Business cards per Letter sheet at a glance
US Letter measures 8.5 × 11 inches. Use 3.5 × 2 inches as the finished size if your order calls for standard US business cards. The maximum you can cut on your equipment depends on the edges your printer can reach and how you plan to trim the printed sheet. Twelve cards fit with a ¼-inch margin, shared cut lines, and the cards rotated 90 degrees. A straight 2 × 5 layout fits ten and may suit a different cut order.
| Edge margin | Bleed per edge | Gap between bleed boxes | Best grid | Cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ in | 0 | 0 | 4 × 3 rotated | 12 |
| ¼ in | 0 | ⅛ in | 2 × 5 | 10 |
| ¼ in | ⅛ in | ⅛ in | 2 × 4 | 8 |
| ½ in | ⅛ in | ⅛ in | 1 × 4 or 3 × 2* | 6 |
*The rotated 3 × 2 grid wins at the larger margin. The first three examples use the size and spacing stated in the row. These are geometric estimates. Pre-scored stock, unusual edge margins, and mixed orientation can change the practical layout.
Worked example for 100 full-bleed cards
Start with a 3.5 × 2 inch card and add ⅛ inch of bleed to each edge. The space it occupies before trimming is 3.75 × 2.25 inches. With ¼-inch margins on Letter, you have 8 × 10.5 inches to work with. Two cards across plus an ⅛-inch gap need 7.625 inches. Four cards down plus three gaps need 9.375 inches. Five rows would need 11.75 inches, which is outside the usable area.
The two-by-four arrangement gives eight cards per sheet. Divide 100 by eight and round up to 13 sheets. For a first run on unfamiliar card stock, set aside an extra page for alignment and one for checking color or the duplex back. For repeat jobs, use the waste seen on your own equipment to pick the allowance.
Measure the usable area before laying out a sheet
Print a plain-paper test at actual size with marks near all four edges. Check which marks the driver clips and measure the distance from the paper edge where the image starts. Some devices reserve more space at the bottom than at the top. The calculator assumes equal margins. If your margins differ significantly, measure the usable rectangle and use the general sheet imposition calculator with that width and height and zero additional edge margin.
For each axis, divide usable length plus the gap by the card’s bleed-inclusive length plus the gap. Round down before multiplying the two counts. This adds back the gap after the last card because it does not need another gap beyond it. Check the rotated layout too. An arrangement that saves a sheet may take longer to cut or put the grain in a less useful direction.
Common mistakes
Enter the trim size as the card width and height, then add the bleed once through the separate field. Check that printed crop marks have room outside the designs. If you use pre-perforated cards, follow the stock’s own template and test with plain paper first. A mathematical grid will not necessarily match the perforations. For double-sided cards, line up a single printed front and back before using the whole pack.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print 10 cards with full bleed?
It depends on the margins, bleed and gap. The full-bleed example above fits eight. Use your printer and cutting specifications to find a workable grid.
How many sheets do 100 no-bleed cards need?
At 12 cards per sheet, 100 cards use nine sheets before testing or waste. A ten-up layout takes ten sheets.
Why does my template have fewer cards?
A template can reserve room for perforations, crop marks, feed margins, or gaps that the geometry alone does not require.
Can I enter the trim size in millimeters?
Yes. Switch the units and enter the card, bleed, spacing, and margins in millimeters. The sheet remains US Letter.
MOO’s design guidelines list the standard US trim and that provider’s artwork allowance. Use the bleed required by the printer doing your job.