{"id":1150,"date":"2026-09-03T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T06:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.banana-print.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1150"},"modified":"2026-09-03T13:47:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:47:41","slug":"business-card-standard-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.banana-print.co.uk\/blog\/business-card-standard-size\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Card Standard Size Guide for the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

First published: 3 October 2019 | Updated: 3 September 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

The standard UK business card size is 85mm x 55mm (8.5cm x 5.5cm), close to the size of a credit card. For artwork with a bleed, design at 91mm x 61mm, which works out to roughly 1075px x 721px at 300 DPI. Here’s the full breakdown, plus how it compares internationally and what to watch for when setting up your file.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick answer at a glance:<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Measurement<\/b><\/th>\nSize<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Finished (trim) size<\/span><\/td>\n85mm x 55mm \/ 8.5cm x 5.5cm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With 3mm bleed<\/span><\/td>\n91mm x 61mm \/ 9.1cm x 6.1cm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trim size in pixels (300 DPI)<\/span><\/td>\n~1004px x 650px<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
With bleed, in pixels (300 DPI)<\/span><\/td>\n~1075px x 721px<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Safe zone<\/span><\/td>\nKeep text and logos 4-5mm inside the trim line<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Ready to design yours? <\/b>Browse our business card templates<\/b><\/a><\/span> or <\/b>upload your own artwork<\/span><\/b><\/a> built to these exact dimensions.<\/b><\/p>\n

Why You Need a Bleed Measurement<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If your design includes a background colour, photo, or graphic that runs to the edge of the card, you need bleed, extra artwork beyond the trim line, so that small variations in cutting don’t leave a thin white border. For a UK 85mm x 55mm card, that means designing at 91mm x 61mm (3mm added on all sides), then keeping any text or logos at least 4-5mm inside the trim line (the “safe zone”) so nothing is at risk of being cut off.<\/span><\/p>\n

International Standard Business Card Sizes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you work with businesses abroad, it’s worth knowing that there’s no single global standard; most countries follow their own long-standing convention:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Country\/Region<\/b><\/th>\nDimensions (mm)<\/b><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and most of Europe<\/span><\/td>\n85mm x 55mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
USA, Canada<\/span><\/td>\n89mm x 51mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Japan<\/span><\/td>\n91mm x 55mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, India<\/span><\/td>\n90mm x 55mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Credit card (ISO\/IEC 7810 ID-1)<\/span><\/td>\n85.60mm x 53.98mm<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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The UK size is close enough to the US size that cards from either region will generally still fit standard wallets and card holders, but they’re not identical, so it’s worth designing to your own region’s standard rather than assuming they’re interchangeable.<\/span><\/p>\n

A note on etiquette, not just size:<\/b> if you’re doing business internationally, sizing is only half the picture. In Japan, for example, business cards (meishi) are traditionally exchanged and received with both hands, examined briefly before being put away rather than pocketed immediately \u2014 a small cultural detail worth knowing if size compatibility is only step one of making a good impression abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Standard Sizing Actually Matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Beyond wallet and card-holder compatibility, there’s a practical reason to stick close to 85mm x 55mm, even if you’re tempted to go custom: business card scanning apps (the kind that let someone photograph a card and automatically extract contact details) are generally calibrated to expect standard dimensions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A card that’s significantly oversized, undersized, or unusually shaped can trip up automatic recognition, meaning the person you handed it to has to type your details in manually instead. It’s a small thing, but it’s the kind of friction that defeats the purpose of a business card in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the Standard Rectangle: Other Formats<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The 85mm x 55mm rectangle is the default, but it’s not the only option:<\/span><\/p>\n