What to Include on a Business Card (and What to Leave Off)
A business card has a few square inches to tell someone who you are and how to reach you. This checklist covers what every card needs, what is optional, what to leave off, standard sizes by country, and how to design a card that phones and scanner apps read without mistakes.
Marcus Chen7 min read
The quick answer
Every business card should include your name, job title, company name and logo, one phone number, a work email and your website. Add a QR code that links to your digital business card so people can save you in one tap. Leave off fax numbers, extra phone numbers and anything you do not want people to use.
The essentials
1. Your name
The largest text on the card. Use the name people will search for, the same one on your LinkedIn profile and email.
2. Job title
A clear title tells people what you can help with. “Head of Procurement” is more useful than “Problem Solver”.
3. Company name and logo
Who you represent. If your company name does not explain what it does, add a short line, such as “Industrial packaging, Chennai”.
4. One phone number
The number you actually answer. Two or three numbers make people guess. If your contacts use WhatsApp, say so next to the number.
5. Work email
A work email on your company domain looks more credible than a personal address. Print it in full in a clear font, since this is the field people most often mistype.
6. Website
Leave off “https://” and “www.” if the address works without them. Shorter is easier to read and type.
Useful extras
| Extra | When to include it |
|---|---|
| QR code | Almost always, linked to your digital business card |
| If you use it for work | |
| Address | If clients visit your office, shop or clinic |
| Licence or registration number | If your profession or local rules require it |
| Short tagline | If your company name does not explain what you do |
| Second language | If you work across languages, often on the back |
| Photo | For roles where people need to remember your face, such as real estate |
Why a QR code is worth the space
A QR code linked to a digital business card lets someone save your details in one tap, see all your links, and reach you even if they lose the paper card. Because you can edit a digital card anytime, the QR code stays correct when your phone number or role changes. Habsy gives you two digital cards for free, each with its own QR code. Read more in QR codes for networking.
What to leave off
- Fax numbers. Few people use them.
- More than one phone number.
- Personal email addresses for a work card.
- Long mission statements and slogans.
- Social accounts you do not use for work.
- Tiny text. If you need a magnifying glass, it is too small.
- Old details. Do not cross out and handwrite. Reprint, or use a QR code to a card you can update.
Put the guide into practice
Turn every event conversation into a follow-up.
Capture accurate contact details, add the context that matters and stay ready for the follow-up.
Design your card so phones can read it
More and more people scan the cards they receive with a phone or a business card scanner app. A card that scans well gets saved correctly. A card that does not gets your email wrong.
- Use a clear font for phone and email. Script and very thin fonts cause errors.
- Keep text large enough. Small print below about 7 to 8 points is hard for people and cameras alike.
- Use strong contrast. Dark text on a light background reads best. Light grey on white does not.
- Do not print text over photos or patterns.
- Keep contact details together on one side, so one photo captures them all.
- Choose a matte finish. Gloss and foil reflect light and hide characters.
- Leave space around the QR code and print it at least about 2 cm (0.8 inches) wide.
Habsy reads cards with 99% accuracy, the highest in our in-house tests, including cards in other languages, which it translates into English. A clear card helps every scanner.
Front, back and second languages
If your card has two sides, decide what each side is for:
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| Name, title, company and logo | QR code to your digital card |
| Phone and email | A short line on what you do |
| Website | The same details in a second language, if you work across languages |
Bilingual cards are common in Japan, China, the Middle East and parts of Europe. Print each language on its own side rather than mixing them on one side. When someone scans your card in Habsy, they can add the back as well as the front, and cards in other languages, including non-Latin scripts, are read and translated into English.
Test your card before you print 500
Ask the printer for a proof, then:
- Scan it with Habsy and check every field: name, title, company, phone, email and website.
- Scan the QR code with an iPhone and an Android phone.
- Try it in dim light, because that is how it will be scanned at an evening event.
- Fix anything that failed before the print run: usually a thin font, low contrast or a glossy finish.
A card that scans cleanly saves the people you meet from typing, and makes sure your email is saved correctly.
Standard business card sizes
| Region | Common size |
|---|---|
| United States and Canada | 3.5 × 2 in (88.9 × 50.8 mm) |
| India | 3.5 × 2 in is common |
| Much of Europe | 85 × 55 mm |
| Japan | 91 × 55 mm |
| China | 90 × 54 mm |
| Credit card size (ISO ID-1) | 85.6 × 54 mm |
Ask your printer for the size that fits standard card holders in your market.
Print, digital or both?
Most professionals now use both. Paper cards still matter in many industries and countries, and a digital card makes sharing faster and keeps details current. For a cost comparison, read print vs digital business card costs.
When you receive cards
The other half of the exchange is the stack of cards you bring home. Scan them the same day so they become searchable contacts, with a note about what you discussed and a reminder to follow up. Habsy batch scans up to 150 cards in about 5 minutes, free.
Bottom line
Keep your business card short: name, title, company, one phone, one email, your website, and a QR code to a digital card you can update. Design it so it reads clearly, for people and for phones. Get your free digital card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be included on a business card?
Your name, job title, company name and logo, one phone number, a work email address and your website. Many people also add a QR code that links to their digital business card, and a LinkedIn profile.
Should I put a QR code on my business card?
Yes, if it links to a digital business card. The person can save your details in one tap instead of typing them, and you can update the digital card without reprinting.
What should not be on a business card?
Fax numbers, more than one phone number, personal email addresses, long mission statements, and social accounts you do not use for work. Avoid tiny text and decorative fonts for your phone and email.
What is the standard business card size?
3.5 × 2 inches (88.9 × 50.8 mm) in the United States, Canada and India, 85 × 55 mm in much of Europe, 91 × 55 mm in Japan and 90 × 54 mm in China.
How do I make my business card easy to scan?
Use a clear font at a readable size, dark text on a light background, a matte finish, and keep your contact details together on one side. Avoid placing text over photos or patterns.
Should I include my address?
Only if people visit you, such as a shop, clinic or office that receives clients. Otherwise a city and country is enough, or leave it off.
Put the guide into practice
Turn every event conversation into a follow-up.
Capture accurate contact details, add the context that matters and stay ready for the follow-up.
