The standard business card size in Canada is 3.5″ × 2″ (88.9 × 50.8 mm), the same as in the United States. If you set your design up at this size with the right bleed and safe zone, it will print and trim cleanly at almost any print shop.
Business card dimensions at a glance
| Finished (trim) size | 3.5″ × 2″ | 88.9 × 50.8 mm |
|---|---|
| Size with bleed | 3.75″ × 2.25″ | 95.25 × 57.15 mm |
| Safe zone | 3.25″ × 1.75″, keeping text 0.125″ inside the trim |
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 1050 × 600 px (1125 × 675 px with bleed) |
| European size (for comparison) | 85 × 55 mm, which doesn’t fit most North American card holders |
What are bleed and the safe zone?
Printers print cards on large sheets and then cut them. Cutting is precise, but not perfect, so a design can shift by a fraction of a millimetre.
- Bleed is extra background, 0.125″ (3.175 mm) on every side, that extends past the trim line. It prevents thin white edges if the cut drifts.
- The safe zone is the area 0.125″ inside the trim line. Keep all text, logos and important details inside it so nothing gets cut off.
Which paper thickness should you choose?
Business card stock is measured in points, where one point is one thousandth of an inch.
- 14pt (0.014″): sturdy and economical; a great everyday choice.
- 16pt (0.016″): noticeably stiffer and more premium in the hand.
- Thicker premium stocks: for a luxury feel, often paired with soft-touch lamination or spot UV.
Setting up your file
- Create a document at 3.75″ × 2.25″ (with bleed), or at 3.5″ × 2″ with 0.125″ bleed added in your export settings.
- Use CMYK colour mode and 300 DPI images.
- Keep text at least 8pt and inside the safe zone.
- Export a high-quality PDF with bleed (and crop marks if your printer asks for them).
Using Canva? Choose a business card template, turn on View → Show print bleed, and download as PDF Print with “Crop marks and bleed” ticked.
Ready to print? See our business card options or request a quote and we’ll check your file for free.