Guide
How to design a business card people keep
7 steps · about 15 minutes, free
A business card is tiny, so every line has to earn its place. A good one is easy to read at arm’s length, looks like your brand and tells people exactly how to reach you. This guide walks you through it step by step. Make yours as you read with the free Owlvix business card maker — it gives you a print-ready PDF, and nothing is uploaded.
Before you start
- Your name and job title, written the way you want clients to use them.
- One or two ways to reach you: usually a mobile number and an email address.
- Your website, if you have one — it can go in a QR code too.
- Your logo (optional) as a PNG with a see-through background, at least 600 pixels wide.
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1Decide what goes on it
Name, job title and business name come first. Then the ways to reach you — phone, email and website are enough for most people. Add an address only if clients visit you. Fewer lines means bigger, easier-to-read text.
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2Pick the right size
In the US and Canada a card is 3.5 × 2 inches. In the UK and most of Europe it’s 85 × 55 mm. Using the standard size means your card fits wallets and card holders.
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3Choose a clean layout
Make your name the biggest thing on the card, put your title just under it, and group your contact details together. Leave empty space around everything — crowded cards look cheap and get thrown away.
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4Use your logo and one brand colour
Put your logo on the front or fill the back with it. Use one strong colour plus black or white text. Check the text is dark on light or light on dark, so it’s readable in dim light.
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5Add a QR code on the back
A QR code that opens your website, or one that saves your contact into the phone, turns a card into a quick action. Keep it at least 2 cm (0.8 in) wide.
Tip: the Owlvix maker adds the QR code for you — static, so it never expires.
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6Mind the bleed and the safe zone
Print shops print on bigger sheets and trim them, so colours that touch the edge need to run 3 mm past it (the bleed). Keep text and logos at least 4 mm inside the edge (the safe zone) so nothing gets cut off.
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7Print it
For a professional finish, send the print-ready PDF to an online printer or a local print shop — 350 gsm card with a matt finish is a good choice. To print at home, use 10-per-sheet on thick card and cut along the marks with a trimmer.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Too much text. Small, crowded text is hard to read. Cut it down to what people actually use.
- Tiny type. Keep contact details at least 7–8 pt so they can be read without squinting.
- No bleed. Without it, a thin white line can appear at the edge after trimming.
- A blurry logo. Use a large logo file so it prints sharp — not a screenshot.
More free guides
- How to start selling online for free
- How to make a website for your small business
- How to make a QR code menu for your restaurant
- How to make a wedding website with RSVPs
- How to make a portfolio website that wins clients
- How to write a CV that gets interviews
- How to make a link in bio page
- How to make a coming soon page and build a waitlist
- How to build a sales funnel
- How to make an email newsletter
- How to make an invoice and get paid on time
- How to make a QR code that people actually scan
- How to take bookings online (free appointment page)
- How to make an Android app without coding
Good to know
Business cards, explained
What size is a standard business card?
3.5 × 2 inches (88.9 × 50.8 mm) in the US and Canada; 85 × 55 mm in the UK and most of Europe.
What is bleed on a business card?
Bleed is extra background that runs 3 mm past the card edge. Printers trim it off, so the colour goes right to the edge with no white line.
What paper should I print business cards on?
300–350 gsm card is standard. Matt or silk finishes are easy to write on; gloss makes colours pop.
Should I put a QR code on my business card?
Yes, if it does something useful — open your website or save your contact. Put it on the back, at least 2 cm wide.
Can I print business cards at home?
Yes. Print 10 on an A4 or Letter sheet of thick card and cut along the marks. Test on plain paper first.
Do I still need business cards?
Yes, at events, meetings and in shops a card is still the fastest way to swap details — and with a QR code it links straight to your website.
More free tools: see all free tools.