Business card (EU) Size in mm & Inches

The European standard business card is 85 x 55 mm, which works out to about 3.35 x 2.17 inches. It is used across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and most of the EU, and it is deliberately close to a bank card so it slots into the same wallet.

This guide covers the exact size, how it differs from the US and Japanese cards, how it compares to things you carry every day, and the print setup (bleed, safe margin, stock) that a European print shop expects.

Quick Answer: How Big Is a European Business Card?

A European business card is 85 x 55 mm (3.35 x 2.17 in). On normal card stock it is about 0.3 – 0.4 mm thick and weighs roughly 1.4 grams. Compared with the US card (88.9 x 50.8 mm) it is narrower and taller.

European Business Card Dimensions at a Glance

• Trim size: 85 x 55 mm / 8.5 x 5.5 cm / 3.35 x 2.17 in
• With bleed: 88 x 58 mm (typically 3 mm bleed on each edge)
• Safe area: about 79 x 49 mm
• Thickness: 0.3 – 0.4 mm on 300 – 400 gsm stock
• Weight: about 1.4 g per card on 350 gsm
• Aspect ratio: 1.55:1

What Does a European Business Card Look Like in Size?

It is almost exactly credit-card sized: 85 mm long against the card’s 85.6 mm, and 55 mm tall against the card’s 54 mm. Placed on top of a bank card the two outlines nearly disappear into each other. That similarity is the point, so European cardholders and wallets hold both without a separate pocket.

6 Everyday Comparisons for a European Business Card

1. A credit card (85.6 x 53.98 mm) is within a millimetre on both sides. The European card is the closest business-card standard to a bank card.
2. A US business card (88.9 x 50.8 mm) is 3.9 mm longer and 4.2 mm shorter, a visibly different rectangle.
3. A playing card (63.5 x 88.9 mm) rotated is close on the long edge but 5.5 mm taller.
4. A EUR 50 banknote (140 x 77 mm) is much larger, about 1.65 cards long.
5. An iPhone 15 (147.6 x 71.6 mm) is about 1.74 European cards tall.
6. An A7 sheet (74 x 105 mm) is taller and narrower, roughly the same footprint rotated.

European Business Card Size in Different Units

How Much Does a European Business Card Weigh?

About 1.4 grams on standard 350 gsm stock, a hair lighter than the US card because it has slightly less area.

A pack of 500 standard cards weighs roughly 700 g.

Why Europe Uses 85 x 55 mm

When European printers standardised, the dominant storage object was the bank card wallet, already built to the ISO 7810 ID-1 format. Matching the business card to that size meant one holder for everything. The US had settled earlier on the Rolodex-friendly 3.5 x 2 in card, and Japan kept a slightly larger card for its formal exchange etiquette. The result is three standards that are close in area but different in shape.

Common Mistakes When Setting Up a European Business Card

1. Using a US template. 3.5 x 2 in trimmed to 85 x 55 mm leaves uneven margins and can clip artwork.
2. Forgetting bleed. Backgrounds must run to 88 x 58 mm.
3. Assuming it equals a credit card exactly. It is very close (85 vs 85.6, 55 vs 54) but not identical.
4. Designing in pixels without setting DPI. Always work to 85 x 55 mm at 300 DPI for print.
5. Choosing stock too heavy for slot wallets. Above about 400 gsm the card may not sit flush next to bank cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the European business card size?

85 x 55 mm, about 3.35 x 2.17 inches.

Is the European business card the same as the US one?

No. The US card is 88.9 x 50.8 mm, so it is longer and shorter. The European card is narrower and taller.

Is a European business card the same as a credit card?

Nearly. 85 x 55 mm against a credit card’s 85.6 x 53.98 mm, within about a millimetre on each side.

How big is a European business card in cm?

8.5 x 5.5 cm.

What size with bleed?

88 x 58 mm, with 3 mm bleed on every edge, trimmed to 85 x 55 mm.

Which countries use 85 x 55 mm?

The UK, Ireland, and most EU countries including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

How much does one card weigh?

About 1.4 g on 350 gsm stock.

Final Takeaway

A European business card is 85 x 55 mm (3.35 x 2.17 in), about 0.35 mm thick, and weighs around 1.4 grams. It is almost exactly credit-card sized, which is why it shares a wallet slot with bank cards across Europe, and it is a clearly different shape from the wider, shorter US card.