Playing cards have been a staple of games, magic tricks, and collecting for centuries. Whether you’re designing your own deck, buying a set for poker night, or creating trading cards, knowing the standard playing card size, dimensions, and aspect ratios is essential.
Standard Playing Card Dimensions
The standard playing card size (often called poker size) is 2.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall (63.5 mm × 88.9 mm). This measurement is used by most casinos and manufacturers worldwide.
Standard Playing Card Dimensions in Different Units:
- Inches: 2.5″ × 3.5″
- Millimeters: 63.5 mm × 88.9 mm
- Centimeters: 6.35 cm × 8.89 cm
Aspect Ratio of a Playing Card
The playing card aspect ratio is 5:7. This ratio ensures the cards are easy to shuffle, handle, and store.
Corner Radius of Playing Cards
Most standard playing cards have rounded corners with a radius of 1/8 inch (3.2 mm). This helps prevent corners from bending or fraying over time.
Poker vs. Bridge Size Cards
While poker card size is 2.5″ × 3.5″, bridge size cards are slightly narrower at 2.25″ × 3.5″. Bridge size is popular for games requiring players to hold many cards at once.
Trading Card Dimensions
Trading cards such as sports cards, Pokémon cards, and Magic: The Gathering share the same dimensions as poker playing cards: 2.5″ × 3.5″ with the same 5:7 aspect ratio. This makes them easy to store in standard sleeves and binders.
Thickness of a Playing Card
A standard playing card thickness is approximately 0.012 inches (0.3 mm). This can vary based on cardstock and coating.
Dimensions of a Deck of Cards
A standard 52-card deck stacked together is about 0.75 inches (19 mm) thick. Including the tuck box, the deck of cards dimensions are roughly 2.5″ × 3.5″ × 0.87″ (63.5 mm × 88.9 mm × 22 mm).
How Big is a Deck of Cards Box?
The playing cards box dimensions for a standard poker-size deck are:
- Inches: 2.6″ × 3.6″ × 0.9″
- Millimeters: 66 mm × 91 mm × 23 mm
Card Game Sizes Chart
| Card Type | Width × Height (inches) | Width × Height (mm) | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poker Size | 2.5″ × 3.5″ | 63.5 × 88.9 | 5:7 |
| Bridge Size | 2.25″ × 3.5″ | 57 × 88.9 | ~9:14 |
| Trading Card (TCG) | 2.5″ × 3.5″ | 63.5 × 88.9 | 5:7 |
| Tarot Card (Standard) | 2.75″ × 4.75″ | 70 × 121 | ~11:19 |
Fun Fact:
If you stack all 52 cards plus jokers, the deck is shorter than a standard smartphone in height but about the same width!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Playing Card Sizes and Dimensions
Q1: What is the standard size of a playing card?
The standard playing card size (poker size) is 2.5 inches × 3.5 inches (63.5 mm × 88.9 mm) with a 5:7 aspect ratio.
Q2: What is the aspect ratio of a playing card?
The playing card aspect ratio is 5:7, meaning the height is 1.4 times the width.
Q3: How thick is a playing card?
A single standard playing card thickness is about 0.012 inches (0.3 mm), depending on the cardstock and coating used.
Q4: How thick is a deck of cards?
A full 52-card deck is roughly 0.75 inches (19 mm) thick without the box. With the box, it’s about 0.87 inches (22 mm).