Guide
Printable place cards, start to finish
A place card is a small thing that makes a table feel considered. This guide walks through how to make a set from a guest list: the sizes, the paper, how to print, and how to cut and fold so the result looks clean. It takes a few minutes.
How it works
Three steps
Choose a design
Browse the gallery and pick a style. Each design comes with a font that suits it, so you can start fast and refine later.
Add your guest list
Paste names, or upload a CSV or Excel file. We read the Name and Table columns for you, so a spreadsheet export just works.
Customize and download
Adjust the font, colour, size and alignment for the name and table text, choose a layout, then download a print-ready PDF.
Sizes
How big is a place card?
The common place card is about 3.5 inches wide by 2 inches tall once it is cut, the same footprint as a business card. A folding tent card uses the same finished face, printed on a piece twice as tall so it folds at the middle and stands on its own. A full page layout puts one large card on the sheet, which is handy for a welcome sign or a table number. Printers vary by a millimetre or two at the edges, so print at actual size and run one test page before you commit a stack of card stock.
Paper and formats
Plain card stock, or pre-cut sheets
There are two ways to go. Print on a plain sheet of card stock and cut the cards yourself, or use a branded pre-cut sheet where the cards are scored or perforated and you snap them apart. Both work well. Plain card stock gives you any colour and finish you like. Pre-cut sheets save you the cutting.
Plain card stock
A heavier weight holds up better and feels nicer in the hand. Look for something in the range of 200 to 300 gsm, or roughly 80 to 110 pound cover. A matte or lightly textured stock photographs well. A kraft sheet suits a rustic or garden table. Choose one of these layouts and we centre the cards on the page with dotted cut lines.
| Flat, US Letter | 10 per sheet | Standard 3.5 by 2 inch cards. Print, then cut along the dotted lines. |
| Flat, A4 | 10 per sheet | The same 3.5 by 2 inch card on A4 paper. |
| Foldable tent, US Letter | 4 per sheet | Cut, then fold at the centre so the card stands on the table. |
| Foldable tent, A4 | 4 per sheet | The folding version on A4 paper. |
| Full page, US Letter | 1 per page | One oversized card per page for signage or a feature card. |
Pre-cut and pre-scored sheets
If you have one of these sheets, pick the matching layout and the print lands exactly on the cards. We only list a format once we have checked its exact die measurements against the maker's own template, so the alignment is right rather than close.
| Format | Sheet | Layout | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avery 5371 | US Letter | 10 up | Flat business and place cards |
| Avery 5302 | US Letter | 4 up | Small folding tent cards |
| Avery 16109 | US Letter | 6 up | Folding place cards |
| Avery L7163 | A4 | 14 up | Label sheet, a wide flat card |
| DECAdry OCB3713 | A4 | 6 up | Pre-scored folding place cards |
| Paper Source | US Letter | 8 up | Micro-perforated flat cards |
Printing
Getting a clean print
In the print dialog, set the scale to 100 percent or actual size, never fit to page, which would shrink the cards and throw off the cutting. Print one test page on plain paper first and hold it against a pre-cut sheet, or just check the size with a ruler, before you load your good stock. If your home printer cannot handle thick card, most print shops will run the PDF for you. The file is a standard PDF with the text drawn as vectors, so there are no fonts for the shop to install and nothing to go wrong.
Cutting and folding
Cut lines and fold marks
On plain card stock, the dotted grey lines show where to cut. A craft knife and a metal ruler give the cleanest edge, and a guillotine style paper cutter is worth it once you are past a dozen cards. You can switch the cut lines off in the customize step if you would rather trim by eye. For folding tent cards, the fold position is marked with small ticks in the margin rather than a line across the card, so nothing prints on the finished fold. Score along that line with the back of a knife for a crisp crease.
Your data
Your guest list stays with you
Everything runs in your browser. When you upload a spreadsheet or build the PDF, the work happens on your own device and your guest list is never sent to a server. Close the tab and it is gone.
Questions
Common questions
Do I need an account?
No. There is nothing to install and no sign-up. You design, preview and download right in your browser.
Where does my guest list go?
Nowhere. Reading your file and building the PDF both happen on your own device. Your list is never uploaded to a server.
My PDF looks blank when I open it.
Some previews struggle with vector PDFs. Try a different reader, or print straight from the browser. The cards are there, drawn as crisp vectors so they stay sharp at any size.
Can I change the font or colour?
Yes. The customize step lets you set the font, colour, size and alignment for the name and the table line independently.
My pre-cut paper is not in the list.
We only add a format once we have verified its exact die measurements, so your print lands on the cards. If you have a format you would like supported, tell us which one and we will look into adding it.
How many names can I add?
As many as you like. The set is split across as many sheets as it needs, and the PDF paginates automatically.
Ready when you are
Bring your guest list and have a printable set in a few minutes.
Try it with your list