Card Making Dimensions – A4 & Letter to A2, A6, 5x7

A2 cards measure 4.25″×5.5″ (108×140mm) and are the most common US handmade card size — they're exactly one-quarter of a Letter sheet. A6 cards are slightly narrower at 4.1″×5.8″ (105×148mm), matching the ISO A-series proportion. A6 fits perfectly in standard A6 envelopes, while A2 requires A2-specific envelopes.

From one A4 sheet (210×297mm), you can cut 2 A2 cards (108×140mm each). The best layout places the cards in a 1×2 arrangement. Since A2 is derived from Letter paper (it's exactly one-quarter of 8.5″×11″), A4 paper is slightly less efficient for A2 cards. For maximum A2 yield, use Letter-size paper which gives you 4 cards per sheet.

Both A4 and Letter yield 2 cards of 5×7″ (127×178mm) per sheet when oriented optimally. However, Letter paper (8.5″×11″) provides slightly more efficient placement with less waste. If you're primarily making 5×7 cards, consider using larger sheets like A3 or tabloid (11″×17″) which can yield 4 cards per sheet for bulk production.

Yes! From one Letter sheet (8.5″×11″ / 216×279mm), you can cut 2 A6 cards (105×148mm). The fit is snug — you'll get a 2×1 layout with about 20% waste. If you need more A6 cards, A4 paper is actually more efficient, yielding 4 A6 cards per sheet with less than 1% waste, since A6 is exactly one-quarter of A4.

The most popular card making sizes are: A2 (4.25″×5.5″) — the US standard; A6 (4.1″×5.8″) — the international standard; 5×7 (5″×7″) — ideal for photo cards and invitations; A7 (2.9″×4.1″) — perfect for thank-you notes and RSVPs; 4×6 (4″×6″) — great for postcard-style cards; and 5×5 (5″×5″) — popular square format for modern designs.

Paper grain direction is crucial for card making. When you fold a card, the fold should run parallel to the grain for a clean, crack-free crease. For A4 paper, grain typically runs parallel to the long edge (297mm). For Letter paper, grain runs parallel to the 11″ side. Always plan your cuts so the card fold aligns with the grain direction for professional results.

A2 cards (4.25″×5.5″) fit A2 envelopes (4.375″×5.75″). A6 cards (4.1″×5.8″) fit standard A6 envelopes (4.5″×6.25″). 5×7 cards fit A7 envelopes (5.25″×7.25″). Always choose an envelope about 0.25″ larger than your card on each side for easy insertion. For A7 cards (2.9″×4.1″), use A1 envelopes (3.625″×5.125″).

It depends on your target card size. Letter paper is ideal for A2 cards (4 per sheet) and works well for 5×7 cards. A4 paper excels for A6 cards (4 per sheet, near-zero waste) and A7 cards (8 per sheet). If you follow US card-making standards, Letter is more convenient. For ISO-standard cards (A6, A7), A4 is significantly more efficient. Many card makers keep both on hand.

To find the optimal layout, try both orientations of the card on the paper: (1) card upright — divide paper width by card width, paper height by card height; (2) card rotated 90° — divide paper width by card height, paper height by card width. Take the floor of each division and multiply. Also consider rotating the paper itself. The combination yielding the highest product is your best layout. This tool automates all those calculations instantly.

Waste percentage varies dramatically by combination. A6 from A4 wastes under 1% (nearly perfect fit). A2 from Letter wastes about 5%. 5×7 from A4 wastes roughly 27%. DL from A4 wastes about 30%. The most efficient combinations are those where the card size is an exact subdivision of the paper size — like A6 from A4 (quarter sheet) or A2 from Letter (quarter sheet). Always check waste percentage if you're buying expensive cardstock in bulk.