Standard Size of Handmade Cards
What is the standard size for handmade cards in the US? Today we’ll go back to the very basics of cardmaking. What measurements do you need to know to make a greeting card? What size do you make the card and where do you put the fold?
Cutting the Cardstock
The typical size of a handmade card in the United States is 4¼ x 5½”, or 5½ x 4¼”. To achieve the 4¼ x 5½” card, cut a sheet of 8½ x 11” or letter sized sheet of cardstock in half along the 8½” edge at the 4¼” mark, leaving you with a sheet that is 4¼ x 11”. You would then need to turn the cardstock to the 11” side and score it at 5½”. Fold at the score line and you have your 4¼ x 5½” card. Remember, when folding along a score line, always fold cardstock with the valley of the score going upwards. This will help keep the fibers from breaking when you fold your cardstock.
You may also want your card to be 5½ x 4¼”. For this configuration, cut a sheet of 8½ x 11” or letter sized sheet of cardstock in half along the 11” edge at the 5½” mark, leaving you with a sheet that is 5½ x 8½”. You would then need to turn the cardstock to the 8½” side and score it at 4¼”. Fold at the score line and you have your 5½ x 4¼” card.
Either of these ways to cut cards can be turned portrait or landscape configuration to achieve a different look when hand-crafting card. To see examples, be sure to check out my gallery.
Basically, a standard handmade card in the United States is ¼ of a letter sized (8½ x 11”) sheet of cardstock. To get this you cut the cardstock on half then fold it in half. Either configuration will give you a beautiful hand-crafted card.