Print-ready guide
Business Card Bleed Size
A common US business card trim is 3.5 × 2 inches. With 0.125 inch bleed per side, the full artwork canvas is 3.75 × 2.25 inches before trimming.
Last updated 2026-06-06 · Reviewed by Print Ready Tools.
Trim, bleed, and safe margin
Bleed is extra artwork that extends beyond the final cut edge. It prevents thin white slivers when trimming is slightly off. Safe margin is the interior area where text and logos should stay so they are not cut or visually crowded.
Many US printers use 0.125 inch bleed and ask for important content at least 0.125 to 0.25 inch inside the trim. Metric templates often use 3 mm bleed. Follow the exact template for the print shop you use.
| Area | Size | 300 PPI pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Trim | 3.5 × 2 in | 1050 × 600 px |
| Full bleed, 0.125 in each side | 3.75 × 2.25 in | 1125 × 675 px |
| Conservative safe area, 0.25 in margin | 3 × 1.5 in | 900 × 450 px |
Practical export checks
Background color, photos, and texture can extend to the bleed edge. Names, titles, phone numbers, QR codes, logos, and legal text should stay inside the safe area. If the design has borders, use a thick border or move it inward; thin edge borders make trimming variation obvious.
Export as the printer requests, usually PDF for vector-heavy cards or high-resolution image formats for image-only artwork. Confirm whether the printer expects crop marks.
Related calculators and resources
Source and limitation note
Business card dimensions vary by country and printer. Treat 3.5×2 in with 0.125 in bleed as a common US setup, not a universal rule.
Last updated 2026-06-06.