Business card size in pixels: exact dimensions for print and screen

The pixel sizes at a glance

Pixels only mean something in print when paired with a resolution. Printers ask for 300 pixels per inch at the final size because that is enough detail for text and photos to look sharp at reading distance. Multiply inches by 300 and you have the pixel count.

The first row covers most orders. The business card cheat sheet shows the same trim, bleed and safe lines drawn to scale. If you are unsure which physical size you need in the first place, start with the business card size guide.

Why 300 PPI is the number to use

PPI means pixels per inch and describes the image file. DPI means dots per inch and describes how a printer lays down ink. People use them interchangeably, but for your file, the number that matters is PPI at the final printed size.

Screens have traditionally been described at much lower densities, which is why an image that looks crisp on a monitor can print soft. A logo saved at 72 PPI and 252 × 144 pixels fills a business card on screen but has less than a quarter of the detail a printer needs in each direction. At 300 PPI, small type at 7 or 8 pt keeps clean edges, and fine lines do not stair step.

You can go higher. At 600 PPI a standard card is 2100 × 1200 pixels, or 2250 × 1350 with bleed. That can help with very fine line art or tiny text created as pixels, but for photos it mostly makes the file bigger without visible benefit. For most cards, 300 PPI at the final size is the right target.

Adding bleed and safe area in pixels

Bleed is the extra artwork beyond the trim that gets cut off. It protects you from thin white slivers when the cutter lands a fraction off. At 300 PPI, 0.125 in of bleed equals 37.5 pixels, so most people round to 38 pixels per side, or simply use the 1125 × 675 canvas and let the math work out.

Put guides at roughly 38 pixels and 75 pixels in from every edge. Anything that should reach the edge of the finished card, such as a background color or photo, must extend to the outer canvas edge. Anything that must not be cut, such as text, logos or a QR code, stays inside the inner guides. The concept is explained in more depth in what is bleed in printing.

Setting it up in common tools

Most image editors ask for width, height and resolution when you create a new document. The safest method is to type the dimensions in inches and the resolution as 300, then let the program calculate pixels. If you type pixels directly, confirm the resolution field also says 300, or the printer may read your file as a larger or smaller physical size.

• Photoshop and similar editors: new document, 3.75 × 2.25 in, 300 PPI, then add guides at the trim and safe lines.
• GIMP: create a new image at 1125 × 675 pixels and set the resolution to 300 in the advanced options.
• Procreate and tablet apps: create a custom canvas at 1125 × 675 pixels and 300 DPI.
• Browser design tools: choose a custom size in inches when possible, because they handle bleed on export.
• Phone apps: many export at screen resolution, so check the final pixel dimensions before uploading.

If your tool supports it, work in CMYK or at least preview CMYK. Bright screen colors, especially electric blues and greens, often print duller. The RGB vs CMYK guide explains what shifts and why.

Sizes outside the United States

Business card sizes vary by country, and there is no single world standard. If you design for clients abroad or order from a printer in another region, convert from millimeters. Divide millimeters by 25.4 to get inches, then multiply by 300.

Printers outside the US often use 3 mm bleed rather than 0.125 in, which is slightly smaller. Always use the bleed your printer specifies. Square cards follow the same logic; see square business cards for the current format options.

Recheck resolution after cropping

Judge the pixels that actually cover the card. If only part of a photo remains after cropping, or the image is enlarged to fill the bleed, the effective resolution drops below what the original camera file suggests. Changing the resolution value in the file's metadata does not add pixels, and resampling an image larger smooths it without restoring fine detail. For a logo, look for the original vector file; for a photo, retrieve the original rather than a copy saved from a messaging app.

When pixels are the wrong approach

Pixel based files are perfect for photos, painted textures and illustrations. They are weaker for text and logos. Type rendered as pixels, even at 300 PPI, can look slightly softer than type kept as live text or vector outlines in a PDF. Logos created as vector shapes stay sharp at any size.

A practical hybrid works well. Build your background image or photo in your pixel editor at the full bleed size, then place it into a layout tool where text and logo stay as vectors. If you only have a pixel editor, that is fine: keep resolution at 300 PPI, use large enough type, and export a high quality PDF or PNG rather than a compressed JPG.

For on screen use, such as an email signature or a digital card shared by message, pixels are the whole story. A 1050 × 600 pixel image displays sharply on most phones, and you can export a smaller copy for email.

Checking an image you already have

If someone sends you a logo or photo, divide its pixel width by the number of inches it will occupy on the card. The result is its effective PPI. A logo that is 600 pixels wide placed at 2 in wide gives 300 PPI, which is ideal. The same logo stretched to 3 in gives 200 PPI, which may look slightly soft. A 150 pixel logo at 1 in wide gives only 150 PPI and will likely print blurry.

When an image falls short, ask for the original file, look for a vector version, or reduce the size it occupies on the card. Upscaling in software adds pixels but not real detail. The PDF health check flags low resolution images in a finished file so you catch them before print.

Get the free print size cheat sheets

The Print size cheat sheets give trim, bleed and safe area measurements for business cards, postcards, flyers, posters and vinyl banners on printable pages. They are handy to keep next to your screen whenever you set up a new canvas.

Pixel setup checklist

• Create the canvas at 1125 × 675 pixels for a standard card with bleed
• Confirm the resolution field reads 300
• Place guides about 38 and 75 pixels in from every edge
• Extend backgrounds to the outer canvas edge
• Keep text, logos and QR codes inside the safe area
• Check the effective PPI of every placed image
• Keep text as live type or vectors where your tool allows