, concise, and to the point.

This article will be tailored to direct and guide you to pick or select the perfect business card size. We will also be discussing with you a brief history of business cards just to give you an understanding of how far the business card has come.

The Origins of Business Cards

The origin of the modern-day business card can be traced back to 17th century Europe. They were typically given by aristocrats to fellow aristocrats to announce their arrival in a town or village in the countryside and they were rarely used for business.

People collected the cards, and many wealthy families and merchants contested with one another to determine who can make the most aesthetically pleasing cards possible.

The entire aim of these cards slowly changed and they morphed into calling cards. When they entered a wealthy home, visitors place their calling cards on a special tray, especially if the homeowners were not home. The calling cards would let them know that someone came by.

After the Industrial Revolution in the 20th century, these cards became a norm for businessmen. Entrepreneurs and aspiring businessmen began exchanging cards with one another to emulate the upper class.

In more recent times business cards are not usually used by aristocrats and have become a major marketplace accessory.

What Is The Standard Business Card Size?

A standard business card is typically about 3.5 inches by 2 inches, give or take a centimeter or two. This is the recommended size for a business card because it matches the dimensions of a credit card, identity card, or driver’s license and this enables it to fit neatly into a wallet, purse, or pocket.

The dimensions for an unfinished business card are about 3.61” x 2.11”. the extra space gives the card designer or printer room to eliminate any unwanted white borders around the edges of the card.

Standard Business Card Size In Malaysia?

Although there seems to be a generally accepted standard or classic business card size, in various countries around the world the standard business card is mildly different. For instance, the standard business card size in the United Kingdom (UK) is different from that of the United States Of America (USA).

The same can be said in the case of Malaysia the standard business card size is different than it is in many other countries. In Malaysia, the standard business card size is 9 x 5.4 cm which translates to roughly about  3.5inches by 2.1 inches.

What Is A Good Thickness/Width For Business Cards?

The thickness of the business card does not really affect your design decisions unlike the size, business cards typically come in varying levels of thickness depending on the kind of paper you choose to print your card on.

Most people assume that the thicker a business card is the more luxurious it looks and feels but on the contrary when it comes to business cards thicker is not necessarily better.

A standard or classic business card stands at 14pt, about the same thickness as a flyer or brochure. Business cards with a 16pt thickness are also trendy and efficient, they are similar in thickness to a greeting card or manilla folder.

Regardless of the thickness you choose, the principal thing is that your cards are solid, have longevity, and are appealing to the eyes no matter how often they’re passed around.

What Size Is A Business Card In Photoshop?

There are various tools used to create custom business card designs, Photoshop is one of the tools that excel at doing just that.

When creating a business card in photoshop the ideal dimensions or size should be 3.75″ x 2.25″ and you should leave about 1/8″ on each edge for the print bleed. You should also use CMYK colour and set it at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch so that your prints turn out of high quality.

Need help to get started? Get our free business card template.

How Do I Print A Business Card?

When designing your business card, it is important but not damning for you to pick a printing method and this depends on where you intend to print your business cards.

If you intend to print your publication at a commercial printer you should really consider using printing methods like spot colour or process colours, this in part helps you plan ahead for any printing issues that could potentially affect your design decisions.

Also Read: Possible Issues that Might Occur in Spot UV Printing and How You Can Avoid It

After designing your business card, the next logical step is to decide what size you are going to print your business card in. when you have come to that decision, you are ready to print.

Ideally, all the business cards that you design can be printed on your desktop printer or taken to a commercial printer, depending on your needs

Below are a few crucial steps in printing your business card size:

• Commercial printing companies have advanced machinery and offer a variety of papers, inks, varnishes, and other options. This makes them more suited for large quantity printing and precise alignments and folds and matching your design to a particular colour.
•  A desktop printer can also give you decent quality cards as well. Using a desktop printer gives you ample room to alter your business cards at any time to fit in with your needs. A lot of office supply stores typically have prescored card sheets in a variety of colours and specialty papers that have preprinted designs.
• After creating your business card template and ensuring that it is to your taste, click File and then click Print.
• Choose the correct printer.
• Under Printing options, make sure that Multiple pages per sheet are selected and put in the correct size
• Select the paper size and orientation.
• Click the Print button at the top of the screen

Summary

As we have explored, there’s a lot that goes into deciding what business card size to pick and the huge impact and effect something as simple as a business card can have on your business or brand.

Business cards if done efficiently can aid in taking your business to greater heights of success but if done poorly could give clients or customers the wrong impression about your business.

If you are looking for a reliable business card printing service, Printoka offers business name card printing with easy online ordering and low MOQ. Order online now!