What Size Are Place Cards? Plus What to Write on Them

The most common place card size is 3.5 x 2 inches once folded: a small tent card that stands on its own in front of each plate. That is the size of Avery’s standard printable place cards, which come four to a sheet and fold along a pre-scored center line. If you are making your own, cut each card 3.5 x 4 inches flat and fold it in half to get 3.5 x 2.

What is the standard place card size?

Avery’s printable tent cards (5302) are 2 x 3-1/2 inches, four per sheet, pre-scored for folding, and Avery sells them specifically as DIY place cards. Because they are made to fit a normal home printer sheet, this size is the one most templates, shops and printable designs are built around.

Our own free printable wedding place cards use the same finished size: each card is 3.5 x 4 inches flat and folds to 3.5 x 2 inches, four to a sheet on US Letter or A4.

Folded or flat?

Folded (tent) cards stand up by themselves, so you can set them on a plate, a napkin or the table. Write or print the name on the front panel only, or on both sides if guests will see the card from across the table.
Flat cards lie on the plate or napkin, or sit in a place card holder. They are often a little smaller, and they need something to rest on or in, or they get lost under glasses and menus.

What size should you make place cards?

For most tables, stick with 3.5 x 2 inches folded. It is big enough for a full name in a readable size and small enough to fit beside a glass and a menu. A few cases where you might change it:

Long names, or a name plus a title. If “Dr. and Mrs.” or a long double surname will not fit comfortably, keep the same height and print a little smaller, or use one card per person.
Extra details. If each card also shows a table number, a meal choice or a short note, a slightly larger card leaves room so the name is still the biggest thing on it.
Place card holders. Measure the slot or clip first. Most holders are made for flat cards, and a folded card may not fit.
Food stations and buffets. Labels for dishes are usually larger than place cards so people can read them from a step away. Those are a different item from place cards.

Whatever you choose, print or cut one test card first and stand it on a real plate setting.

What to put on wedding place cards

A place card marks one guest’s seat, so the guest’s name is the essential part. Beyond that, keep it simple:

The guest’s name. First and last name is the safe default. At a smaller or very relaxed dinner, first names alone are fine as long as no two guests share one.
A title, if the event is formal. “Mr. James Carter” or “Dr. Lena Ortiz” suits a formal reception; most weddings today just use first and last names.
One card per person. Couples and families sitting together still each get their own card, because each card marks a seat.
Children. Write their first and last name like any other guest. It helps parents spot their seats quickly.
A table number or name, if useful. Usually that belongs on the escort cards or seating chart guests check on the way in, not on the place card at the table. Add it only if your plan relies on it.
A meal mark, if your caterer asks for one. A small symbol, a colored dot or a sticker on the back can tell servers who ordered what, without spelling out a guest’s dietary needs on the front.

Check every spelling against your guest list, and ask a family member to read the cards before the day. A misspelled name is the mistake people remember.

Place cards, escort cards and seating charts

These are easy to mix up. A place card sits at the table and marks one seat. An escort card sits on a table near the entrance and tells each guest which table they are at. A seating chart does the same job as escort cards on one large sign. Many weddings use a seating chart to get guests to the right table and place cards to show them which chair is theirs. Our wedding signs checklist helps you decide which signs you actually need.

How to write neatly on place cards

Buy spare cards. Plan on a few mistakes and some practice cards.
Test your pen on the card stock. Some cards are coated and make ink bead or smear. Fine-tip paint markers and archival ink pens work on most stock; test a gel pen on a spare before committing.
Draw light pencil guidelines. Rule one faint line for the baseline of the letters, or a pair of lines for the height of capitals and lowercase. Erase gently once the ink is completely dry.
Center the name. Count the letters, find the middle one, and start from the center of the card outward. Or write the name once on scrap paper, measure it, and mark where it should start.
Write the longest name first. It tells you whether your letter size will fit every card.
Go slowly and lift often. Neat lettering comes from slow, separate strokes, not from fast joined-up handwriting.
Let each card dry flat. Lay them out in rows instead of stacking them.

If your handwriting is not something you want on display, print the names and add a small handwritten touch, such as a hand-drawn line or initial. You can also print a blank card with the free tool and write on top of it.

Quick answers

What is the standard place card size? 3.5 x 2 inches folded, the size of Avery’s printable place cards.
What size to cut them flat? 3.5 x 4 inches, folded in half.
What goes on a wedding place card? The guest’s name, with a title only for a formal event. Table numbers usually go on escort cards.
How do you write neatly on place cards? Pencil guidelines, a tested pen, the name centered from the middle letter, and slow strokes.

From the shop

For the signs that go with place cards, the shop makes a personalized linen wedding seating chart banner and a wedding table numbers sign.