In the UK, most business card standard size dimensions fall within small rectangles that measure 85 mm wide and 55 mm high. This makes the UK business card approximately the same size as a credit or debit card (85.60mm × 53.98mm).

You can create business cards in different sizes, which is especially important if you work with foreign businesses. However, the dimensions in this guide are the most typical business card size for professionals in the UK.

While business card design can vary from one industry to the next, there is a business card standard size that’s used almost universally throughout the UK. If you’re looking to design and print business cards, it’s important that you are familiar with these standard dimensions, as they are the parameters within which you can create the perfect card. This guide will help you understand the standard size for your business card (and give you a few design tips, too). 

Why Use Business Cards?

Although email and professional social media are commonplace in companies worldwide, thousands of men and women still make connections and introductions using their business cards. They exchange cards to network in their jobs, they contact colleagues using business cards they’ve received, they even toss their card into drawings to with a free lunch. Your card provides a tangible representation of your business among prospective clients and partners. As such, most people would want to put their best foot forward when it comes to business card designs.

International Standard Business Card Sizes 

If you work with companies abroad, you might have noticed that not everyone adheres to the UK’s average business card size. This is because there’s no international standard. Most people simply follow the common design practices for their own country. For comparison, let’s look at a few of the business card standards around the world:

Country/Standard	Dimensions (millimeters)
Canada, United States	89mm × 51mm
Japan	91mm × 55mm
Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Slovenia, Portugal, Turkey	85mm × 55mm
Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Taiwan, Sweden, Vietnam, India, Colombia	90mm × 55mm
Credit card size	85.60mm × 53.98mm

Additionally, some individuals may opt to use an unusual shape or specialty business card. For instance, musicians might carry a card in the shape of a guitar, while gardeners and landscapers might even print their contact information on a packet of seeds. Again, there is no official standard for a business card; a standard rectangle will do the job just fine, but you can also experiment with new business card trends or creative designs to help you stand out.  

Designing Your Business Card 

So, you’ve decided to start designing your business card. You’ve chosen the classic rectangle shape, and now you have 85×55mm in which to create the perfect design. How should you begin? 

The first thing you should remember is to keep it simple. Your business card has one main goal: give people a way to contact you. It is paramount that your name and contact information are clear and easy to read – and you might want to remember these little tips, too:

Pay Attention to the Print Bleed Area 

If you decide to print a colorful border or similar design on your business card, you’ll want to make sure that the design reaches the edge of the card but does not spill over. This means designing for the “bleed” – in other words, creating a design that is just slightly larger than the card itself. 

With a standard UK business card, your design should be about 95.25 mm wide and 57.15 mm tall to account for bleed. This will ensure that the design covers the entire card and that you have crisp, clean edges once the printer cuts the card down to size. 

Choosing the Right Font for Your Business Card

Most people exchange business cards during their first meeting with a prospective employer, business partner, or client. As a result, their card acts like an extension of their first impression – and an effective business card needs to look as professional and elegant as possible. How are you supposed to convey professionalism in a small rectangle of cardstock? The key is to print your business cards in the right font. 

There are countless fonts to choose from when you go design a business card, so don’t be afraid to try a few different options. Just remember that your font needs to have two important qualities: it needs to be easy to read, and it needs to reflect the kind of work you do. For example, flowery script might be great for a wedding planner or artist, sans serif fonts are ideal for a tech entrepreneur, while standard serif fonts convey professionalism in almost any career path.

Finding the Right Resolution for Your Business Card Dimensions

You’ve spent hours designing the perfect business card. You’ve accounted for print bleed, selected a professional-looking font, and printed a sample card to see your handiwork. But when you look at the card, you find yourself disappointed. Your logo is blurry! How do you fix this problem? Luckily, it’s not hard to avoid blurry images on your business cards – you just need to use the right image resolution. 

To get a clear, high-quality image on most printed matter, you ought to use images that use a high number of pixels per inch (or PPI). This tells us how many pixels are being used to create each square inch of an image, and the higher they are, the clearer the image will be. When you print a business card, ensure that any images you use in your design have at least 300 PPI, as this will produce a clear image with every print.

The standard UK business card is hardly 47 square centimeters, but it is a very important tool among professionals. With these tips, you’ll be able to design a business card that’s clean, professional, easy to read, and highly appealing.

Choose the Right Business Card Templates 

With the right design templates, business card and document size is something small business owners and marketers don’t even have to think about. Explore our full range of business card templates and read our blog for even more insights on graphic design, printing, and marketing.