If you’ve ever wondered what common card sizes are or simply how to make basic card folds, then this is the place for you. Find out what the dimensions for common cards are, and how to cut and fold your paper in the easy steps below!
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Jump to What You Want
Seriously, there is no way that I am the only one who gets tired of doing an Internet search every time I need to make a specific card style.
Some stamps and cutting dies easily lend themselves to specific card sizes. For instance, if you are using a long slider cutting die it won’t fit on a standard A2 card. Instead, you look up the dimensions for a mini-slimline card to fit it.
I have no idea how it took me so long to do this, but now, any time I have a size or fold question, I dip into my handy card templates and immediately know:
- What size to cut my paper down to
- Where to make my scores for folding
- How to fold my cards to the shape I need
Of course, you don’t have to create templates like I did. You can also bookmark this page in your browser and come back anytime you need to know the answers to these questions.
But… wouldn’t life be so much easier if you made up some card templates that you can pull out from a page protector and have what you need at your fingertips. Create your own templates easily using the step-by-step instructions right here!
Materials
Paper Used
- Heavy Cardstock of Choice (I tried to vary colors to help keep the templates easily identifiable.)
Tools Used
- Paper Cutter or Scissors
- 12×12 Scoreboard
- Bone Folder
- Black Marker or Pen
A2 Book Fold Card
This is the card size I use the most when designing my cards. It’s easy to make and a lot of cutting dies work well with this size card.
Step 1
Place an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of cardstock on your scoreboard with the 11 inch side up at the top. Then score the paper at 5.5 inches.
Step 2
Next, remove your scored cardstock and cut along the score line with your paper cutter.
Step 3
Then, return one piece of your cut cardstock (it does not matter which half you choose) to your scoreboard. Make sure that the 8.5 inch long side is at the top and score at 4.25 inches.
Step 4
Again, remove the scored paper and cut along the score line.
Step 5
Lastly, fold along the score line and then run your bone folder over the fold.
Square Book Fold Card
When I make a square book fold card, it is usually 3 x 3 inches because I like to attach them to gifts. However, the following tutorial is showing you how to make the most common size used for square cards.
Once you know the basic steps, you can easily make it in whatever size works for the project you have in mind.
Step 1
First, place an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of cardstock on your scored with the 8.5 inch side at the top. Then score at 5.5 inches.
Step 2
Next, remove the scored paper and cut along the score line.
Step 3
Return the 5.5 x 11 inches piece of cardstock to your scoreboard with the 11 inch side at the top. Again, score along the 5.5 inch mark.
Step 4
Finally, remove the piece of cardstock from the scoreboard and fold along the scored line. Then run your bone folder over the folded edge.
Slimline Card
One of the best things about a slimline card is that they are designed to fit in a standard (#10) envelope. This is the envelope that is commonly used for letters and other mailings.
Step 1
To start, place your cardstock on your scoreboard with the 11 inch side at the top edge. Then score along the 7 inch mark.
Step 2
Next, remove the scored cardstock and cut along the scored line.
Step 3
Return the larger of the pieces of cardstock to your scoreboard with the 7 inch side at the top. Then score at 3.5 inches.
Step 4
Remove the piece cardstock from the scoreboard and fold along the scored line. Lastly, run your bone folder over the folded edge of the card.
Mini Slimline Card
I don’t know why, but if you want to make anything cute to me, then make it mini. That’s probably why I like these cards so much.
Mini slimline cards are the same width from the folded edge as a standard slimline card. The folded edge, however, is only 6 inches long instead of 8.5 inches.
Step 1
First, place your piece of cardstock on your scoreboard with the 11 inch side at the top. Then score at 6 inches.
Step 2
Next, remove the paper from your scoreboard and cut along the scored line.
Step 3
Return the larger piece of cardstock to your scoreboard with the 8.5 inch side at the top. Then score the paper at 7 inches.
Step 4
Again, remove the scored paper from the scoreboard and cut along the scored line.
Step 5
Return the larger piece of cardstock to your scoreboard one final time with the 7 inch side at the top of the board. Then score along the 3.5 inch mark.
Step 6
Lastly, remove the paper from the board and fold it along the score line. To finish, run your bone folder along the folded edge for a sharp crease.
A1 Book Fold Card
This card fold is slightly smaller than an A2 card. It is the size that a lot of store bought packs of thank you cards or invitations come in (such as for baby showers).
Step 1
Place an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of cardstock on your scoreboard with the 11 inch side up at the top, and score the paper at 7 inches.
Step 2
Next, remove your scored cardstock and cut along the score line with your paper cutter.
Step 3
Then, return the larger piece of your cut cardstock to your scoreboard with the 8.5 inch side at the top. Next, score the cardstock at 4 and 7/8 inches.
Step 4
Again, remove the scored paper and cut along the score line.
Step 5
Return the larger piece of cardstock to your scoreboard again with the 7 inch side at the top. Then, score the paper at 3.5 inches.
Step 6
Finally, remove the scored piece from the scoreboard and fold along the score line. Then run your bone folder over the folded edge.
A6 Book Fold Card
This card fold is slightly larger than an A2 book fold card, but not by much on the shorter sides. As such, it is again made in much the same way as the other book fold cards only with different measurements.
Step 1
Place an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of cardstock on your scoreboard with the 11 inch side up at the top. Then score the paper at 9 inches.
Step 2
Next, remove your scored cardstock and cut along the score line with your paper cutter.
Step 3
Now, return the larger piece of cardstock to your scoreboard with the 8.5 inch side at the top. Then, score the cardstock at 6 and 1/4 (6.25) inches.
Step 4
Again, remove the scored paper and cut along the score line.
Step 5
Return the larger piece of cardstock to your scoreboard again with the 9 inch side at the top, and score the paper at 4.5 inches.
Step 6
Finally, remove the scored piece from the scoreboard and fold along the score line, and run your bone folder over the folded edge.
A7 Book Fold Card
This is the largest of the common card folds and it great if you have a lot of text you want to add or want to incorporate your own artwork to the card.
Step 1
First, place an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of cardstock on your scoreboard with the 11 inch side up at the top. Then score the paper at 10 inches.
Step 2
Next, remove your scored cardstock and cut along the score line with your paper cutter.
Step 3
Then, return the large piece of cardstock to your scoreboard with the 8.5 inch side at the top, and score it at 7 inches.
Step 4
Now, remove the scored paper and, again, cut along the scored line.
Step 5
Next, return the larger piece of cardstock to your scoreboard with the 10 inch side at the top. Then score the paper at 5 inches.
Step 6
Lastly, remove the scored piece of paper from the scoreboard and fold along the score line. To finish, run your bone folder over the folded edge.
Common Card Sizes Listed
A2 Book Fold Card
Folded – 4.25 inches x 5.5 inches
Open – 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches
Square Book Fold Card
Folded – 5.5 inches x 5.5 inches
Open – 11 inches x 5.5 inches
Slimline Card
Folded – 3.5 inches x 8.5 inches
Open – 7 inches x 8.5 inches
Slimline Card
Folded – 3.5 inches x 6 inches
Open – 7 inches x 6 inches
Mini Slimline Card
Folded – 3.5 inches x 6 inches
Open – 7 inches x 6 inches
A1 Book Fold Card
Folded – 3.5 inches x 4 7/8 inches
Open – 7 inches x 4 7/8 inches
A6 Book Fold Card
Folded – 4.5 inches x 6.25 inches
Open – 9 inches x 6.25 inches
A7 Book Fold Card
Folded – 5 inches x 7 inches
Open – 10 inches x 7 inches
Tips and Tricks
- All of the above instructions use an 8.8 x 11 inch piece of cardstock. You can use any size paper you want as long as it is larger than the open card (see below). However, keep in mind that you need to make sure that you are putting the appropriate length side at the top of your scoreboard as these will be different than what is in the instructions.
- As I said above, I store my card templates in an 8.5 x 11 inch page protector pocket. I then keep it easily accessible by hanging it on a Command hook that is attached to my desk. This makes it super easy to reference anytime I need. This is especially helpful during the planning phase of card making if you design your own cards and are using a new cutting die or stamp for the first time.
- Once I finished making these as templates, I labeled the edge lengths in inches (both open and closed). I also wrote the name of the card size on the front of the folded card. This keeps everything organized and easily identifiable.
Making basic card folds is super easy once you know the measurements needed. I seriously cannot recommend enough how helpful it is to make paper templates that you can pull out as needed. Of course, as I said above, you can also bookmark this page and come back whenever you need.
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