North American

The North American business card size is the most commonly used format in the United States and Canada. With dimensions of 3.5 inches by 2 inches, it has a surface area of 7 square inches. It can fit inside a standard 4.125 x 9.5 inch envelope with additional clearance. This imperial measurement is occasionally referred to as the 'standard business card size' in North America.

The origins of the 3.5 x 2 inch format can be traced back over a century. As early professional directories like medical registers, legal rosters, and more were printed in the late 1800s, contact details were listed on pages approx. 3.5 inches wide - the width of a printing press column. This standard column width was adopted for printed contact cards that could be easily carried and exchanged. The cards were paired with 2 inch deep filing boxes used for alphabetical organization and storage. This pairing of printing press limitations and filing systems made the 3.5 x 2 size a natural standard that persists today.