Trading card size: standard dimensions and file setup

The standard trading card size is 2.5 x 3.5 inches, or 63.5 x 88.9 mm. Sports cards, most collectible card games and poker playing cards all use this size, which is why sleeves, toploaders, binder pages and storage boxes are made to fit it. This guide covers the standard size, the other common card sizes and how to set up a file for printing custom trading cards.

Standard trading card size

• Finished size: 2.5 x 3.5 in (63.5 x 88.9 mm).
• With bleed: 2.75 x 3.75 in, which adds 0.125 in on every side.
• Pixels at 300 ppi: 750 x 1050 px finished, or 825 x 1125 px with bleed.
• Corners: square or rounded. Collectible cards usually have rounded corners with a radius of about 1/8 in.

Baseball, basketball, football and hockey cards use this size, as do Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering cards, which are often listed as 63 x 88 mm.

Other card sizes

• Japanese size, 59 x 86 mm (about 2.32 x 3.39 in): a slightly smaller card used by Yu-Gi-Oh and some other games. It needs smaller sleeves.
• Bridge size, 2.25 x 3.5 in: a narrower playing card.
• Tarot size, 2.75 x 4.75 in: tarot, oracle and some game cards.
• Mini cards, 1.75 x 2.5 in: travel games and small favors.
• Jumbo cards, 3.5 x 5 in: oversized collectible and promotional cards.
• Flash cards, 3 x 5 in or 4 x 6 in: study cards and classroom sets.

Our playing card size guide compares poker, bridge and tarot cards in more detail.

Card thickness and storage

Card thickness is measured in points, where one point is one thousandth of an inch. Standard toploaders and sleeves are made for regular trading cards. Thicker cards, such as cards with a memorabilia patch, need a toploader rated for their thickness. If your cards will be sleeved or stored in binders, keep to 2.5 x 3.5 inches and a standard thickness, so they fit the accessories collectors already own.

For custom cards, we print on 14pt or 16pt recycled cover, or a heavy 100 lb to 130 lb cover. Both hold up to handling and trading.

Designing a trading card

• Set the document to 2.75 x 3.75 in with bleed and keep everything important inside a 0.125 in safe margin within the trim line.
• Put the name or title near the top, the photo or illustration in the middle and stats or details on the back.
• Use a consistent template for the whole set, so every card lines up when the set is laid out together.
• Number the cards if they form a set, such as 1 of 24.
• Use images of at least 300 ppi at the printed size. Our guide to DPI vs PPI explains image resolution.

Uses for custom trading cards

• Youth sports teams, leagues and camps
• School clubs, mascots and yearbook extras
• Fundraisers and collectible event sets
• Business and employee cards for trade shows
• Card games, classroom sets and educational decks

To print a set, see our flash cards and trading cards. For full decks and games, see custom playing cards.

Common questions

What size is a trading card?

A standard trading card is 2.5 x 3.5 inches, or 63.5 x 88.9 mm.

Are Pokemon cards the same size as baseball cards?

Yes. Both use the standard 2.5 x 3.5 inch size. Yu-Gi-Oh cards are smaller, at 59 x 86 mm.

What size should a trading card file be?

2.75 x 3.75 inches with bleed, which is 825 x 1125 pixels at 300 ppi.

Is a trading card the same size as a playing card?

Yes. A standard trading card is the same size as a poker playing card, 2.5 x 3.5 inches.