The quickest way to make business cards in Microsoft Word is to start from a built-in template: click File > New, search for business cards, pick a design, and replace the sample text with your own details. If you’ve bought perforated card sheets such as Avery 8371, use Mailings > Labels > Options instead, choose the matching product number, and Word builds a sheet that lines up with your cards.
You can also build cards from scratch with a simple table of 3.5 by 2 inch cells, or use Word for the web if you don’t have the desktop app. This guide walks through all four routes, plus printing tips and fixes for the most common alignment problems.
Quick Answer
- Open Word and click File > New.
- Type business cards in the search box and press Enter.
- Choose a template and click Create.
- Replace the placeholder name, title, phone, email and logo with your own.
- Print one test page on plain paper, then print on business card stock.
In This Guide
- Before you start
- Method 1: Use a business card template
- Method 2: Use Mailings and Labels with Avery card stock
- Method 3: Build cards from scratch with a table
- Method 4: Make business cards in Word for the web
- Which method should you use?
- Design tips for professional-looking cards
- How to print business cards from Word
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Start
This guide covers Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows, Word for Mac, and Word for the web, as of September 2026. Menu names are very similar across these versions, but small differences exist, which are noted where they matter.
Here’s what you need:
- Microsoft Word. The desktop app gives you every option in this guide. Word for the web (free with a Microsoft account) supports templates but has fewer layout tools.
- Your card details. Name, job title, company, phone, email, website and, if you have one, a logo image file (PNG or JPG).
- Card stock. Standard US business cards measure 3.5 by 2 inches. The easiest option is pre-cut business card sheets, which hold 10 cards on a letter-size (8.5 by 11 inch) sheet. You can also print on plain heavy cardstock and cut the cards yourself.
- A printer that can feed thick paper. Check your printer’s specifications for the heaviest paper it supports. Many home printers handle card stock best from a rear or manual feed slot.
A key term you’ll see: product number. Card and label makers such as Avery print a number on each package (for example, 8371). Word uses this number to set the exact size and position of every card on the sheet, so your text prints inside each card instead of across the perforations.
Method 1: Use a Business Card Template
Word comes with built-in templates for labels, business cards, name badges and more, according to Microsoft’s guide to label and business card templates. This is the fastest route and gives you a professional design with no layout work.
- Open Word and click File > New. Expected result: A page of templates appears with a search box at the top.
- Type business cards in the search box and press Enter. Expected result: Word shows a gallery of business card designs. You need an internet connection to see online templates.
- Click a design to preview it. Many previews show which card stock the template is sized for, so look for one that matches your paper if you’ve already bought it.
- Click Create. Expected result: A new document opens with a full sheet of sample cards, usually 10 per page.
- Click the placeholder text on the first card and type your own details. Replace the name, title, company, phone, email and website.
- To swap in your logo, right-click the sample image and look for Change Picture, then choose your file. If the template has no image, use Insert > Pictures.
- Check the other cards on the sheet. Some templates update every card when you edit the first one; others don’t. If yours doesn’t, copy the finished contents of the first card and paste them into each of the others.
- Click File > Save As and give the file a clear name, such as “Business cards – 2026.”
Before you print, read the printing section below. A single test page on plain paper saves a lot of expensive card stock.
Where to find more designs
If the built-in gallery doesn’t have a style you like, Microsoft hosts more free business card designs on its templates website (create.microsoft.com), which you can open in Word. Avery also offers templates matched to its own products. For a walkthrough of that route, see how to use an Avery template in Word.
Method 2: Use Mailings and Labels with Avery Card Stock
If you’ve bought pre-cut card sheets, the Labels tool is the most reliable way to line up your text with the cards. Word treats business cards as a type of label, so the same tool you’d use for address labels works here. These steps follow Microsoft’s Create and print labels guide.
Common Avery business card products
| Product number | Printer type | Edge | Cards per sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8371 | Inkjet | Perforated | 10 (2 by 3.5 inches) |
| 5371 | Laser only | Precise cuts | 10 (2 by 3.5 inches) |
| 8871 | Inkjet | Clean Edge (smooth, not perforated) | 10 (2 by 3.5 inches) |
Warning: match the stock to your printer. Avery states that its laser-only 5371 cards can smear and smudge in an inkjet printer. Always use the product number printed on your own package, since Avery sells many other sizes and finishes.
Steps on Windows
- Open a new blank document in Word.
- Click the Mailings tab, then click Labels. Expected result: The Envelopes and Labels dialog opens on the Labels tab.
- Click Options.
- Under Label vendors, choose the Avery option for US letter-size sheets (listed as something like Avery US Letter).
- In the Product number list, click your product, for example 8371. Check the label information on the right side of the dialog to confirm the size is 2 by 3.5 inches. Click OK.
- In the Address box, type your card text: name, title, company, phone, email and website, each on its own line. This box accepts plain text only; you’ll add formatting and a logo in the next steps.
- Under Print, make sure Full page of the same label is selected.
- Click New Document. Expected result: Word opens a new document with a grid of 10 identical cards, laid out to match your card sheet.
- Format the first card: select text and change the font, size and color, and add your logo with Insert > Pictures. Then copy the finished contents of that card into the other nine.
- Save the document before printing.
Tip: to see where each card starts and ends while you edit, turn on table gridlines. Click inside the grid, open the table Layout tab (called Table Layout in some versions), and click View Gridlines. Gridlines show on screen only and don’t print.
Steps on a Mac
Word for Mac uses the same workflow, with slightly different labels, as described in Microsoft’s guide to Avery templates in Word for Mac.
- Open a blank document and click Mailings > Labels.
- Click Options. Choose your printer type, pick Avery from the Label products list, select your number from the Product number list, and click OK.
- Type your card details in the Delivery Address box and click OK if prompted.
- Choose Full page of the same label, then click New Document to edit and save before printing, or Print to print right away.
If your product number isn’t listed
Choose the closest product and click New Label. Enter the measurements from your card sheet’s packaging or the maker’s website: card height and width, the number of cards across and down, the top and side margins, and the spacing between cards. The preview shows how your numbers apply to the sheet. Click OK to save the custom size.
Method 3: Build Cards from Scratch with a Table
If you want full control over the design, or you’re printing on plain cardstock and cutting the cards yourself, a table makes a neat grid. The layout below fits 10 standard cards on a US letter sheet: two columns of 3.5 inches (7 inches total) and five rows of 2 inches (10 inches total).
- Open a blank document. Click Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.
- Set the top and bottom margins to 0.5 inch and the left and right margins to 0.75 inch. Click OK. Expected result: The printable area is exactly 7 by 10 inches.
- Click Insert > Table and select a grid of 2 columns by 5 rows.
- Click inside the table, then open the table Layout tab (Table Layout in some versions). Set Height to 2 inches and Width to 3.5 inches for all cells.
- To stop the rows from growing when you type, right-click the table, choose Table Properties, open the Row tab, and set the row height to Exactly 2 inches. Click OK.
- Give your text breathing room: in Table Properties, click Options on the Table tab and increase the default cell margins (about 0.1 to 0.15 inch works well).
- Design the first card. Type your details, format the text, and add a logo with Insert > Pictures. For a logo that stays put, set its text wrapping to In Line with Text, or use Square if you want text beside it.
- Copy the finished contents of the first cell and paste them into the other nine.
- Decide on borders. For clean cards, select the table and choose No Border from the Borders menu on the Table Design tab. If you’ll cut the cards with scissors or a paper trimmer, keep thin light-gray borders as cutting guides.
- Save the document.
Warning: some home printers can’t print right to the edge of the page. With 0.5 inch top and bottom margins, most can, but if the last row gets cut off in your test print, check your printer’s minimum margins.
Want to add a scannable link to your website or contact card? You can create a QR code in Word and place it on the card like any other picture. Keep it at least about 0.75 inch wide so phones can scan it.
Method 4: Make Business Cards in Word for the Web
Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account and works in any browser. It’s template-based: Microsoft’s guide to creating business cards in Word for the web starts from a ready-made design.
- Go to Microsoft’s templates site (create.microsoft.com) and browse the business card templates.
- Choose a template and open it in Word for the web. Expected result: A copy of the template opens in your browser and is saved to your OneDrive.
- Rename the file so you can find it later.
- Replace the placeholder text with your details.
- To change pictures, delete the sample picture, then insert a picture from your computer or from the web.
- Press Ctrl+P and wait for the print dialog. Expected result: Your browser’s print dialog appears. If it doesn’t, click the link to open a PDF version of your cards and print from your PDF program instead.
Word for the web has fewer layout tools than the desktop app. If you need the Mailings and Labels method for a specific card sheet and don’t see those options in your browser, open the file in the desktop app, or use a template designed for your card product.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Your situation | Best method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want a nice design fast | Template (Method 1) | Design is done; you only type your details |
| You bought Avery or similar card sheets | Mailings > Labels (Method 2) | Word matches the exact card positions for your product number |
| You want a custom layout or will cut cards yourself | Table (Method 3) | Full control over size, spacing and borders |
| You don’t have desktop Word | Word for the web (Method 4) | Free in a browser, template-based |
| You need hundreds of cards or premium finishes | Design in Word, save as PDF, send to a print shop | Professional printing handles thick stock, full-bleed color and special finishes |
If you also use Google’s apps, you can make cards there too. See how to use a Google Docs business card template.
Design Tips for Professional-Looking Cards
- Keep it short. Name, title, company, one phone number, email and website are usually enough. A crowded card is hard to read.
- Use readable text sizes. Around 9 to 12 point for contact details and larger for your name is a common, readable range. Very small text often prints blurry on home printers.
- Stick to one or two fonts. Use one font for your name and one for everything else, and match your company’s brand colors if you have them.
- Leave a safe margin. Keep text and logos at least about 1/8 inch away from the card’s edges, so small printing shifts don’t cut anything off.
- Use a high-resolution logo. A small, blurry image looks worse in print than on screen. Use the largest, sharpest version of your logo you have.
- Be careful with edge-to-edge color. Colored backgrounds that run to the very edge (called “full bleed”) are hard to print cleanly at home, because most printers leave a thin white margin. A white or light background is more forgiving.
- Proofread twice. Check every digit of your phone number and every letter of your email address before printing a full batch.
How to Print Business Cards from Word
- Print a test page on plain paper first. Hold it against a card sheet up to a light or window and check that each design sits inside its card.
- Check the scale. In the print settings, make sure the page prints at actual size (100 percent). “Fit to page” or “Shrink to fit” options shift the layout and ruin the alignment.
- Choose the right paper type. In your printer’s properties, pick a setting such as cardstock, heavy paper or matte, if available. This helps the printer feed thick sheets and apply the right amount of ink.
- Load the sheet correctly. Check which side your printer prints on and how the paper should face. Many printers take thick stock best from a rear or manual feed slot, one sheet at a time.
- Let the ink dry. Give inkjet prints a few minutes before separating the cards, so they don’t smudge.
- For two-sided cards, print the front on all sheets, let them dry, then flip and print the back. Test with plain paper first to learn which way to reinsert the sheets.
To send your cards to a print shop instead, save them as a PDF: click File > Save As (or Save a Copy) and choose PDF as the file type. Ask the shop about their size and bleed requirements before you order.
Troubleshooting
The text prints across the perforations
The product number in Word doesn’t match your card sheet, or the printer is scaling the page. Re-open Mailings > Labels > Options and confirm the exact number on your package. Then set printing to actual size (100 percent) and do a plain-paper test print.
Everything is shifted slightly in the same direction
Small printer feed differences are common. Nudge the whole layout by adjusting the page margins slightly (for example, 0.05 inch), or use the card maker’s alignment advice. Check that the paper guides in the tray are snug against the sheet.
An extra blank page prints after the cards
Word always places an empty paragraph after a table, and if the table fills the page, that paragraph spills onto a new one. Click just below the table, select the empty paragraph mark, and set its font size to 1 point. Turning on Show/Hide (the paragraph symbol on the Home tab) helps you see it.
The logo jumps around or pushes text onto another card
Select the picture, open Layout Options (the small icon next to the image) and choose In Line with Text. Then resize the image with its corner handles so it fits inside the card.
Rows get taller when I type
The row height is set to “At least” rather than “Exactly.” Right-click the table, choose Table Properties, open the Row tab, and set the height to Exactly 2 inches.
The printer jams or won’t take card stock
Feed one sheet at a time through the manual or rear slot, if your printer has one, and check that the stock isn’t heavier than your printer supports. Fan the sheets before loading so they don’t stick together.
No print dialog in Word for the web
Microsoft’s instructions say to click the link that opens a PDF version of your cards and then use the PDF program’s print command.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a standard business card in Word?
In the US, a standard business card is 3.5 inches wide by 2 inches tall. Avery’s common business card sheets hold 10 cards of that size on a letter-size page.
Does Word have free business card templates?
Yes. Click File > New and search for business cards. Microsoft also offers more designs on its templates site, and Word for the web can open them for free.
Which Avery number should I use for business cards?
Use the number printed on your package. Common ones include 8371 (inkjet, perforated), 8871 (inkjet, Clean Edge) and 5371 (laser only). Pick the number in Mailings > Labels > Options.
What happened to the Avery Wizard?
Microsoft has retired the old Avery Wizard add-in. Use the Avery products built into Mailings > Labels, or a template designed for your product, instead.
Can I make double-sided business cards in Word?
Yes. Create the front on one page and the back on a second page with the same layout. Print the fronts, let them dry, then reinsert the sheets and print the backs. Test the orientation on plain paper first.
Can I print business cards on regular paper?
You can for a test or in a pinch, but regular paper feels flimsy. Use heavy cardstock or pre-cut business card sheets for cards you’ll hand out.
Can I make business cards in Word on a Mac?
Yes. Templates work the same way, and Mailings > Labels > Options lets you choose Avery products by product number.
Summary
- For speed, use File > New and search business cards to start from a template.
- For pre-cut sheets, use Mailings > Labels > Options and pick your exact product number, such as Avery 8371.
- For a custom layout, build a 2 by 5 table of 3.5 by 2 inch cells on a letter page with 0.5 inch top and bottom and 0.75 inch side margins.
- In a browser, open a business card template in Word for the web and press Ctrl+P to print.
- Always print a plain-paper test at 100 percent scale before using card stock.
Next step: Check the product number on your card stock package, then open Mailings > Labels or search Word’s templates and create your first sheet.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.