- Standard 3.5" × 2" business card size + other sizes
- Thick, premium cardstock
- Gloss, matte, or uncoated finishes
- Optional rounded corners
- Premium upgrades available
- Quantities from 25 to 10,000
- Fast turnaround options available (1-3 days)
- Easy-to-use design templates (browse here)
Standard Business Cards
Features
- Standard 3.5" × 2" business card size + other sizes
- Thick, premium cardstock
- Gloss, matte, or uncoated finishes
- Optional rounded corners
- Premium upgrades available
- Quantities from 25 to 10,000
- Fast turnaround options available (1-3 days)
- Easy-to-use design templates (browse here)
Standard Business Cards: A Classic Favorite
Order standard business cards that are ready in one to three business days. Our most budget-friendly option is perfect for quick runs and first-time orders. Here are the specs for standard business cards:

Size: 3.5” x 2”, 2” x 3.5”
The industry-standard size that fits perfectly in wallets, card holders, and hands.

Paper: 14 pt. Gloss Cardstock
Durable and smooth with a glossy finish that makes colors pop.

Printing: Front Only or Both Sides
Printing on the front only is a budget-friendly choice perfect for essential info and simple designs.
Upgrade Your Business Cards With Our Premium Options

Foil Stamping
Add shimmering metallic accents perfect for highlighting logos, names, and other design elements. Foil colors are available in gold, copper, silver, black, blue, and red.
Silk Lamination
Enjoy a smooth, velvety texture on a 16 pt. cardstock. This soft-touch coating resists water, smudges, and daily wear delivering long-lasting elegance.
Spot UV Coating
Spot UV adds a glossy layer to certain elements in your design like text, graphics, or logos. Available on 16 pt. cardstock under Foil and Silk option.
Rounded Corners
Soften the look of your card with smooth, rounded edges. This simple touch creates a modern, refined appearance that stands out.
Which Cardstock Is Right for You: 14 pt., 16 pt., or 17 pt.?
Available Options |
14 pt. Cardstock |
16 pt. Cardstock |
17 pt. Cardstock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness and Feel | Most common, lightweight yet sturdy |
Thicker than 14 pt., more solid and substantial, with more premium options to upgrade UPrinting Recommends! |
Thickest option available, high-end feel |
| Gloss and Matte Finish Compatibility | Yes | Yes | No |
| Writability | Yes, choose the Uncoated Cardstock option | No Uncoated option | Yes, choose the Uncoated Cardstock option |
| Premium Upgrades | Foil | Foil, Spot UV, Silk | Uncoated option only |
Standard Business Card Printing FAQs
2” x 3.5” is the US standard business card size. It fits easily in wallets and cardholders.
Learn more about Business Card Sizes in this guide.
- Standard thickness, commonly used by most customers
- Flexible and cost-effective
- Sturdy enough for everyday business cards
- Ideal for bulk orders and general use
16 pt. (0.016 inches)
- Slightly thicker and sturdier than 14 pt.
- Provides a more professional, premium feel
- Popular choice for cards with coatings (e.g., gloss or matte)
- Great for customers who want a more substantial card without going too heavy
- Thickest cardstock availableat [brand]
- Heavier and more durable than 16 pt.
- Excellent quality with a bare, uncoated finish
- Provides superior writability (easy to write on with pens or markers)
- Best for customers seeking maximum durability
You need your business card design file.
If you have your design file ready, proceed to upload your own artwork. We offer free proofing to ensure your designs are print-ready.
If you do not have your designs ready, you can choose from two options:
Option 1: Design Online. Use our easy-to-use design tool to create your card from scratch.
Option 2: Use Our Design Templates. Choose from professionally designed layouts you can customize with your logo, business info, and branding.
- Your name and job title
- Company name and logo
- Phone number and email address
- Website or social media handle (optional, only if available)
- Business address (optional, for office/physical locations)
The minimum order for business cards is just 25 pieces, definitely an affordable option!
Choose our one business day print turnaround for the fastest production time. Use the shipping calculator to check delivery dates based on your ZIP code.
We recommend PDF. We also accept JPG, PNG, PSD, AI, DOCX, and other popular formats.
The business card design should be placed within three lines that guide how the material is cut. Our available layout templates already include these lines. But those who want to start from scratch need to create a design within the following standard guidelines:
- Safety Line is placed around the actual business card design, particularly your logo, contact information, etc.
- Trim Area is the area between the bleed line and safety line. This provides additional room for cutting the business card.
- Bleed Line refers to the edge of your business card file. The background of your design should go all the way up to this area to prevent the appearance of a white border.

Business cards are compact (typically 3.5" × 2"), so text that looks fine on screen may seem smaller and difficult to read once printed. Please note that the font type, background color contrast, and paper stock all influence how clearly text prints. Even if the size meets the minimum requirement, poor design choices can compromise readability.
How to Ensure Your Business Card Text is Readable
Font Size
- Minimum accepted size: 5 pt.
- Use at least 5 pt. for dark text on a light background.
- Increase to 7 pt. for white text on a dark background.
Contrast
- Always maintain strong contrast between text and background:
- Use dark text on light backgrounds.
- Use light text on dark backgrounds.
- Note that poor contrast reduces readability even if the font size is sufficient.
Font Weight
- Avoid ultra-thin or hairline fonts. Thin typefaces often fade or disappear in print, especially on matte or uncoated paper stocks.
- Proof the document's actual size. Set your design software or PDF proof to 100% zoom (actual size). If text is hard to read on screen at true size, it will be harder to read once printed.
- Once you receive the digital proof, do a test print on the actual size (page scaling should be set to none). You can use a regular office printer for the test.
- Ensure adequate line spacing between elements such as email, phone number, and job title.
- Keep each line distinct to prevent crowding and improve legibility.
Mostly okay but could use a bit of reformatting so it's aligned with previous Q&As
1. Gloss Coating — Rich & Saturated. Reflects more light, making colors appear:
- Richer and more saturated
- Higher in contrast and bolder
- Sharper in detail (ideal for photography and logos)
2. Matte Coating — Soft & Muted. Absorbs more light and slightly more ink, leading to:
- Softer, muted tones
- Lower contrast
- Smooth, elegant, non-reflective finish
3. Uncoated Stock — Natural & Dull. Most absorbent option, causing:
- Noticeably duller colors
- Softer fine details
- A natural look (commonly used for letterhead and stationery)
- Extremely saturated colors
- Glassy, reflective surface
- Crisp, vivid details
1. Silk Cardstock
- Finish: Smooth, matte-coated with subtle low sheen
- Feel: Smooth and luxurious
- Appearance: Soft matte, non-reflective, professional look
- Benefits: Water-resistant, durable, elevates color clarity while minimizing glare
- Best for: Clean, understated professionalism and traditional luxury without added texture
2. Fine Grit Cardstock
- Finish: Laminated with a subtle sandpaper-like texture
- Feel: Slightly coarse, tactile, grippy (but not uncomfortable)
- Appearance: Matte, non-gloss, fingerprint-resistant
- Benefits: Highly durable, smudge-resistant, and adds a strong tactile interest for standout cards
- Best for: Brands that want immediate tactile impact and a tough, practical finish
3. Soft Touch Cardstock
- Finish: Laminated with a velvety, suede-like surface
- Feel: Ultra-soft, “peach-skin” texture
- Appearance: More plush and luxurious than Silk
- Benefits: Matte look, highly fingerprint-resistant, and perceived as high-end and elegant
- Best for: Premium branding, luxury experiences, and designs aiming for a sensory “wow factor”
Previewing your design properly helps prevent costly errors and ensures a professional final product. Follow these steps to ensure you're previewing your file correctly:
1. Request a Free PDF Proof
- Proofs are typically sent via email within 12 hours.
- Use this file to verify layout, text, images, and placement before approval.
- Download templates from the Template section to ensure correct bleed, trim, and safety margins.
- Alternatively, use the online design tool on the configure and price screen for built-in accuracy.
3. Check Color Mode, Resolution, Margins, Bleed, and Safe Zones
- Convert files to CMYK so we can produce the artwork as close as possible.
- Use 300 dpi resolution for sharp, print-ready output.
- Files not meeting these standards may be placed on hold until corrected.
- Ensure no critical text or images fall outside the safe zone.
- Confirm bleed is properly set to avoid unwanted white edges or hairlines.
4. Do a Manual Print Check
- Download the proof file and print it at 100% scale (set page scaling to “none”).
- Review readability, spacing, and margins in real size.
Summary:
- Always request a PDF proof.
- Use templates or the online tool for accuracy.
- Confirm that the file is set to CMYK color mode and has at least 300 dpi resolution.
- Print at actual size to check readability.
- Double-check margins, bleed, and safe zones.
- Front (Coated: Gloss, UV, or Matte): Produces vivid color, high contrast, and crisp detail.
- Back (Uncoated): Writable surface that accepts pen, pencil, or marker without smudging.
If you wish to mail cards for personal and professional correspondence, your best options would be to use business cards or greeting cards. As for marketing outreach, postcards are the ideal medium. All of these may be sent in envelopes to help you ensure that your mail looks polished and that they arrive safely. We also offer Every Door Direct Mail services for your convenience.
- Extend borders into the bleed area to avoid unintended white edges.
- Keep borders at least 1/8" inside the safe zone to minimize the risk of uneven trimming.
- Provide technical notes upon file upload if your border color differs from the artwork’s dominant background color, as our standard process uses the dominant color for alignment.
By following these guidelines, you can maintain both the elegance of your design and the professional quality of the final printed product
Even small misalignments can make a business card look sloppy. To ensure your cards print cleanly and maintain a professional appearance, follow these key guidelines:
- Use a template. Access free business card templates from our template section to ensure proper sizing and alignment.
- Set correct margins and bleeds. Include a bleed of 0.125" (1/8") beyond the trim edge to prevent white hairlines. Keep important text and images at least 0.125" inside the trim line to avoid being cut off.
- Observe proper spacing and proportions when laying out texts and images. Avoid positioning critical text or logos too close to the edges. Maintain consistent spacing for a balanced layout.
- Print a test copy. Run a test print of the digital proof on standard paper and fold it in half to check alignment and content placement before approving the full print run.
Bestselling Business Card Styles to Consider
Explore more top-selling business card options:
Free Business Cards Design Templates
Follow these simple steps to customize your business cards with our free design templates below: