Place card size: dimensions that work
There is no single official place card size, but a common folded tent card is about 3.5 × 2 in (89 × 51 mm) once folded. Below are the common sizes, the exact size of the cards Seating Solver prints on US Letter and A4, and what to know about fonts, paper and printing.
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Common place card sizes
Sizes below are finished sizes (the card as it stands on the table). For a tent card, the piece you cut is twice as tall as the finished card. The Avery figures come from the supplier’s own product listings: small tent cards, 2 × 3.5 in, place cards, 1.44 × 3.75 in and large tent cards, 3.5 × 11 in.
| Card | Finished size (in) | Finished size (mm) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seating Solver place card, US Letter | 3.9 × 2.6 | 100 × 66.5 | Folded tent, 4 per sheet |
| Seating Solver place card, A4 | 3.9 × 2.8 | 100 × 70 | Folded tent, 4 per sheet |
| Avery small tent card | 3.5 × 2 | 89 × 51 | Pre-scored tent, 4 per sheet |
| Avery place card | 3.75 × 1.44 | 95 × 37 | Pre-scored tent, 6 per sheet |
| Avery large tent card | 11 × 3.5 | 279 × 89 | Large tent, 1 per sheet |
A flat card (an escort card, or a name card in a holder) has no fold, so its size is up to you. For the difference between the two, see place cards and escort cards.
The size of the cards Seating Solver prints
Place cards are folded tent cards, four per sheet in a 2 × 2 grid, with a dashed fold line and crop marks. The card is 100 mm (3.9 in) wide on both papers. The height depends on the sheet, because the layout keeps a printable margin for home printers:
| Paper | Sheet | Flat card | Folded card | Per sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 8.5 × 11 in (215.9 × 279.4 mm) | 3.9 × 5.2 in (100 × 133 mm) | 3.9 × 2.6 in (100 × 66.5 mm) | 4 |
| A4 | 8.3 × 11.7 in (210 × 297 mm) | 3.9 × 5.5 in (100 × 140 mm) | 3.9 × 2.8 in (100 × 70 mm) | 4 |
Table cards (“table numbers”) are bigger. They print one per sheet in landscape and fold lengthwise: 11 × 4.25 in (279.4 × 108 mm) folded on US Letter, and 297 × 105 mm (11.7 × 4.1 in) on A4. See wedding table numbers.
Font size for place cards
- Names: 18 pt or larger is easy to read across a table. Seating Solver sizes each name automatically and shrinks only long names (to as small as 12 pt in the smallest case).
- Table number or meal line: 9 to 10 pt is enough, because it is a secondary line.
- Script fonts: go a size or two larger, as they run small and thin. Save them for short names.
- Contrast: dark ink on a light card. Avoid pale grey or gold text on white.
Paper weight for place cards
Regular office paper will not stand up, so use card stock. As a guide, Avery lists its 3.5 × 11 in tent cards at a 65 lb basis weight, which it gives as 176 g/m² (gsm).
- 65 lb cover (about 176 gsm): around the lightest weight that stands up well. Check that your printer accepts it.
- 80 lb cover (about 216 gsm): sturdier, and better near glasses or on breezy outdoor tables. Many home printers cannot feed it, but a copy shop can print it.
- Fold: score the fold line first on thick card for a clean crease.
How to print place cards at home
- In Seating Solver, open the Print tab and pick your paper (US Letter or A4) under Place cards.
- Download the PDF and open it in a PDF viewer.
- In the print dialog, set the scale to 100 % or “actual size”. Do not choose “fit to page” or “shrink to printable area”, or the card size changes.
- Choose the paper type “card stock” or “heavy” if your printer has it, and print one page first.
- Check the size with a ruler (the card should be 100 mm / 3.9 in wide), then cut along the crop marks and fold on the dashed line.
Place card size questions
What is the standard size of a place card?
There is no single standard. A folded tent card is commonly about 3.5 × 2 in (89 × 51 mm) finished. The cards in Seating Solver are 3.9 × 2.6 in (100 × 66.5 mm) folded on US Letter and 3.9 × 2.8 in (100 × 70 mm) on A4.
What are the dimensions of a folded tent place card?
The finished size is the folded one. A 3.5 × 2 in tent card is made from a 3.5 × 4 in piece folded once. Seating Solver’s cards are 100 mm wide and 133 or 140 mm tall flat, folded in half.
What size font should I use on place cards?
Use 18 pt or larger for names, and 9 to 10 pt for a table number or meal line. Seating Solver picks the size for you and reduces it only for long names.
What paper should I print place cards on?
Card stock of at least 65 lb cover (about 176 gsm). Use 80 lb cover (about 216 gsm) if your printer accepts it, or have them printed at a copy shop.
How many place cards fit on one sheet?
Four in Seating Solver, on both US Letter and A4. Pre-scored Avery tent cards fit four or six per sheet depending on the size.
Why do my printed cards come out smaller?
The print dialog is scaling the page. Set the scale to 100 % or “actual size” and turn off “fit to page”.
Skip the measuring
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