Sound familiar?
- Your last cards came back with a thin white line along one edge.
- The phone number is so close to the edge it got trimmed off.
- Your colours printed darker and duller than they looked on screen.
- The online template made your card look like everyone else's.
- Every member of staff has a slightly different card design.
- Your QR code won't scan because it's too small.
Key facts
- Business card design starts from £75 + VAT, fixed-priced before we start.
- UK standard size is 85 × 55 mm; artwork is built at 91 × 61 mm including 3 mm bleed on every edge.
- Text and logos sit inside a safe zone, at least 3 mm in from the trim line.
- Artwork is supplied as print-ready PDF in CMYK, with fonts embedded.
- Double-sided, team name variations and special finishes can be set up.
- Printing is not included in the design price but can be arranged and quoted.
UK business card size, bleed and safe zone
The standard UK and European business card is 85 × 55 mm. That is slightly different from the US standard of 3.5 × 2 inches (88.9 × 50.8 mm), which is why some American templates found online don't fit UK printers' layouts.
Three measurements matter on every card:
- Trim size: 85 × 55 mm, where the guillotine cuts.
- Bleed: 3 mm extra on every edge, so the artwork is built at 91 × 61 mm. Any colour or image that touches the edge carries on into the bleed. Without it, a tiny shift in cutting leaves a white sliver.
- Safe zone: keep text and logos at least 3 mm inside the trim line, and more for borders. Anything closer risks being cut off or looking cramped.
dijitul media sets every card up to these measurements, with crop marks, so it is ready for any UK printer.
Colour, fonts and small text
Business cards expose print mistakes because everything is small and held close to the eye.
- CMYK, not RGB. Screen colours are converted to the four print inks. Very bright greens and blues can't be reproduced in CMYK, so we choose values that print well and match your brand colours as closely as possible.
- Black text in 100% black. Small text built from all four inks can look fuzzy if the plates are fractionally misaligned. Large black areas get a richer black mix instead.
- Readable sizes. We avoid tiny type for phone numbers and emails, and avoid thin fonts reversed out of dark backgrounds, which can fill in on print.
- Fonts embedded. The PDF includes the fonts, so the printer doesn't substitute something else.
Paper and finishes worth knowing about
The design should suit the stock. Common choices from UK printers include:
- Weight: card is measured in gsm (grams per square metre). Heavier stocks feel more substantial in the hand.
- Coated or uncoated: silk and gloss stocks give bright colour; uncoated has a natural feel and is easy to write on.
- Lamination: matt or soft-touch lamination protects the card and changes how it feels.
- Spot UV, foil and embossing: these need an extra artwork layer showing exactly where the effect goes. We set those up as separate layers or files.
- Rounded corners and unusual shapes need a cutter guide from the printer.
Printing isn't included in the design price. We can arrange print and quote it, or supply files for your own printer.
What to put on a business card
Less than most people think. A clear card usually has your logo, name, job title, one phone number, an email address and your website. Add a mobile if that's how customers reach you, and a QR code only if it leads somewhere useful, such as a booking page or contact card. A QR code needs to be big enough to scan comfortably and tested before printing.
Use the back for one thing: your logo large, a short line about what you do, or a list of services. If you're a limited company, there is no legal requirement to put your registered details on a business card, but they are required on business letters and order forms.
Common business card artwork mistakes we fix
- No bleed. Artwork made at exactly 85 × 55 mm with colour to the edge. The printer either rejects it or adds white edges.
- RGB colours. Files exported from Canva or Word in RGB shift when converted to CMYK, usually towards duller, darker tones.
- Low-resolution logo. A logo copied from a website at 72 ppi looks soft in print. Print images need around 300 ppi at final size, and logos should be vector.
- Hairline borders. A thin border close to the edge shows every millimetre of cutting variation, making the card look crooked.
- Too much on one side. Five phone numbers, three addresses and every social icon make nothing readable.
If you have existing artwork with these problems, we can correct it rather than starting from scratch.
Cards for a whole team
For businesses with several staff, we design one master layout and produce a version for each person, all checked for long names and job titles that don't fit. Need letterheads and compliment slips to match? See stationery design. Business cards or letterhead design starts from £75 + VAT; get in touch for a fixed price.
What you get
- Print-ready PDF (PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4, as your printer prefers) with crop marks and 3 mm bleed
- Front and back artwork in CMYK, with Pantone or special finish layers if needed
- Separate artwork for each team member, or an editable master
- Screen PNG preview for approval and sharing
- Notes for the printer on stock and finish
How it works and what it costs
Logos from £150, brochures from £295, photography from £295 a half day and CAD at £45 an hour, all + VAT. You get a fixed price before we start.
Tell us the brief
What it is for, who will see it, where it will be used and any examples you like. Rough is fine.
Fixed price
We confirm the price and what you get, in writing, before any work starts.
First designs
We design, shoot or model it and share the first version for your comments.
Refine
We make the changes, check every detail, and prepare the files properly for print, web or manufacture.
Final files
You get the finished files in the formats you need, ready for your printer, website, social channels or manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard business card in the UK?
The UK standard business card is 85 × 55 mm. For printing, dijitul builds the artwork at 91 × 61 mm, which adds 3 mm of bleed on each edge so there are no white slivers after cutting. US cards are 3.5 × 2 inches, so US templates don't fit UK layouts.
How much does business card design cost?
dijitul media designs business cards from £75 + VAT, with a fixed price agreed before starting. Versions for additional team members and special finish layers depend on the brief. Printing is quoted separately, or you can send the print-ready PDF to your own printer.
What is bleed on a business card?
Bleed is extra artwork beyond the cut line, usually 3 mm on each edge. Printers cut cards from larger sheets, and the cut can move slightly. Extending backgrounds into the bleed means the card still has colour right to the edge after trimming.
What file format does a printer need for business cards?
Most UK printers want a print-ready PDF in CMYK with 3 mm bleed, crop marks and fonts embedded, often to the PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 standard. dijitul supplies files in the format your printer asks for.
Can you add spot UV or foil to my business cards?
Yes. dijitul sets up a separate artwork layer showing exactly where the spot UV, foil or embossing should go, as printers need. These finishes add to the print cost, which can be quoted with the job.
Do I need my company number on a business card?
There is no specific legal requirement for limited companies to show registered details on a business card. They are required on business letters, order forms and websites. dijitul can add them to your cards if you prefer to include them.
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Get a fixed price
Send a rough brief. You'll know exactly what it costs before we start.