Quick Guide to Standard Greeting Card Sizes

Greeting cards are often seen as personalized letters for extending well wishes and sympathy to friends and family. Nevertheless, businesses also use these cards to build and maintain relationships with customers and employees, helping humanize their brand.

Greeting cards are available in various standard sizes, with the ideal one depending on factors such as the context, the relationship between the sender and the recipient, and the overall design. Using the right size can help enhance and elevate your message.

In this guide, we explain standard greeting card sizes and their popular uses. But first, it’s important to understand the difference between flat and folded styles.

Folded vs. Flat Greeting Cards

Folded greeting cards have a centerfold that creates a middle section, allowing them to stand on a flat surface, such as a desk or bookshelf. Flat cards, meanwhile, don’t have a fold and so they look similar to postcards.

As a general rule, use folded greeting cards for longer messages, as they offer more writing space. They are also suitable if a surprise element is desired.

On the other hand, flat cards are more suitable for shorter messages and simple designs (e.g., a single captivating photo or beautiful typography). They are also a great option if you want to save money and mail them like a postcard.

Standard Greeting Card Sizes and Their Common Uses

Using popular or standard greeting card sizes offers many benefits, including compatibility with standard envelopes and mailing systems. Moreover, common dimensions simplify the distribution process and make the cards practical for recipients to carry and store.

The table below will help you decide which size best suits your needs.

Standard greeting card sizes in inches	Size in centimeters (cm)	Matching Envelope Sizes	Ideal Uses
Flat 5.5” x 4.25” (or postcard size)	13.97 x 10.795 cm	5.75″ x 4.375”	Thank-you notes and simple greeting cards
Folded 10″ x 7″	25.4 x 17.78 cm	5.25″ x 7.25″	Christmas cards, formal events, and parties
Flat 6″ x 6″	15.24 x 15.24 cm	6.5″ x 6.5″	Birthday cards, photo cards, creative designs, and premium invitations
Flat 5.5″ x 8.5″ (or half letter size)	13.97 x 21.59 cm	5.75″ x 8.75″	Cards with detailed information (e.g., RSVP, multiple sections, or a list of schedules)
Folded 11” x 8.5” (or letter size)	27.94 x 21.59 cm	5.75″ x 8.75”	Large holiday greeting cards

Flat 5.5” x 4.25” or Postcard Size

The compact size is perfect for a clear and impactful message, making it a great choice if you need simple thank-you notes, holiday cards, and personalized greeting cards.

Best for:

• Thank-you notes
• Simple greeting cards with a single message

Folded 10″ x 7″

10″ x 7″ Greeting cards, which fold to 5″ x 7″, are popular for formal events, casual gatherings, and holidays. Their size offers more space for a longer message but remains portable and versatile enough for various occasions and uses.

Best for:

• Cards for weddings and other formal events that contain more detailed information and elegant designs
• Christmas cards

Flat 6” x 6”

Although not a hard and fast rule, 6″ x 6″ greeting cards can give your design a more contemporary feel. The square shape creates a balanced canvas for stunning photos, beautiful typography, or any artistic illustrations.

Moreover, their unique shape allows them to stand out from traditional rectangular cards, making them ideal for branded thank-you notes and promotional items.

Best for:

• Birthday cards
• Photo cards
• Branded thank-you notes
• Creative greeting cards
• Contemporary designs
• Premium invitations

Flat 5.5″ x 8.5″ or Half Letter Size

Also called Stationery, Memo, or Invoice Size, this popular greeting card size is exactly half the size of a standard US Letter sheet (11″ x 8.5″).

The Half Letter Size suits various occasions and purposes and offers additional room for longer messages and more intricate designs.

Best for:

• Graduations
• Baby showers
• Corporate invites with detailed information, RSVP, multiple sections, or a list of schedules

Folded 11” x 8.5” or Letter Size

This size folds to 5.5″ x 8.5″, making it ideal for greeting card designs that demand more space for stunning holiday images and artistic photos. Large greeting cards are often seen as collectible items or keepsakes.

Best for:

• Large holiday greeting cards
• Keepsakes
• Eye-catching personalized cards

How to Choose the Ideal Standard Greeting Card Sizes

Now that you know the various standard card sizes, here are some tips to help you decide on the ideal size based on key factors.

Consider the occasion.
As a general rule (but not a strict rule), formal events like weddings often require larger greeting cards to accommodate more information and convey the event’s significance. By contrast, thank-you cards given to party guests can be smaller and more casual.

Take into account the mailing requirements.
If you plan to use direct mail to distribute greeting cards, it’s essential to understand USPS mailing requirements on specific dimensions, weight, and thickness of cards. Meeting their guidelines means lower postage rates and easier handling through automated sorting systems.

If you want your greeting cards to be mailed at the price for letters, keep in mind these size requirements by the USPS:

Dimension	Minimum	Maximum
Height	3.5″	6.125″
Length	5″	11.5″
Thickness	0.007″	0.25″

Standard-sized flat cards are often a cheaper option, especially if you mail them as postcards (without an envelope). Meanwhile, oversized and unusually shaped cards typically incur additional postage fees.

Match the card size with the design.

The design and layout will determine the ideal standard greeting card size. Larger cards are suitable for multiple photos and detailed illustrations, while smaller ones are ideal for brief greetings and quick notes.

If you don’t have a design yet, check out these five easy steps to help you create a custom greeting card.

Think about the recipient’s expectations.
The appropriate card size also depends on the relationship between the sender and the recipient. For example, friends and family may appreciate larger cards with personalized messages, while customers and business associates typically expect a more portable size.

Know your budget.
Larger cards require more paper, which increases printing costs, while smaller cards can be more cost-effective, especially when ordering in bulk.

The use of thicker cardstock and special finishes (e.g., silk and metallic cards) can also add to the cost.

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Whether you need compact thank-you notes or oversized holiday greeting cards, using common or standard sizes makes your message impactful and memorable and ensures the cards are compatible with standard envelopes and your preferred distribution method.

If you’re ready to order your custom greeting cards, you can upload your artwork or use our free layout templates, which include bleed and margins.

To order custom greeting cards with envelopes, click your preferred card size, and the drop-down arrow next to the Envelope will automatically present the matching envelope size.