How to make business cards
- Enter your Name, Job title, Company, Phone, Email, Website and Address. Empty fields are skipped.
- Pick a Style (Classic, Modern, Dark or Gradient) and an Accent color.
- Choose the Card size: 3.5 x 2 in (US) or 85 x 55 mm (Europe).
- Set the Print layout. 10 cards per sheet asks for a Paper size (US Letter or A4) and optional Cut marks. One card per page makes a PDF the size of a single card.
- Check the note under the card, then select Print / Save as PDF. For a sheet, print at 100% scale (Actual size), not Fit to page.
How the sheet is laid out
A sheet holds 2 columns and 5 rows of cards with no gaps, centered on the paper. The US size is 3.5 x 2 inches (88.9 x 50.8 mm), the same 2 x 3.5 inch, 10-per-sheet format as Avery 8371 stock. The common European size is 85 x 55 mm (Gelato size guide). Cut marks are short ticks in the margin at every card edge, so no line is printed on the cards.
The company name and the Dark and Gradient backgrounds are adjusted automatically so text keeps a 4.5 to 1 contrast ratio, even for very pale or very dark accent colors.
Worked example
With the defaults, the card shows Jane Smith, Senior Designer, Acme Corp and four contact lines on a Classic card with a blue edge, and the note reads "Everything fits on the card." The sheet preview shows ten copies on US Letter. Ten cards make a 7 x 10 inch block, so the side margins are (8.5 minus 7) / 2 = 0.75 inch and the top and bottom margins are (11 minus 10) / 2 = 0.5 inch. On A4 the same block leaves (210 minus 177.8) / 2 = 16.1 mm at the sides and (297 minus 254) / 2 = 21.5 mm at the top and bottom.
Limits and edge cases
- There is no bleed area. Dark and Gradient fill the whole card, so trim carefully, or choose Classic or Modern for the cleanest cut on a home printer. Commercial printers usually want bleed.
- Text is never shrunk. If it does not fit, the note says so: shorten the longest line or drop one.
- Line breaks in the Address become commas. There is no logo, back side or QR code, but the QR Code Generator can make a code for another design.
- Five rows of 85 x 55 mm cards do not fit on US Letter, so that combination is blocked. Use A4 or the US size.
- Match your stationery with the Letterhead Generator.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard business card?
In the US and Canada it is 3.5 x 2 inches. Much of Europe uses 85 x 55 mm. Both are offered under Card size.
Can I print these on Avery 8371 card stock?
Choose 10 cards per sheet on US Letter, the 3.5 x 2 in size and print at 100% scale. Print one page on plain paper first and hold it against a card sheet to check the alignment.
How do I save a business card as a PDF for a print shop?
Set Print layout to One card per page, select Print / Save as PDF and choose Save as PDF. The page is exactly the size of one card. Ask the shop whether it needs bleed, because this PDF has none.
What should I put on a business card?
Your name, job title, company and one or two ways to reach you. This tool places up to four contact lines: phone, email, website and address.
Why is some of my text missing on the card?
Text that does not fit is clipped. The note under the preview turns red when that happens, so shorten the longest line or remove one.
Sources: Avery, Business Cards 8371; Gelato, Business card size guide