Handing someone a business card is still one of the quickest ways to be remembered at a networking event, a job site or a chamber of commerce mixer. The card has to work as a tiny piece of branding, and it has to survive a wallet. The choices below are the ones that matter most.
The standard size
The standard North American business card is 3.5 x 2 inches. It fits wallets, card holders and the pockets of display racks, which is why most people use it. Odd sizes can look striking, but they often will not fit a holder, and they are more likely to be thrown out. If you want something different, consider a rounded corner or a distinctive finish instead of changing the dimensions.
Paper thickness: 14pt, 16pt, 18pt
Card stock thickness is described in points, and a higher number means a thicker card. In general terms:
| Stock | Feel | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 14pt | Firm, a standard everyday card | High-volume handouts |
| 16pt | Sturdy, with a noticeable quality feel | Most professional use |
| 18pt | Very thick, almost rigid | Premium impressions |
We commonly quote business cards on 16pt stock with a gloss AQ coating. If you want a different thickness, ask us what is available. Thicker is not automatically better: a card that is too stiff can feel heavy and may not slip easily into a holder.
Coatings and finishes
A coating protects the card and changes how it looks and feels.
- Gloss AQ (aqueous coating) is a shiny, protective finish that makes colours look rich. It is a popular default.
- UV coating gives a very glossy, glass-like surface and is often used to make photos and bold colours stand out.
- Matte gives a smooth, soft, non-reflective finish. It looks subtle, but fingerprints can show more on darker designs.
Ask us which coatings we can quote for your job. A tip: if you plan to write on the card, for example to add a direct number or an appointment time, a matte or uncoated surface takes pen better than a high-gloss one.
Rounded corners
Rounded corners soften the look of a card and help it resist the dog-eared edges that sharp corners develop in a pocket. They are an optional extra, and they suit friendly, approachable businesses such as salons, bakeries, child-care and coaching practices. A crisp square corner suits law, finance and trades just as well. It is a style choice, not a quality one.
One side or two
A single-sided card is fine if you only need to share a name and number. Two sides give you room to breathe. A common approach is to put the logo and tagline on one side and the contact details on the other, or to use the back for a map, an appointment reminder or a short list of services. Do not leave the back blank if you can help it, because it is free space that costs very little to use.
Content and design advice
- Include only what people will use. Name, role, phone, email, website and perhaps a social handle or address.
- Keep text readable. Avoid tiny type, and avoid thin fonts on dark backgrounds.
- Leave white space. A crowded card looks hurried.
- Keep important text away from the edges. Cutting is accurate but not perfect, so allow a safe margin.
- Add bleed if colour or an image runs to the edge. Our print-ready files guide explains how.
- Proofread phone numbers and email addresses. Read each one aloud twice.
- Use your logo as a vector file so it stays sharp at card size.
Cards that fit the rest of your printing
A card rarely works alone. Many Oakville businesses pair it with flyers or postcards in the same colours and fonts, so everything looks like it comes from one place. Our guide on print marketing for small business shows how the pieces fit together.
Ordering with PrintEh
PrintEh is a local, family-owned print shop in Oakville. We print business cards for customers in Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington and across the GTA, one or two sided, with optional rounded corners, and we will check your file before printing. Tell us your quantity and the look you want, and we will send a written quote by email or phone through our quote page.