Business cards that get kept: size, stock and finish

A business card is often the only printed piece a new contact takes away from a meeting. It is also small, inexpensive and easy to get wrong. The cards that are kept tend to have a few things in common: they fit where cards are stored, they feel solid in the hand and they are easy to read.

The steps below cover the decisions that matter most, in the order we usually discuss them with customers.

Keep to the standard size

The standard business card in Puerto Rico and the United States measures 3.5 by 2 inches. Wallets, card holders and desk organizers are made for that size.

Square cards, oversized cards and custom shapes do attract attention. They can also be the card that does not fit anywhere and is left behind. If a different format is important to the brand, we suggest keeping at least one dimension standard so the card can still be stored.

Choose a stock with substance

Business cards are printed on cover stock, the thicker family of papers. Within that family there is a wide range, and thickness is the first thing people notice when they are handed a card. A thin card bends easily and can feel temporary. A thicker card holds its shape in a wallet and suggests that care was taken.

Our post on paper weights and finishes explains how these stocks are measured. For cards, the practical advice is to compare samples in the hand before choosing.

Select the finish by how the card will be used

• Uncoated or matte: a clean, low-glare surface. Uncoated stock accepts handwriting, which is useful for appointment times or a personal note.
• Gloss: makes color and photographs more vivid. It is harder to write on.
• Specialty finishes: options such as soft-touch coatings, foil or spot gloss can add interest. Availability and cost depend on the quantity, so it is best to ask early.

Cards that will be written on should have at least one uncoated or matte side.

Include only what someone needs to reach you

Most cards need a name, a title, the company, one phone number, an email address and a website. Every additional line makes the rest harder to read.

• Keep small text at a size that can be read without effort. As a general guide, we avoid going below 8 points.
• Use strong contrast. Light gray text on a white card is a frequent cause of unreadable cards.
• Leave empty space around the logo and the text.

Give the back a purpose

The back of the card can carry a short list of services, a QR code that leads to a website or contact page, or a space for appointments. It can also be left blank for notes. Any of these is a reasonable choice. Filling the back with everything that did not fit on the front is usually not.

Prepare the file correctly

Because the card is small, minor file problems are easy to see once it is printed.

• Extend backgrounds and color 1/8 inch beyond the trim line on every side. This is the bleed.
• Keep text and logos at least 1/8 inch inside the trim line.
• Use a vector logo, or an image at 300 dpi at final size.

Our guide to print-ready files describes each of these points in more detail.

Order a quantity you will use

Titles, phone numbers and addresses change. A large box of cards with outdated information tends to be corrected by hand or discarded. Digital printing makes smaller quantities practical, so it is often better to order what will be used in the coming months and reorder with current details.

Common mistakes

• Text that is too small or too light to read.
• A logo taken from a website, which prints blurred.
• Gloss on both sides of a card that needs to be written on.
• Too many phone numbers, addresses and social media accounts.
• Old information corrected with a pen.

Reordering? It is a good moment to confirm that every name, title and number is still current before the cards are printed again.

If you would like cards for one person or for a whole team, request a quote and tell us the quantity for each name. We will suggest a stock and a finish to match.