Business card · Europe
EU standard business card
The widely used business card size across most of Europe. The proportions are close to a credit card, which means EU cards slip neatly into card slots in most wallets. With standard 3 mm bleed the export size is 91 × 61 mm.
Exact dimensions (trim size)
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 85 | 55 |
| Centimetres (cm) | 8.5 | 5.5 |
| Inches (in) | 3.346 | 2.165 |
| Pixels @ 72 DPI | 241 | 156 |
| Pixels @ 96 DPI | 321 | 208 |
| Pixels @ 150 DPI | 502 | 325 |
| Pixels @ 200 DPI | 669 | 433 |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 1,004 | 650 |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 2,008 | 1,299 |
85 × 55 mm
EU vs US card sizes
The European 85 × 55 mm card is about 4 mm narrower and 4 mm taller than the US 88.9 × 50.8 mm card. A design built for one needs adjusting before it prints cleanly on the other — the aspect ratios are noticeably different.
If you regularly do business across both regions, design two versions rather than one "averaged" card that fits neither well.
Vertical or horizontal?
Horizontal (landscape) layouts are far more common and easier to read from a stack. Vertical (portrait) cards can stand out, but they break the natural orientation people expect when handling cards. If you go vertical, make sure key information is still legible when the card is rotated into landscape — most filing systems and card holders are oriented that way.
From template to press-ready file
Export a PDF at 91 × 61 mm with crop marks, 300 DPI images, fonts outlined or embedded. PDF/X-1a is the most widely accepted press format — many modern workflows also take PDF/X-4. Small text stays 100 % K black; large dark areas on 300+ gsm card can take a rich black (roughly C60 M40 Y40 K100) for depth offset printing cannot get from K alone.
Stock is the handshake: 300–350 gsm is the felt-quality floor for a card, 400 gsm with matte lamination reads premium, and anything under 250 gsm reads like a coupon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the European standard business card size?
85 × 55 millimetres. The same size is used across the United Kingdom and most of continental Europe.
Why is it close to a credit card?
Credit and debit cards (ID-1) are 85.60 × 53.98 mm. The European business card is a fraction of a millimetre wider and 1 mm taller, which means it fits comfortably into card slots that hold payment cards.
What is the export size with bleed?
With the standard 3 mm bleed on all sides, the export size becomes 91 × 61 mm. The trim line remains at 85 × 55 mm.
Where can I safely place text?
Inside a safe area 3 mm in from the trim, giving 79 × 49 mm of usable space. Treat the outer 3 mm ring as visually present but at risk of being trimmed.
Can I print it on my home printer?
You can, but home printers are not great for small-batch business cards. Slight ink bleed on uncoated card stock, no edge-to-edge printing, and manual cutting all reduce quality. Online card printers produce noticeably better results for a few euros.
What pixel size is an 85 × 55 card at 300 DPI?
Trim: 1004 × 650 px. With the 3 mm bleed (91 × 61 mm): 1075 × 720 px. Design at the bleed size; the trim and safe boxes live inside it — our generator’s PDF download draws all three at true scale.
How do rounded corners work?
Rounded corners are a die option at the print shop, not a shape you cut in the file. Supply the normal rectangular artwork with bleed and order the radius (3–6 mm is typical); the only file-side rule is to pull text and logos an extra 3 mm away from each corner so the curve does not clip them.
Any traps on double-sided cards?
Front-to-back registration tolerance is around ±1 mm on digital presses. Borders and frames make that visible; edge-to-edge colour and centred content hide it. If both sides carry aligned elements (a wrap-around band, say), warn the printer — some will hand-check the run.