What a personalized greeting card is
A personalized greeting card carries text or images made for one recipient. The personalization can be a first name, a photo, a date, an inside message, or all four. Print shops and online services make these cards in single units or in runs of 10 to 10,000. The base card stock is the same as a stock card. Only the printed content changes per order.
Standard sizes
- A2: 4.25 x 5.5 in. Envelope: A2.
- A6: 4.5 x 6.25 in. Envelope: A6.
- A7: 5 x 7 in. Envelope: A7. This is the most common photo card size.
- 4 x 6 in photo card. Envelope: A6 or 4.75 x 6.5 in.
- Square 5.5 x 5.5 in. Envelope: square, 5.75 x 5.75 in.
Paper weights
Cards print on cover stock, not text stock. Common weights: 80 lb cover, 100 lb cover, 110 lb cover, 14 pt, and 16 pt coated. A 100 lb cover sheet measures about 0.010 in thick. A 16 pt coated sheet measures 0.016 in. Heavier stock holds foil and engraving better. Heavier stock also raises postage if the finished card passes 1 oz.
Print methods and cost
- Digital press: toner or inkjet. Best for runs of 1 to 500. Cost: $2 to $6 per card at low volume, $0.60 to $1.50 per card at 500 units.
- Foil stamping: heat and pressure bond metallic foil to the sheet. Adds $0.50 to $2 per card.
- Letterpress: raised type pressed into cotton paper. Cost: $4 to $12 per card.
- Engraving: ink pushed into the sheet from a counter-die. Highest cost tier. Order minimums apply at most shops.
Photo and text specs
Supply photos at 300 DPI at final print size. A 5 x 7 in image at 300 DPI needs 1500 x 2100 pixels. A 4 x 6 in image needs 1200 x 1800 pixels. Files below 200 DPI print soft. Add 0.125 in bleed on each edge if the photo runs to the card edge. Keep text 0.25 in inside the trim line.
Postage and mailing
Most cards ship as USPS First-Class Mail letters. Square envelopes and rigid mailers get a nonmachinable surcharge. Cards above 1 oz need extra postage. A 5 x 7 in card with an A7 envelope stays under 1 oz when the stock is 100 lb cover or lighter. Check current rates before a bulk mailing.
Turnaround times
- Download-and-print template: same day.
- Print-on-demand service: 2 to 5 business days plus shipping.
- Custom design plus print: 1 to 2 weeks.
- Foil, letterpress, or engraving: 2 to 4 weeks.
Proofing checklist
- Spell the recipient name letter by letter.
- Check dates, years, and ages.
- Check the photo crop at final size, not on screen.
- Order one proof card before a large run.
- Confirm the envelope size matches the card size.
Where personalization sells
Buyers order personalized cards for birthdays, weddings, births, graduations, holidays, and corporate notes. The Greeting Card Association puts US card purchases at about 6.5 billion units per year. Photo and custom cards hold a share of that total. Unit cost falls as quantity rises, so bulk orders favor schools, churches, and businesses.