What Size Is a Business Card in South Africa?
What Size Is a Business Card in South Africa?
The standard business card size in South Africa is 90 x 50mm. That is the size wallets, card holders
and desk organizers sold locally are built around, and it is the default size we print unless you ask for
something else.
If you have pulled a template off an international website and it looks slightly off, this is probably why
— the standard differs by region:
• South Africa: 90 x 50mm
• United States and Canada: 88.9 x 50.8mm (3.5 x 2 inches)
• United Kingdom and most of Europe: 85 x 55mm
• Australia and New Zealand: 90 x 55mm
• Japan: 91 x 55mm
The differences look trivial on paper, but they matter in practice. A US-sized card sits loose in an SA
card holder, and an EU template printed at SA size will either crop your design or leave white edges.
What size should the design file be?
Your artwork should be 94 x 54mm — that is the 90 x 50mm card plus 2mm of bleed on every side.
Bleed is the extra background that gets trimmed off, and it is what prevents thin white slivers along
the edges when the cutting blade lands a fraction of a millimeter off.
Keep text and logos at least 3mm inside the trim line. This is called the safe zone, and it is the
difference between a name that sits comfortably on the card and one that looks like it is about to fall
off the edge.
What paper weight should a business card be?
350gsm is the standard, and for good reason — anything lighter feels flimsy in the hand, and first
impressions are the entire job description of a business card. A 350gsm card with matt lamination is
the most popular spec we print, and it is popular because it works: the lamination stops the ink
scuffing in a wallet and gives the card a soft, expensive feel.
Portrait or landscape?
Landscape is the default and what most people expect. Portrait cards stand out precisely because
they are less common — a reasonable choice for creative businesses, a risk for conservative
industries. There is no price difference; it is the same rectangle turned sideways.
FAQ
Can I print a non-standard size?
Yes, but think twice. Square and slim cards look distinctive and then get bent or binned because they
do not fit where cards live. If your brand can carry it, go for it — just know the trade-off.
How many business cards should I order?
Most people order around 250 or 500 per person. Cards date quickly — new number, new title, rebrand —
so resist ordering thousands to chase a lower unit price you will never use.
Single or double sided?
Double. The back is free advertising space you have already paid to carry around. At minimum, put
your logo or a one-line description of what you do.
What file format should I send?
A print-ready PDF with 2mm bleed, in CMYK, fonts embedded or outlined. If you designed in Canva,
our Canva print guide on this blog walks through the export settings.