The Best DIY Business Cards to Make an Impression

Business cards are an asset, and in today’s business world, a near necessity for just about any career professional, regardless of their field. They’re essentially smaller, more professional index cards printed with your name, job title, company, contact information, website, and any other facts or figures you might deem useful. Business cards are a small but still formal way to introduce yourself or your company at networking events or to other professionals, potential clients, customers, and so forth. They’re also a convenient memory aid so that whoever possesses one of your business cards doesn’t need to memorize or fumble for a pen and paper to take down your information. And since business cards are pocket-sized, they’re easy to slide into wallets, purses, pockets, and other tiny spaces. Business cards should be made out of thicker, higher quality, and (often) laminated paper, so they always look professional and are less likely to become bent, ripped, or otherwise damaged. If your job doesn’t provide you with business cards, you may want to make your own. Fortunately, there are plenty of blank, pre-sized business cards you can purchase to do just that. Here are a few we recommend.

What to Consider When Creating a Business Card

Here are a few things to think about before buying business cards:

• Size: Though all business cards are small enough to fit into a wallet or pocket, there are a couple of different size options available: 3 inches long by 2 inches tall is a pretty standard measurement, with some small variations also readily available. While you can always trim business cards down to size with a paper cutter or scissors if desired, there are quite a few options that you can actually fold and tear off. This ensures that all of your business cards will be a uniform size, which may not be the case if you try to trim them on your own.
• Compatibility: Designing and creating your own business cards from scratch means that you’ll have to print them off. To ensure this process goes smoothly, make sure that whichever paper business cards you pick are compatible with the type of printer you have access to. These days, most business cards you buy will work with both inkjet and laser printers. However, some models are still only compatible with one or the other, so it’s safest to double-check before you buy. Note that any business cards that come pre-cut down to size should never be fed into a printer.
• Quantity: How many business cards do you plan to make? Your needs may vary considerably, depending on your business’s size, how many clients you see a day, how often you go to networking events, and many other factors. Blank, pre-cut business cards tend to be sold in bulk; it’s rare that you’ll find a pack with fewer than 50 cards. Even so, the actual quantity of cards can be quite different from brand to brand. 50 to 100 business cards per pack are usually the smallest quantities you can buy, while others may offer as many as 1000 per pack. There are plenty of options in between those two numbers as well. Some brands sell the same business cards in several different quantity options, while others only offer one choice. Also keep in mind that it’s generally more cost-efficient to buy, say, a pack of 250 cards than it is to buy five packs of 50 cards. So be sure to decide ahead of time how many business cards you need and try to find a set that offers the quantity that’s right for you.

Top Choice: Avery Ink-Jet Printer Business Cards

This premium set of classic blank white business cards is designed to be as convenient and easy to use as possible. They’re made out of high-quality, heavyweight business card paper to best prevent your business cards from becoming damaged or bent. They’re also specially designed for as effortless and reliable a feed as possible through your printer to prevent jamming, sticking, and misalignments. The multiple precision perforations create a smoother border around each card, so it’s less likely to get caught during the printing process. The sure feed technology provides the sheets with an increased grip, which helps guide the paper through the printer for a better alignment and reduce the risk of jamming. Each business card is 3.5 inches long and 2 inches high, as well as double-sided so that you can print a design on either or both sides as desired. They’re compatible with inkjet printers only and available in packs of 100, 250, and 1,000 cards.

Best Fold-and-Tear: Best Paper Greeting Blank Business Cards

If you prefer a set of fold-and-tear business cards so that you don’t have to cut or trim them on your own, these are the ones for you. You receive 100 sheets of plain white, matte business cardstock paper with your purchase, each containing 10 blank 3.5-by-1.9-inch business cards for a total of 1,000 ready-to-print business cards. The paper is made of thick, 170-GSM offset paper for extra sturdiness, durability, and quality. The sheets have dotted lines along all sides to show you exactly where to cut and tear them off after they’ve printed. All you have to do is fold the paper along one line at a time and gently and carefully tear them away. For best results, fold and tear one line at a time. This paper works with both inkjet and laser printers alike for your convenience.

Most Variety: Avery Heavyweight Printable Business Cards

Whether you only need a handful or a high volume of business cards, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the right amount with this product. You can buy these business cards in small, medium, or large quantity sets, as they’re available in packs of 90, 180, 400, and 1,000. They’re matte white rather than shiny to ensure the images and text you print on them come out as crisp and vibrant as possible. The cardstock is made of thick, heavy paper to ensure your business cards hold up well. The clean edge technology ensures they snap apart from each other after printing with minimum hassle and don’t leave behind any unprofessional-looking rough or jagged edges. They’re also designed to prevent smudging and jamming during the printing process, and the company website offers free templates to make it easier for you to design the cards you want.

Best Color Options: Primbeeks Blank Business Cards

While blank white business cards are considered the quintessential model and are the most convenient to add logos and colorful designs onto, you may want to mix things up with your business cards. Maybe you hope their colorfulness will make them stand out in a crowd, or a vibrant color is better suited to your business than plain white. Whatever your reasoning, if you want some extra color options besides white, these are the business cards for you. While available in classic white, they can also be ordered as a multicolored option with six different color choices or in brown with a wood grain appearance that makes them look like they’re made out of real wood. Regardless of which colors you pick, each card is blank, double-sided, and made of high-quality kraft paper that is extra thick. If you ever need to write a quick note down on these business cards, neither pen nor marker will bleed through them. They’re all 3.5 inches long and 2.2 inches wide. They’re great for activities like scrapbooking or gift tagging as well. You can buy these business cards in either a single pack of 300 or a double pack for a total of 600 cards.

Best Thank You Cards: Bliss Collections Thank You Business Cards

In addition to having pre-made business cards to hand out to prospective clients and customers, your business may find it useful to have thank you cards to send out as well. Some businesses like restaurants, spas, and online stores like to include a small thank you card tucked away into an order or with a check, which can help make clients and customers feel more appreciated, especially if you write a handwritten note on the back. These thank you business cards come with the thank you message already printed on the front in a lovely calligraphy-style font. You won’t have to go to the trouble of getting on a graphic design site and scrolling through designs and prints or creating your own. And there is space on the back if you want to include a handwritten note for an extra personal touch. Each card is 3.5 inches long by 2 inches wide and made out of thick, uncoated white cardstock that’s easy to write on. These thank you business cards are sold only in packs of 50.