Standard ID card dimensions
| Size name | CR80 (also called ID-1, from ISO/IEC 7810) |
|---|---|
| Inches | 3.375 × 2.125 in (3⅜ × 2⅛ in) |
| Millimeters | 85.6 × 54 mm |
| Corners | Rounded, about 1/8 in (3 mm) radius |
| Standard thickness | 30 mil (0.76 mm) |
| Pixels at 300 dpi | 1013 × 638 px horizontal, 638 × 1013 px vertical |
It's the size of a credit card or US driver's license, so it fits standard badge holders, badge reels, wallets and card slots.
Horizontal or vertical?
The card is the same size either way; only the layout turns. Vertical (portrait) badges hang straight from a lanyard or badge reel and leave room for a large photo. Horizontal (landscape) cards suit wallets and membership cards. Our templates come in both.
Other card sizes you may see
- CR79 (about 3.30 × 2.05 in): slightly smaller, usually an adhesive-backed card stuck onto a proximity card.
- CR100 (about 3.88 × 2.63 in): oversized, used where a badge must be read from farther away, such as some government or event IDs.
CredentialCore prints CR80, which is what nearly every employee, student, membership and event card uses.
How thick is an ID card?
- 30 mil (0.76 mm): the standard. Rigid like a credit card and durable enough for daily use. Every card we print is 30 mil.
- 10–20 mil: thinner and flexible, mostly for temporary passes or cards attached to something else.
What are ID cards made of?
- PVC: the most common material. Smooth, rigid and takes full-color printing well. Our cards are PVC.
- Composite (PVC/PET): more heat-resistant, used when cards are laminated or embossed.
- Paper or synthetic paper: cheap and printable on office printers, but bends and wears quickly; fine for one-day events.
Setting up your design file
- Make the file the card's finished size: 3.375 × 2.125 in at 300 dpi (1013 × 638 px) or larger.
- Keep text and logos at least 1/8 in (3 mm) from every edge.
- Leave room for a slot punch at the top if the badge will hang from a clip.
Or skip the file setup: our online badge maker is already the right size. Have a finished file? Upload your artwork.