What you need before you order business cards

Business cards are small printed rectangles — usually 3.5 by 2 inches — that hold your name, title, phone number, email, and sometimes a company logo or website. You can order them from an online printer, a local print shop, or design and print them yourself at home. Before you place an order, you need to decide what information goes on the card, what it should look like, and how many you want printed.

The information side is straightforward: your full name, job title, company name, phone number, email address, and website if you have one. Some people add a physical address; others skip it. The design side — colors, fonts, layout, whether you include a logo — depends on what impression you want to make and how much you want to spend. A basic order of 250 cards from an online printer typically costs between $10 and $30, depending on paper quality and whether you add color or special finishes.

You will also need to decide whether to use a template from the printer's website, hire a designer, or design the card yourself using free tools like Canva. If you go the template route, the printer handles the layout and you just fill in your details. If you design it yourself or hire someone, you will upload a file to the printer and they will print from that file.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your name, job title, company name, phone number, and email address before you start — everything else is optional.
  • Online printers like Vistaprint, Minted, and MOO offer templates you can customize in minutes without design experience.
  • A local print shop can often match a competitor's price and may offer same-week turnaround if you need cards quickly.
  • Paper quality and finish (matte, glossy, textured) affect how the card feels and looks, and cost more than basic cardstock.
  • Ordering 250 cards is usually cheaper per card than ordering 100, so consider whether you will actually use them before you order.

Using an online printer with built-in templates

Online printers like Vistaprint, Minted, MOO, and Printful let you start with a template, customize the text and colors, and order without leaving their website. You do not need design software or a file — the template is already set up with the right dimensions and bleed (the extra space that gets trimmed off). You log in, pick a template that matches your industry or style, and fill in your information.

The customization tools are usually drag-and-drop: you can change the background color, swap fonts, move your logo, and preview the card as you go. Most printers show you a mockup before you pay, so you can catch typos or spacing problems. Once you approve it, you choose your quantity (usually 100, 250, 500, or 1000), select your paper type, and check out. Delivery typically takes 5 to 10 business days, though some printers offer rush options for an extra fee.

The advantage of this route is speed and simplicity — you can have cards ordered in 20 minutes. The disadvantage is that your card will look similar to other people's cards from the same printer, because you are both using the same templates. If you want something more distinctive, you will need to either customize heavily or use a different approach.

Designing your own card or hiring a designer

If you want a custom look, you can design the card yourself using free tools like Canva or Adobe Express, or hire a graphic designer to create it for you. Canva has business card templates that you can edit in your browser — you change the text, colors, and layout, then read the file as a PDF. The file is already the right size (3.5 by 2 inches) and ready to send to any printer.

Hiring a designer costs more upfront — typically $50 to $300 depending on how many revisions you want and how complex the design is — but you get something unique that reflects your brand. A designer will ask you questions about your industry, your target audience, and what you want the card to communicate, then create a few options for you to choose from. Once you approve the design, they will give you a print-ready file that you can send to any printer.

Whether you design it yourself or hire someone, you will upload your file to the printer's website and select your options. Make sure your file is in the format the printer requests (usually PDF) and that it includes bleed — the printer will tell you how much extra space to add around the edges so nothing important gets cut off. If your file does not have bleed, the printer may reject it or charge you to fix it.

Choosing a printer and paper type

You have three main options: online printers, local print shops, and printing at home. Online printers are usually cheapest for large orders and offer the widest range of paper types and finishes. Local print shops are faster if you need cards in a few days, and they can often match online prices if you ask. Printing at home works if you have a color printer and cardstock, but the cards will not look as professional as printed cards, and the per-card cost is usually higher than ordering from a printer.

Paper type matters more than most people think. Basic cardstock is thin and feels cheap. Heavier cardstock (110 lb or thicker) feels substantial and professional. Finishes change how the card looks: matte is modern and understated, glossy is bright and eye-catching, and textured (linen, felt, or embossed) feels expensive and memorable. Specialty finishes like foil stamping or edge painting cost significantly more but make the card stand out.

For a first order, start with 250 cards on 110 lb cardstock with a matte finish. This combination is affordable, looks professional, and lets you test whether the design works before you order more. If you like how they feel and look, you can order 500 or 1000 the next time and lock in a lower per-card price.

What to check before you pay

Before you submit your order, verify your information one more time. Check that your phone number and email are correct — a typo here means people cannot reach you. Make sure your name and title are spelled right. If your card includes a website, test the link to confirm it works. Read the printer's preview one more time to catch any spacing or color issues.

Check the printer's turnaround time and shipping cost. Some printers offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount; others charge a flat rate. If you need the cards by a specific date, confirm that the printer can deliver by then. Many printers offer rush options (3-day or next-day delivery) for an extra fee — use this only if you really need the cards fast, because the cost adds up quickly.

Finally, check the printer's return policy. Most printers will reprint cards if they arrive damaged or if there is a printing error on their end. Some will not accept returns if the error was in your file. If you are unsure whether your file is correct, many printers offer a free proof review — they will check your file and tell you if anything looks wrong before they print.

Ordering from a local print shop

A local print shop — the kind you find in your town or city — can often print business cards faster than an online printer and may offer personalized information on design and paper. You can walk in with your design or your information, talk to someone face-to-face, and sometimes pick up your cards in a few days. Many local shops also match or beat online prices if you ask, especially for smaller orders.

To use a local print shop, search online for "print shop near me" or "business card printing [your city]" and call a few places to ask about turnaround time and price. Bring your design file or your information, and ask what paper options they have in stock. Some shops have sample books you can look through to see how different papers and finishes look in person — this is helpful if you are unsure what you want.

The main advantage of a local shop is speed and personal service. The main disadvantage is that they may not have as many options as an online printer, and their prices may be higher for large orders. Use a local shop if you need cards fast or if you want to see and feel the paper before you order.

Printing business cards at home

If you have a color printer and cardstock, you can print business cards at home using a template from Canva, Microsoft Word, or a printer manufacturer's website. You buy perforated cardstock sheets (usually 10 sheets per pack, which gives you 100 cards), load them into your printer, and print. The sheets have fold lines so you can cut the cards apart cleanly.

Home printing is cheapest if you only need a small number of cards — say, 50 or 100. The per-card cost is usually $0.10 to $0.20, which is less than ordering from a printer if you only need a few. However, if you need more than 100 cards, ordering from a printer becomes cheaper per card, and the cards will look more professional because they are printed on a commercial press.

The disadvantages of home printing are time, quality, and consistency. Cutting 100 cards by hand takes an hour or more, and the edges will not be as clean as a commercial cut. The colors may not match exactly from card to card because home printers vary slightly. And you cannot use specialty papers or finishes — you are limited to whatever cardstock your printer can handle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many business cards should I order?

Start with 250 if you are new to business cards or if you are testing a new design. This is enough to hand out at a few events or meetings without running out, and it is not so many that you will be stuck with them if you change your information or design. Once you know you like the design and you use cards regularly, order 500 or 1000 — the per-card cost drops significantly at higher quantities.

What if I make a mistake in my design after I order?

If you catch the mistake before the printer starts printing, call or email them when ready and ask if they can stop the order. Most printers will hold an order for a few hours if you contact them quickly. If the cards have already printed, most printers will not accept returns unless the error was on their end. This is why checking your preview carefully before you pay is important.

Can I order business cards with just my name and phone number?

Yes. You can put as much or as little information as you want on a business card. Some people include only their name and phone number; others add a website, social media handle, or physical address. Include whatever information you want people to have when they contact you.

Do I need a logo on my business card?

No. A logo is optional. If you have one and it looks good small, include it. If you do not have a logo or if it does not scale down well, leave it off. A clean, straightforward card with just your name and contact information is professional and memorable.

How long do business cards last before I need to reorder?

That depends on how many you hand out and how often you change your information. If you hand out 10 cards a week, 250 cards will last about 5 months. If you hand out 50 a week, they will last about a month. Order based on how many you actually use, not on how many you think you should use.