The standard ID card size is 85.6 mm × 54 mm. This size is called CR80, and it is exactly the same as an ATM or debit card. If you design an ID card in this size, it will fit every card holder, wallet and card printer.
Quick answer: A standard ID card is 85.6 × 54 mm (8.56 × 5.4 cm, or 3.37 × 2.125 inches) and 0.76 mm thick. For printing, make your design 1011 × 638 pixels at 300 DPI for a horizontal card, or 638 × 1011 pixels for a vertical card.
This guide gives you the size in every unit, plus the extra space printers need (bleed), the safe area for text, and the right photo size.
The CR80 ID card size in every unit
| Unit | Horizontal card | Vertical card |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres | 85.6 × 54 mm | 54 × 85.6 mm |
| Centimetres | 8.56 × 5.4 cm | 5.4 × 8.56 cm |
| Inches | 3.37 × 2.125 in | 2.125 × 3.37 in |
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 1011 × 638 px | 638 × 1011 px |
| Pixels at 600 DPI | 2022 × 1275 px | 1275 × 2022 px |
| Thickness | 0.76 mm (30 mil) | 0.76 mm (30 mil) |
| Corner radius | about 3.2 mm | about 3.2 mm |
A vertical card is the same card turned on its side. Only the direction of your design changes, not the size.
The official name of this size is ID-1 (from the international standard ISO/IEC 7810). Card printers and suppliers in India usually call it CR80 or simply "ATM card size".
Other ID card sizes you may see
CR80 is the most common size, but not the only one. Here are the others you may come across:
| Name | Size | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| CR80 | 85.6 × 54 mm | School, office and parent cards, bank cards |
| CR79 | 83.9 × 52.1 mm | Thin cards stuck onto another card |
| CR100 | 98.5 × 67 mm | Large cards that need more space |
| Acrylic ID card (mustprint) | 58 × 88 mm | Premium school cards with a bigger photo |
Holder ID cards (a printed card inside a plastic holder) follow the size of the holder. If you are unsure, ask your printer for the exact size before you start designing.
Pixel size: which DPI should you use?
DPI means "dots per inch". It tells you how sharp the print will be.
- 300 DPI is the minimum for a sharp ID card. For a CR80 card, that is 1011 × 638 pixels.
- 600 DPI gives extra sharp small text and logos. That is 2022 × 1275 pixels.
- 72 or 96 DPI is for screens only. A design made at this size will look blurry when printed.
Tip: Never make a small design bigger later. Start at 300 DPI from the beginning. Read more in our guide on preparing artwork for printing.
Bleed and safe area: the two margins printers need
Cards are printed on large sheets and then cut. The cut is never perfect to the last tenth of a millimetre, so printers ask for two margins.
1. Bleed (outside the card). Stretch your background colour or photo 3 mm past every edge. With bleed, the design file for a CR80 card becomes 91.6 × 60 mm (1082 × 709 pixels at 300 DPI). The extra part is cut off, so no white line shows at the edge.
2. Safe area (inside the card). Keep all text, logos and photos at least 3 mm inside the edge. That leaves a safe area of about 79.6 × 48 mm. Anything outside it may be cut too close.
If your card will hang from a clip or lanyard through a punched slot, also leave about 8–10 mm clear at the top centre. Do not put the student's name or the school logo there.
What size should the photo be on an ID card?
There is no fixed rule, but passport-style photos look best. For a CR80 card:
- Vertical card: a photo about 25 × 32 mm (roughly 295 × 378 pixels at 300 DPI)
- Horizontal card: a photo about 20 × 25 mm on the left or right side
- Ask for photos that are at least 600 × 800 pixels, so they stay sharp after cropping
- Use a plain, light background and a front-facing pose
Our Acrylic ID Card is a little larger (58 × 88 mm), so it fits a bigger photo. Primary classes often like that, because teachers can recognise children faster.
How to set the ID card size in common design apps
You can design an ID card in almost any app. Just set the page size first:
- Canva: Create a design → Custom size → choose mm → 85.6 × 54
- Photoshop: New document → 85.6 × 54 mm → Resolution 300 → Colour mode CMYK
- CorelDRAW: Set the page size to 85.6 × 54 mm, and add 3 mm bleed in the page settings
- MS Word: Possible for text-only cards, but hard for photos and bleed. Use it only for a rough draft.
Colours on screen and on a printed card are a little different. Before you finalise, read why printed colours look different from your screen.
Ready-to-print ID cards in the right size
You do not have to set up the size yourself. At mustprint, every card is printed in the correct size, with bleed and safe area already handled:
- Parent Card (ATM Style): waterproof PVC in the exact CR80 size, 85.6 × 54 mm
- Acrylic ID Card: 58 × 88 mm, crystal-clear acrylic, 16 mm lanyard attached
- Vertical White Holder ID Card: a printed card protected in a strong holder
Send your design or your students' data on the Upload Your Design page, or browse all ID cards.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of an ID card in cm?
A standard ID card is 8.56 cm × 5.4 cm. For a vertical card, it is 5.4 cm wide and 8.56 cm tall.
What is the size of an ID card in pixels?
At 300 DPI, a standard ID card is 1011 × 638 pixels (horizontal) or 638 × 1011 pixels (vertical). At 600 DPI it is 2022 × 1275 pixels.
Is an ID card the same size as an ATM card?
Yes. Both use the CR80 size, 85.6 × 54 mm. That is why ID cards fit in wallets and ATM card holders.
How thick is a standard ID card?
A standard PVC ID card is 0.76 mm thick, also called 30 mil. Acrylic cards are thicker and feel more solid.
What size should my ID card design file be?
Make the file 91.6 × 60 mm (85.6 × 54 mm plus 3 mm bleed on every side) at 300 DPI. Keep text 3 mm inside the edge of the card.
