Postcard sizes
Also called: はがき, postcard
In the US, postcard size is driven by postage. To mail at the First-Class postcard rate, a card must be at least 3.5 × 5 in and no larger than 4.25 × 6 in; anything bigger pays the letter rate. That is why 4 × 6 in is the default postcard, while 5 × 7 in is used for invitations and thank-you cards that travel in envelopes.
Europe uses A6 (148 × 105 mm) as its postcard size, and Japan's official postal card (hagaki) is 100 × 148 mm. Korean online printers mostly sell 152 × 102 mm (the 4 × 6 in photo-print ratio) and 150 × 100 mm — not A6 — so an A6 design sent to a Korean shop will be cropped on two sides.
If the cards go in envelopes, pick the envelope at the same time as the card: the envelope size sets how much room the card has, and invitation envelopes are not standardised the way business envelopes are.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Region | Trim size | Bleed | Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 4×6 | United States | 6 × 4 in (152.4 × 101.6 mm) | 3.2mm | 3.2mm |
| US 5×7 | United States | 7 × 5 in (177.8 × 127 mm) | 3.2mm | 3.2mm |
| A6 | Europe · International | 148 × 105 mm | 3mm | 3mm |
| Japan hagaki | Japan | 100 × 148 mm | 3mm | 3mm |
| Korea 4×6 | Korea | 152 × 102 mm | 1mm | 3mm |
| Korea 150×100 | Korea | 150 × 100 mm | 1mm | 3mm |
Bleed is how far artwork must extend past each trim edge; safe is how far inside the trim line text and logos should stay. Print shops ask for slightly different values, so always follow the file guide of the shop you order from.
Diagrams
- Trim
- Bleed 3.18mm
- Safe line 3.18mm
US 4×6 6 × 4 in (152.4 × 101.6 mm)
The largest common size that still fits the USPS postcard rate limit (4.25 × 6 in).
Secondary sourceSource: 4over4.com
- Trim
- Bleed 3.18mm
- Safe line 3.18mm
US 5×7 7 × 5 in (177.8 × 127 mm)
Above the postcard-rate limit, so it pays the letter rate. Used for invitations and thank-you cards.
Secondary sourceSource: 4over4.com
- Trim
- Bleed 3mm
- Safe line 3mm
A6 148 × 105 mm
Secondary sourceSource: en.wikipedia.org
- Trim
- Bleed 3mm
- Safe line 3mm
Japan hagaki 100 × 148 mm
Secondary sourceSource: en.wikipedia.org, raksul.com
- Trim
- Bleed 1mm
- Safe line 3mm
Korea 4×6 152 × 102 mm
- Bizhows — bleed 1mm
Source: help.bizhows.com
- Trim
- Bleed 1mm
- Safe line 3mm
Korea 150×100 150 × 100 mm
Source: help.bizhows.com
Online print shops for postcards
A neutral list — no partnerships, no affiliate links. We confirmed each site was online on 2026-09-22; check prices and shipping on the site itself.
United States
- Vistaprint
- MOOShips internationally
- PsPrint
- UPrinting
- PrintfulShips internationally
Europe
- FLYERALARM
- SAXOPRINT
- HelloprintShips internationally
- Solopress
- Vistaprint UK
- MOO UKShips internationally