Playing card size: poker, bridge and trading card dimensions

The standard playing card size is 2.5 x 3.5 in (63.5 x 88.9 mm), which is known as poker size. Bridge cards are narrower at 2.25 x 3.5 in (57.2 x 88.9 mm), which makes a large hand of cards easier to hold. Most sports trading cards also use the 2.5 x 3.5 in size.

To price a custom deck, see our custom playing cards page.

Playing card sizes at a glance

• Poker size: 2.5 x 3.5 in (63.5 x 88.9 mm). This is the most common size for casino, home game and custom decks.
• Bridge size: 2.25 x 3.5 in (57.2 x 88.9 mm), used for bridge, rummy and other games with many cards in hand.
• Tarot size: about 2.75 x 4.75 in, although tarot and oracle decks vary by publisher.
• Mini size: about 1.75 x 2.5 in, used for travel decks and board game components.

Trading card dimensions

Sports trading cards are 2.5 x 3.5 in, the same as poker cards. Collectible trading card games use a similar size of about 63 x 88 mm. Because these sizes are so close, the same card sleeves, binders and storage boxes fit most of them. If you are designing cards for a game, matching one of these sizes lets players use sleeves and storage they already own.

How many cards are in a deck?

A standard deck has 52 cards in four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. Each suit has 13 cards, which are the ace, 2 through 10, jack, queen and king. Most decks also include 2 jokers, which brings the total to 54 cards. A standard deck has 12 face cards, which are the jack, queen and king of each suit.

Custom decks do not have to follow this structure. Game designers, teachers and businesses often print decks with any number of cards, and flash cards follow the same idea with study content on each side.

How to set up a playing card file

• Trim size: 2.5 x 3.5 in for a poker size card.
• Bleed: add 0.125 in on every side, for a file size of 2.75 x 3.75 in.
• Safe area: keep text, numbers and suit symbols at least 0.125 in inside the trim line, and keep corner indices a little farther in because of the rounded corners.
• Rounded corners: playing cards are usually cut with rounded corners, commonly with a radius of about 1/8 in. Leave the corners square in your artwork, because the corner cut is added in finishing.
• Resolution: use images at 300 ppi at final size, which is 750 x 1050 px at trim size or 825 x 1125 px with bleed.
• Card backs: use an all-over pattern rather than a thin border, because small shifts in cutting are easy to see against an even border.

Our guide to print-ready files covers bleed, color settings and PDF export in more detail.

Choosing card stock

Cards that will be shuffled often need a stiff, smooth stock with a coating that helps them slide. Commercial playing cards are often printed on a layered stock with a dark core, so the faces cannot be seen through the back. Cards for promotions, classroom activities or one-time events can use a heavier uncoated or recycled card stock instead, which suits decks that will not see heavy shuffling. The right stock depends on how the cards will be used, and we will confirm the details with your quote.

For comparison, a standard business card is 3.5 x 2 in, which is the same length as a poker card but 0.5 in narrower.

Common questions

What size is a standard playing card?

A standard poker size playing card is 2.5 x 3.5 in, or 63.5 x 88.9 mm.

What is the difference between poker and bridge size cards?

Both are 3.5 in tall, but poker cards are 2.5 in wide and bridge cards are 2.25 in wide.

How many cards are in a deck?

A standard deck has 52 cards in four suits of 13, and most decks add 2 jokers for a total of 54.

What size are trading cards?

Sports trading cards are 2.5 x 3.5 in, and most collectible card games use cards of about 63 x 88 mm.