Credit card size in mm, cm, inches and pixels
Check the ID-1 footprint, thickness and rounded corners, convert it for print or screen, and compare it with common business cards.
Last updated October 28, 2026
A standard credit card is 85.60 mm wide and 53.98 mm high, or 8.56 × 5.398 cm. In inches, that is approximately 3.370 × 2.125. These are the nominal dimensions of the ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 format, which gives familiar bank cards their shared footprint.
Use those physical measurements when comparing a wallet slot, card holder or printed design. Pixels require an extra choice: the resolution at which the image will be printed or displayed. A picture with the right proportions does not necessarily appear at life size on a screen.
Credit card dimensions at a glance
The table uses landscape orientation: width is the longer edge and height is the shorter edge. Pixel values are calculated from the metric dimensions and rounded to whole pixels. They describe the finished face, with no print bleed added.
| Unit or resolution | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimeters | 85.60 mm | 53.98 mm |
| Centimeters | 8.56 cm | 5.398 cm |
| Inches, approximate | 3.370 in | 2.125 in |
| Pixels at 72 dpi | 243 px | 153 px |
| Pixels at 96 dpi | 324 px | 204 px |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 1011 px | 638 px |
For a portrait design, swap width and height. The physical card has not changed; you have only rotated the artwork.
Standard credit card size and the ID-1 format
ISO/IEC 7810 describes the physical characteristics of identification cards, including their dimensions and construction. ID-1 is the format relevant here; it is one of several sizes covered by the standard.
The 2019 standard's sample gives nominal ID-1 width, height and thickness in section 3.5. "Nominal" means the stated reference size. Manufacturing tolerances exist, so a measurement of one worn card is not a replacement for a production specification.
The shared format supports international interchange between cards and the devices that handle them. The practical benefit is that issuers and equipment makers can design around a common physical size. A different bank logo or a portrait layout does not require a different slot. Dimensions alone, however, do not establish that a card is compatible with a payment system.
Credit card size in mm
Use 85.60 × 53.98 mm when a design application accepts millimeters. Divide each value by ten to get 8.56 × 5.398 cm. Rounding the height to 5.4 cm is convenient for a quick comparison, but keep the full value when setting up a template.
To measure a card, lay it flat and measure between the outer edges through the straight part of each side. Do not measure across the diagonal or stop at the rounded corners. If you are checking whether a holder fits, allow for insertion and removal rather than making its opening exactly the nominal card size.
Credit card size in pixels
There is no single pixel size without a resolution. For a raster image, calculate each dimension as:
Pixels = millimeters ÷ 25.4 × pixels per inch
At 300 pixels per inch, the width is 85.60 ÷ 25.4 × 300 = 1011.02, which rounds to 1011 pixels. The height rounds to 638 pixels. Keep the unrounded physical dimensions in a vector layout and let the export settings handle rasterization.
Print instructions often call this setting "dpi", although the image calculation uses pixels per inch, or PPI. A printer's dots per inch describes its output dots. The 72, 96 and 300 dpi rows above use the common design shorthand for an image's resolution.
For web layouts, the W3C CSS length definitions relate one CSS inch to 96 CSS pixels. That explains the 324 × 204 reference, but browser zoom and display scaling affect its physical size. Do not use an on-screen rectangle as an accurate ruler without calibration.
Credit card thickness and corner radius
The nominal card thickness is 0.76 mm, equivalent to 0.076 cm or about 0.030 inches, as specified in the ID-1 definition and dimension table. This describes the card body; raised features such as embossed characters are a separate consideration. A stack of ten nominal card bodies would be 7.6 mm thick before allowing for raised areas or gaps.
ID-1 corners are rounded, with a radius of 2.88 to 3.48 mm. A radius describes the circle forming the curve, not the distance along the curved edge. For a printed mockup, a roughly 3 mm corner suggests the familiar shape; for production, use the manufacturer's cutting template and specified radius.
Credit card sized business cards
A business card cut to 85.60 × 53.98 mm can have the same footprint as a bank card. That does not make its paper thickness, corner finish or durability the same. Ask the printer for that exact finished size if matching a holder matters.
A typical UK or Western European business card is 85 × 55 mm, so it is 0.60 mm narrower and 1.02 mm taller than ID-1. A US card is 88.9 × 50.8 mm: 3.30 mm wider and 3.18 mm shorter. See the business card size guide for regional dimensions, bleed and safe areas.
The free business card maker offers US, UK/Europe and Japan sizes. Its 85 × 55 mm option is close to ID-1 but is not an exact credit card format. Use the printer's own template when you need the exact dimensions, and keep text clear of rounded cut lines.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a credit card in cm?
The nominal size is 8.56 cm wide by 5.398 cm high. For a rough comparison, that is about 8.6 × 5.4 cm; use the unrounded figures for a template.
How wide is a credit card?
The longer edge is 85.60 mm, or 8.56 cm, approximately 3.370 inches. In a portrait design that edge runs vertically.
What is the credit card size UK banks use?
Standard UK bank cards use the same ID-1 footprint, 85.60 × 53.98 mm. A UK business card is commonly 85 × 55 mm, so the two should not be treated as identical templates.
Why is credit card size the same worldwide?
Issuers use the shared ID-1 format so cards and handling devices can be built around common dimensions. It supports physical interchange across countries without each issuer choosing a different width and height.
Does a 300 dpi design need bleed?
If you are printing a card, follow the printer's instructions. The 1011 × 638 pixel figure is the rounded trim size only. Add bleed outside the finished edge when requested, and keep important text inside the printer's safe area.