Index Cards and Printable Cards

Printable cards must suit your printer as well as your design

Printable cards come on perforated letter-size sheets that tear into business cards, tent cards, square cards or note cards, and each pack is made for either laser or inkjet printers, sometimes both. Use the matching template or software layout, set the paper type and tray correctly, and print a test on plain paper first. Heavier stock, quoted in pounds, may need the manual feed, and a coating suited to one printer type can smear in the other, so read the compatibility line.

Index card sizes and divider sets follow familiar standards

Plain index cards come in 3 by 5, 4 by 6 and 5 by 8 inch sizes, either blank, ruled or gridded, and card files and boxes are sized to match, so a 3 by 5 file will not hold 4 by 6 cards. Tab dividers are sold as A to Z sets, month sets, number sets and exhibit sets with a tab for each item, and the tab count must match what you are filing. Colored and heavier cards withstand repeated handling better.

Questions about Index Cards and Printable Cards

Can I print on index cards with a home printer?

Often yes, but only if the card stock fits the printer's paper path. Many printers take 3 by 5 or 4 by 6 cards from a rear or manual tray, while others jam on small sizes. Check the printer manual for the smallest and heaviest stock it accepts.

What size is a standard business card?

In North America, 3.5 by 2 inches. Many European cards are 85 by 55 mm, which is close but not identical. Printable sheets and card cases are made for one size, so check the card dimensions on the listing before assuming a fit.

Does a higher pound weight always mean thicker card?

Not across paper types. Pound weights are tied to the paper category, so a 65 lb cover stock and a 65 lb bond sheet are different weights. Compare grams per square meter when it is listed, and note the paper type.