Why Knowing Playing Card Dimensions Matters
When it comes to designing custom playing cards—whether for games, tarot readings, or collectible trading card games—card dimensions matter more than you might think. The size of a card can impact everything from how it's handled to how it fits in a tuck box, making it a crucial element in both gameplay and presentation.
Whether you're crafting a professional poker deck, a set of tarot cards, or launching your own MTG-style trading card game, knowing the standard playing card size and available variations—like bridge card size, mini card dimensions, or card sizes in inches—is key to getting started.
At QPMN, we make it easy to bring your vision to life. With no minimum order requirements and a wide range of size options, you can create fully customized playing cards tailored to your exact needs—whether it’s for a personal project or a full-scale commercial release.
Let’s explore the different types of playing card dimensions and find the right fit for your next creation.
Why Knowing Playing Card Dimensions Matters
We will start off with the most commonly used deck of cards which is the playing card. This standing playing card deck, which can often be called a poker deck, has 52 playing cards (because these are the cards you play with) and 2 joker cards. The rest of the card deck is split between 4 suites, Ace, Jack, Queen, King, and numbers 2-10 evenly.
Fun fact: the joker card was originally the most important card in a card game called Euchre. But these days it become a wild card or a replacement for lost playing card.
The standard playing card size is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches (63.5 mm x 88.9 mm). This size is the industry norm for both casual and professional card games, including poker, blackjack, and many modern board games.
This size is the perfect balance between usability and space, making it easy to shuffle, deal, and hold in one hand. Because of its versatility, it's also the go-to size for many custom projects, including marketing materials, flashcards, and educational tools.
Design Considerations: Bleed and Margin
When creating custom poker-sized cards, it’s important to account for bleed and safe margins to ensure a clean, professional finish:
- Bleed area: Extend your design 0.125 inches (3.175 mm) beyond the edge of the card (total artwork size should be 2.625" x 3.625"). This prevents unwanted white edges during trimming.
The bleed area is the additional space all around a design that accounts for small printer errors.
- Safe zone: Keep all critical text and artwork at least 0.125 inches inside the trim line to ensure nothing important gets cut off.
If you would like to design your own playing cards our POD Design Tool helps you apply these settings effortlessly, so your custom cards look sharp and print-ready every time.
Common Playing Card Sizes Explained
As playing card games evolved over time, their dimensions were also adjusted to better suit the new format. Each size serves a different purpose, from classic gameplay to niche markets like tarot and flashcards.
Here's a breakdown of the most common playing card sizes, their dimensions, and how they’re used.
As playing card games evolved over time, their dimensions were also adjusted to better suit the new format. Each size serves a different purpose, from classic gameplay to niche markets like tarot and flashcards.
Here's a breakdown of the most common playing card sizes, their dimensions, and how they’re used.
Poker Cards
- Dimensions: 2.5" x 3.5" (63.5 mm x 88.9 mm)
- Bleed Margin: Add 0.125" (1/8") or 3.175 mm on all sides
- Use Case: The gold standard in gaming establishments and home games worldwide. Ideal for poker, blackjack, and many modern card-based board games.
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Bridge Cards
- Dimensions: 2.25" x 3.5" (57.15 mm x 88.9 mm)
- Bleed Margin: Add 0.125" (1/8") or 3.175 mm on all sides
- Use Case: Slightly narrower than poker cards, making them easier to hold—especially useful for games like Bridge that require holding multiple cards at once.
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Tarot Cards
- Dimensions: 2.75" x 4.75" (70 mm x 120 mm)
- Bleed Margin: Add 0.125" (1/8") or 3.175 mm on all sides
- Use Case: Commonly used in tarot readings, oracle decks, and spiritual or affirmation card sets. Their larger size allows for more detailed artwork and symbolism.
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Mini Cards
- Dimensions: Typically, 1.75" x 2.5" (44.45 mm x 63.5 mm)
- Bleed Margin: Add 0.125" (1/8") or 3.175 mm on all sides
- Use Case: Great for flashcards, party games, kids’ decks, or compact travel sets.
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MTG Card Size
Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a popular collectible card game where players use decks of cards to cast spells, summon creatures, and deploy artifacts to defeat their opponents.
- Dimensions: 5" x 3.5" (63.5 mm x 88.9 mm)
- Bleed Margin: Add 0.125" (1/8") or 3.175 mm on all sides
- Use Case: This is the standard size for Magic: The Gathering (MTG) cards, as well as many other trading card games (TCGs). It's ideal for collectible decks, gameplay, and proxy card printing.
Learn more about MTG card size and why dimensions matter.
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Quick Comparison Table
| Card Type | Trim Size (inches) | Total Bleed Size (inches) | Trim Size (mm) | Total Bleed Size (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poker Card | 2.5" x 3.5" | 2.625" x 3.625" | 63.5 x 88.9 | 66.675 x 92.075 |
| Bridge Card | 2.25" x 3.5" | 2.5" x 3.625" | 57.15 x 88.9 | 63.5 x 92.075 |
| Tarot Card | 2.75" x 4.75" | 3" x 5" | 70 x 120 | 76.2 x 127 |
| Mini Card | 1.75" x 2.5" | 2" x 2.75" | 44.45 x 63.5 | 50.8 x 69.85 |
| MTG / TCG Card | 2.5" x 3.5" | 2.625" x 3.625" | 63.5 x 88.9 | 66.675 x 92.075 |
Understanding Playing Card Thickness
When you're creating a custom deck, card thickness plays a huge role in how your cards feel, shuffle, and last over time. Whether you're printing a poker deck, tarot set, or a collectible trading card game, the right card thickness ensures both durability and premium tactile experience.
How Is Card Thickness Measured?
Card thickness is typically measured in:
- Points (pt) – 1 pt = 0.001 inch
- Millimeters (mm) – Metric thickness
- GSM (grams per square meter) – Measures weight, not exact thickness, but often used in printing
Thickness of Playing Card Stock
The quality and feel of a playing card depend significantly on its card stock and thickness. Below are some of the most common card stock types along with their approximate thicknesses:
Premium Smooth (PS30):
Thickness: Approx. 0.33mm
PS30 is the most commonly used cardstock on the market, with a smooth finish and blue core center for reduced transparency.
It is ideal for game card designers and for high-end company and wedding promotional purposes. It's also great for photo printing.
Deluxe Smooth (DS33):
Thickness: Approx. 0.31mm
DS33 has an extra-smooth finish and is considered one of the finest cardstocks available. It provides more visual contrast than standard stock, resulting in vivid colors. These cards are made to look extra clean, durable, and have a superior feel.
They are the top choice for game card creators and for those needing the best quality in smooth card surfaces.
Gaming Linen (GL29):
Thickness: Approx. 0.33mm
GL29 is a popular in-house developed linen pattern that is widely used in the board game and card game industry.
These cards also have a blue core center to reduce transparency.
Casino Linen (CL31):
Thickness: Approx. 0.31mm
CL31 is a professional option with a linen finish and air pockets that make them more durable, easier to handle, and more slippery.
These cards have a black core center to block light shining through. They are perfect for professionals in the playing card and game industry or for those who want top-quality playing card stock for their prints.
Take Your Card Knowledge to the Next Level
Now that you know all about playing card dimensions and materials, why not explore how you can create your own custom deck? Whether for professional branding, gaming, or personal projects, the right size and card stock ensure your deck looks and feels just right.
Try our print-on-demand card deck service! With a wide range of customization options, you can create your perfect deck and even sell it through us. Have questions? Reach out to us today and start your journey to becoming a card design expert!
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