The Measurements of a Mini Business Card

Most people and companies can agree on the size of a standard business card. It is 3.5 inches by 2 inches, whether it is set up to read horizontally or vertically. However, when it comes to mini or micro-size business cards, it is impossible to identify a standard size.

Using a mini card may set you apart from the pack — showing you are creative and not afraid to be different. It may also cost you more than a standard business card because smaller cards are harder to print, trim, and handle.

Sizes and Types of Business Cards

There are several types and sizes of business cards, of which the standard card is the most popular. However, there are plenty of business card designs that call for a different size or shape. They tend to attract more attention than standard-size cards. Mini business cards are a relatively new arrival on the business card scene. Business card sizes include:

• Standard - 3.5 inches by 2 inches
• Mini (or Micro) - 3 inches by 1 inch, 2.75 inches by 1.125 inch,  3.5 inches by 1.25 inches and other sizes
• Square - 2.25 inches by 2.25 inches
• Folded - 3.5 inches by 4 inches, folded to 3.5 inches by 2 inches or 3.25 by 4 inches, folded to 3.25 inches by 2 inches.

Mini Business Cards

Mini business cards are also called half-size business cards, skinny business cards, or microcards. They can be printed on one or two sides for use as business cards, and some are small enough to be used as tags for craft projects. Usually, mini business cards are printed on heavier card stock than standard business cards, and sometimes they are coated to provide additional heft to the small printed card.

Designing for Mini Business Cards

The best advice for designing a mini business card is to keep it simple. You won't be able to fit all the information you would put on a larger card, but you can print the mini card on the backside if you have important information you can't fit on the front. You may be tempted to use tiny type to fit on more information, but if you want the people who receive your card to be able to read it, use type that is no smaller than 6 points.

Use bright color in your design, either for the background or for the largest type or logo. Because they are smaller than standard business cards, they can get lost in a wallet or bag. The bright color makes them stand out from their bigger cousins.

Just as when working with standard business cards, if any design element on the card runs off the edge of the card — the printing term is "bleeds" — extend that element in your design file 1/8 inch beyond the trim edge of the card. The excess is trimmed off when the card is cut to its final size.

Mini Business Card Templates

Because there is no standard mini business card size, the available templates are usually those from individual printing companies on the web. For example, Jukebox offers a mini business card template for Adobe Illustrator that is 3.5 inches by 1.25 inches.