Custom Business Cards

A business card is a printed 3.5 x 2 inch (89 x 51 mm) card that carries a person's name, role, company, and contact details, handed out during in-person introductions. It is one of the most-touched pieces of branded print a business owns, which is why stock weight, finish, and print quality matter as much as the layout. Packaging Vista prints custom business cards on 14 pt to 32 pt stocks (including triple-layer 48 pt cards with a colored core), finished with matte, gloss, or soft-touch lamination, spot UV, foil, letterpress, embossing, or painted edges. Everything runs full-color CMYK with Pantone spot matching, a free digital proof confirms color before print, and orders ship in 8 to 10 business days with no plate or setup fees, low minimums, and free US shipping.

What is a custom business card?

A custom business card is a printed contact card produced to your own design, stock, and finish rather than picked from a template. Custom cards let you choose the paper weight (typically 14 pt to 32 pt), the coating (matte, gloss, or soft-touch), and premium touches like spot UV, foil, embossing, or painted edges. Because Packaging Vista prints with no plate or die charges, a custom shape or a specialty finish costs no more to tool than a plain rectangle.

Standard business card sizes

US business cards are 3.5 x 2 inches (89 x 51 mm) so they fit standard wallets, cardholders, and Rolodex slots. Common alternatives:

• Standard US: 3.5 x 2 in (89 x 51 mm)
• European: 3.346 x 2.165 in (85 x 55 mm)
• Square: 2.5 x 2.5 in (63 x 63 mm) - fashion, beauty, and creative
• Mini / slim: 3.5 x 1 in (89 x 25 mm) - fits in a card slot lengthwise
• Rounded corners: standard size with 1/8 in or 1/4 in corner radius

Design your artwork at 300 DPI, add 1/8 in (3 mm) bleed on every side, and keep type and logos inside a 1/8 in safe zone from the trim. See our bleed and safe-zone guide for setup files.

Card stocks and paper weights

Stock weight (measured in points, where 1 pt = 1/1000 inch) determines how substantial the card feels in hand. Heavier is not always better - a 32 pt triple-layer card feels luxurious, but a 14 pt matte card is easier to slip into a cardholder. Common options:

Premium finishes: soft-touch, spot UV, foil, letterpress

• Soft-touch lamination - a velvet-feeling matte film. It resists fingerprints and gives the card a modern, tactile weight.
• Spot UV - a glossy varnish printed only on selected areas (logo, name, an accent) so it catches light against a matte background.
• Foil stamping - metallic (gold, silver, copper, rose gold) or colored foil pressed onto the stock. Available as flat or raised foil.
• Letterpress - deep impression printing pushed into 32 pt+ cotton or uncoated stock for a heritage, high-craft look.
• Embossing / debossing - raises or recesses a shape (logo, initials) into the stock for a tactile detail.
• Painted edges - a colored edge (gold, black, red) painted on the exposed cross-section of thick 32 pt+ stock.
• Die-cut shapes - custom outlines and rounded corners with no die charge.

When to upgrade to a premium finish

Not every card needs foil. A rule of thumb:

• Sales, service, and everyday roles - 16 pt with matte or soft-touch lamination.
• Executives, founders, and account leads - 32 pt with soft-touch plus spot UV or foil on the logo.
• Luxury, beauty, jewelry, and hospitality - triple-layer 48 pt with painted edges and foil.
• Creative and design studios - letterpress on cotton 32 pt or embossed uncoated stock.

How to prepare your artwork

1. Set the document to 3.625 x 2.125 in (final trim 3.5 x 2 in plus 1/8 in bleed on all sides).
2. Work in CMYK at 300 DPI. Convert Pantones only where an exact color match is critical.
3. Keep text and logos 1/8 in inside the trim (safe zone).
4. Outline all fonts before exporting to PDF/X-1a.
5. Set foil, spot UV, or embossing as a separate spot channel so the plate maker sees it distinctly.

Not ready? Our free design team handles this for you - send a logo and the copy, and we produce a proof.

Pricing, minimums, and turnaround

Custom business cards are one of the most economical print products we run. There are no plate, die, or setup fees, minimums start low, and per-card cost drops as quantity rises. Standard turnaround is 8 to 10 business days after you approve the free digital proof, with rush available on tight timelines. US shipping is free on every order. Request a quote with your stock, finish, and quantity for exact pricing.

Printed and shipped from the USA

We print business cards domestically and ship free to all 50 states, so orders skip overseas freight and customs and arrive in 8 to 10 business days rather than 4 to 6 weeks. For teams that reorder cards every quarter as staff turns over, US production keeps your supply steady and your dielines and Pantones on file. Pair your cards with matching presentation folders, brochures, and stickers for a consistent handout kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard business card size in the US?

The standard US business card is 3.5 x 2 inches (89 x 51 mm). It fits every standard wallet, cardholder, and Rolodex slot, which is why almost every card printed in the US uses this dimension.

What is the best paper weight for a business card?

16 pt C2S (about 400 gsm) is the most common premium weight - sturdy enough to feel professional without being bulky. Choose 32 pt or triple-layer 48 pt for luxury, executive, and letterpress cards where a thicker, rigid feel is the point.

What is the difference between soft-touch, matte, and spot UV?

Matte is a plain non-shiny coating. Soft-touch is a matte laminate with a velvety, tactile finish that resists fingerprints. Spot UV is a glossy varnish printed on selected areas of a matte card to add contrast on the logo or a design accent.

Can you print foil business cards?

Yes. We foil stamp in gold, silver, copper, rose gold, and colored foils, in both flat and raised finishes. Foil pairs especially well with 32 pt soft-touch or letterpress stock for a luxury feel.

Can I get square or die-cut business cards?

Yes. We die-cut business cards to square (2.5 x 2.5 in), mini (3.5 x 1 in), rounded corners, or fully custom shapes that follow your logo outline. There are no die charges, so a custom shape costs no more to tool than a rectangle.

What file format should I send for printing?

PDF/X-1a with fonts outlined, images at 300 DPI, CMYK color, 1/8 in bleed on all sides, and any spot colors (Pantones, foil, spot UV) named as spot channels. If you do not have print-ready files, our free design team sets them up for you.

What is the smallest quantity I can order?

Minimums start low so you can order a batch you will use rather than thousands you will not. Send your quantity and finish spec and we quote per-unit pricing at that volume.

How long does printing and shipping take?

Standard turnaround is 8 to 10 business days after you approve the free digital proof, and US shipping is free. Rush production is available when you need cards faster for an event or launch.

Do you offer eco-friendly or recycled business cards?

Yes. We print on recycled kraft, uncoated FSC-certified stock, and 100% post-consumer paper for brands that want a lower-impact card. Uncoated recycled stock also pairs well with letterpress and embossing.

Can you match my exact brand color?

Yes. We print full-color CMYK and can match specific Pantone (PMS) values as spot colors when brand color has to be exact - for logos or accent colors that must reproduce identically across every print run.