PunchPerkThe layouts in numbers
| US Letter | A4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Page size | 8.5 × 11 in | 210 × 297 mm |
| Card size | 3.5 × 2 in (89 × 51 mm) | 85 × 55 mm |
| Grid | 2 across, 5 down (10) | 2 across, 5 down (10) |
| Side margins | 0.75 in | 20 mm |
| Top and bottom margins | 0.5 in | 11 mm |
| Gap between cards | None | None |
The cards touch each other, so a pre-cut sheet needs no trimming. Your printer needs to print right up to the edge of each card for a dark card background, which is why light backgrounds are easier. If you want guide lines to check the fit, switch on Print light outlines around each card in the alignment section.
Step by step: a clean first print
- Choose your layout and set the number of cards. Use a quantity that fills whole sheets, such as 10, 20 or 30, to avoid a half-empty last sheet.
- Open Printer alignment and download the alignment test PDF.
- Print it on plain paper at 100% (Actual size), with any “fit to page” or “scale” option off.
- Hold the print against a real card sheet and a window. If the outlines are off, enter a shift in millimetres and download the test again. Positive numbers move the layout right and down.
- When the outlines sit on the perforations, download the real PDF and print one sheet on card stock before you run the batch.
Printing the back side
With Print a matching back on, the PDF includes a back page for every front page. Under duplex printing with “flip on long edge”, the paper turns like the page of a book, so the left side of the front becomes the right side of the back. PunchPerk does that mirroring for you: the back of the top-left card is drawn at the top right of the back page.
Some printers label the setting “long-edge binding” or “flip on long side”. If the backs come out upside down, your printer's setting is the other one: choose the opposite, or print a test on plain paper marked with an arrow. For single-sided printers, use All fronts, then all backs, and feed the front-printed sheets back in.
Plain paper with crop marks
Without pre-cut sheets, choose a plain-paper layout. It places 8 cards on the page in two columns and four rows with 1/8 in (about 3 mm) gaps and crop marks outside the card block. Cut along the marks with a paper trimmer, one column cut, then the row cuts. Dark card backgrounds run a little into the gap so a small cutting error doesn't leave a white edge.
Choosing sheets
- Match the sheet to your printer: inkjet sheets for inkjet printers, laser sheets for laser printers.
- Check the box for the card size, the number per sheet and the margins before ordering a pack.
- Buy a small pack first and print a test run. Brands differ slightly even when the nominal size is the same.
The sheets that PunchPerk targets are common 3.5 × 2 in (US) and 85 × 55 mm (Europe) business card sheets with 10 cards each. Other sizes, such as 8 up with 3.5 × 2 in cards and gaps, are covered by the plain-paper layouts.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this compatible with Avery 8371 and 5371 sheets?
The Letter layout matches the standard 10-up business card sheet geometry used by Avery 8371 and 5371 style sheets: 3.5 × 2 in cards, 2 across and 5 down, 0.5 in top and bottom margins and 0.75 in side margins with no gutter. Always compare with the size printed on your own box. PunchPerk is not affiliated with Avery.
Why do my cards print slightly off the perforations?
Home printers rarely print exactly where the file says. Print the alignment test on plain paper, hold it against a card sheet up to the light, and use the shift boxes under Printer alignment to move the layout up to 3 mm in any direction. Also check that the print dialog is set to 100% or Actual size, not Fit to page.
How do I make the backs line up with the fronts?
Print two-sided with “flip on long edge”. PunchPerk mirrors each back left to right so the card at the top-left on the front has its back at the top-right of the back page, which is directly behind it. Print one test sheet before a full run.
Can I print the fronts and backs separately?
Yes. Choose All fronts, then all backs. Print the front pages first, put the same sheets back in the tray the way your printer needs them and print the back pages. A test on plain paper marked with a pencil arrow shows which way the paper should go.
Does the A4 layout fit 85 × 55 mm card sheets?
Yes. It prints 85 × 55 mm cards in a 2 × 5 grid, centred on the page with 20 mm side margins and 11 mm top and bottom margins. As with Letter, check your sheet's own dimensions first, because suppliers differ.
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Last updated · Written by the Rooh Sites team. General information, not legal or tax advice.