- There is no international standard for business card size. Taiwan, Japan, Europe and North America all differ.
- Taiwan is 90×54mm, Japan 91×55mm, Europe 85×55mm, North America 88.9×50.8mm.
- The differences are small in millimetres but large in practice, because card cases are built to local dimensions.
- Keep all content at least 3mm inside the trim line regardless of region.
A card designed for one market often looks slightly wrong in another, and the reason is rarely the design. It is that the dimensions were never universal to begin with.
This is a reference for anyone preparing cards that will be exchanged across markets, or sending artwork to a printer in a different country.
Is there a standard business card size?
No. Business card dimensions are regional conventions, not an ISO standard. The four most commonly encountered formats differ by up to 5mm in each direction, which is enough to affect both layout and storage.
Regional dimensions
- Taiwan and mainland China: 90×54mm
- Japan: 91×55mm (the size known as 4-gou)
- Europe: 85×55mm in most countries
- North America: 3.5×2 inches, which is 88.9×50.8mm
- Australia and New Zealand: 90×55mm
The North American format is the outlier in proportion. At 1.75:1 it is noticeably wider relative to its height than the Taiwanese 1.67:1, so a layout scaled directly between the two will need its margins reworked rather than simply resized.
Why do 1mm differences matter?
They matter because card cases, wallets and filing sleeves are manufactured to local dimensions. A card that is 1mm short sits loose; a card that is 1mm long does not fit at all.
Japan is the clearest example. Japanese business culture treats the exchange of cards as a formal act, and cards are stored in dedicated cases sized to 91×55mm. A Taiwanese card at 90×54mm will fit but will move inside the case. It is a small thing, and in a context where the ritual itself carries meaning, small things are visible.
The reverse problem is worse. A Japanese card at 91×55mm may not fit into a filing sleeve designed for 90×54mm.
How much bleed should artwork have?
Requirements vary by printer, but 1mm on each edge is the common minimum in Taiwan, while 3mm is more typical in Europe and North America. Always confirm with the specific printer before preparing final artwork.
Preparing artwork for Taiwan
- Trim size: 90×54mm
- Artwork size with bleed: 92×56mm
- Bleed: 1mm per edge
- Safe area: 3mm inside trim, giving a live area of 84×48mm
- Resolution: 300dpi minimum for raster elements
- Colour mode: CMYK
Backgrounds and any element intended to run off the edge must extend to the full 92×56mm. Text and logos must stay inside the safe area. Cutting tolerance is real, and content sitting on the trim line will eventually be clipped.
What is the minimum readable type size?
Set body text at no less than 7pt and contact details at no less than 8pt. Below 6pt, most people cannot read the text under ordinary indoor lighting, which means printing it achieves nothing.
Paper affects this. Uncoated and cotton stocks absorb ink into the fibre, which thickens fine strokes and reduces legibility at small sizes. On textured stock, add half a point to a point compared with what would work on coated paper.
Reversed type, meaning light text on a dark ground, needs particular care. Ink spread closes up counters in small letterforms, so avoid light weights and increase the size slightly.
Should cards for multiple markets be printed separately?
If you regularly meet clients in a market with a different standard, a separate run is worth it. Otherwise, printing to your home standard is acceptable, because a card that is slightly the wrong size still functions.
A practical middle path for companies working between Taiwan and Japan is to print the Japanese run at 91×55mm with Japanese language information, and keep the domestic run at 90×54mm. The design system stays the same; only the dimensions and language layer change.
How to handle two scripts on one card without either becoming unreadable is covered in designing bilingual identity systems.
What about vertical and non standard formats?
A vertical card is the same dimensions rotated, not a different specification. Non standard shapes such as squares or rounded corners are possible but carry consequences for cost, lead time and storage.
Rounded corners are the most practical variation. The card remains a standard size, so it files and stores normally, but the tactile difference is immediately noticeable. It requires a cutting die, which makes it uneconomical at very small quantities.
Square and oversized formats create a storage problem. If your cards will be filed by the recipient, an unusual shape is likely to be separated from the rest and lost. Details on stocks and finishing options that create distinction without changing the format are in print production in Taiwan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just scale my artwork between regional sizes?
Not reliably. Scaling changes the type size along with everything else, and the proportional differences between regions mean margins end up uneven. It is faster to rebuild the layout at the target size using the same design system.
What thickness should a business card be?
250 to 300gsm is the practical range for most stocks. Below 250gsm cards feel flimsy and crease easily. Above 350gsm they become difficult to fit into standard card cases, though the tactile quality improves.
Does the QR code have a minimum size?
Around 15×15mm printed, with at least 2mm of clear space on all sides. Shorter URLs produce simpler code patterns that scan more reliably at small sizes. Always test on the printed piece rather than on screen.
Which side should carry which language on a bilingual card?
Giving each language its own side is more reliable than splitting one side. Both languages then get a full, uncompromised layout, and the recipient sees the appropriate side when the card is handed over.
This reference was compiled by Howdy Creative, a brand design and cultural planning studio in Taichung, Taiwan. The regional dimensions and prepress requirements listed here are the ones we verify at the start of every print project, because they are the most common source of reprints.