Short answer
A personalized greeting card carries a name, photo, message, or date printed for one recipient. Order counts range from 1 card to 10,000. Short digital runs cost about $1 to $3 per card. Offset runs above 1,000 copies cost $0.40 to $0.80 per card. Digital printing ships in 2 to 5 business days. Letterpress, foil stamping, and hand assembly take 1 to 3 weeks.
Sizes that fit standard envelopes
- A2: 4.25 x 5.5 in (108 x 140 mm)
- A6: 4.5 x 6.25 in (114 x 159 mm)
- A7: 5 x 7 in (127 x 178 mm)
- A9: 5.5 x 8.5 in (140 x 216 mm)
- Square: 5.5 x 5.5 in or 6 x 6 in
Folded cards have four panels: front, back, and two inside. Flat cards have one or two printed sides. A7 is the common size for photo cards and holiday cards.
Print methods
Digital press. Four-color toner or inkjet. Best for 1 to 500 cards with photo art. No plate setup charge.
Offset. Ink on metal plates. Best above 500 cards. Lower unit cost, higher setup cost.
Foil stamping. Heat and pressure bond metallic foil to stock. One or two foil colors per pass.
Letterpress. A raised plate presses into soft paper. The reverse side shows a debossed mark.
Thermography. Powder and heat produce a raised ink line. Costs less than foil.
Paper stock
Cover stock is graded in pounds (lb) in the US and grams per square meter (gsm) elsewhere. 100 lb cover equals 270 gsm. 110 lb cover equals 300 gsm. 120 lb cover equals 325 gsm. Stock above 130 lb cover jams many home printers.
Common finishes: matte, gloss, silk, uncoated, cotton rag, recycled. Uncoated stock takes ballpoint ink and fountain pen ink. Gloss stock resists ink and shows fingerprints.
Photo and file specs
Print resolution needs 300 ppi at final size. A 5 x 7 in cover photo needs 1500 x 2100 pixels. Files below 200 ppi look soft. CMYK files avoid color shifts. Add 0.125 in bleed on each side when art runs to the edge.
How much text fits
A message of 3 to 5 sentences fills an A7 inside panel at 12 pt type. Front panels hold a photo plus 10 words. A return address fits on the back panel at 8 pt.
Cost and turnaround
- 1 to 25 cards, digital: $3 to $6 per card
- 25 to 100 cards, digital: $1 to $3 per card
- 500 to 1,000 cards, offset: $0.60 to $1.20 per card
- Above 1,000 cards, offset: $0.40 to $0.80 per card
- Foil or letterpress, hand fed: $2 to $8 per card
Addressing and mailing
A7 envelopes sit inside the USPS First-Class Mail letter limit of 6.125 x 11.5 in. One ounce takes one stamp at the current rate. Square envelopes, rigid inserts, and mail over 1 oz add a surcharge. Check current USPS rates before a large mailing.
Order checklist
- Pick the size and fold, A7 or A2.
- Collect names, addresses, and photo files.
- Choose stock and finish.
- Set the inside message to 3 to 5 sentences.
- Proof names, dates, and spelling.
- Order 10 extra cards for errors.
- Check postage for square or heavy mail.