Custom greeting cards are emotional purchases — the buyer is signalling care, taste, and sometimes wealth. The print specs you choose telegraph all three. A mass-market gloss card reads as "from the drugstore"; a kraft card with foil-stamped initials reads as "I had this made." Here's the full buying guide for greeting card stocks, sizes, and finishing techniques.
Stock weights and substrates
- 13–14pt smooth white card stock: the universal default. Clean color reproduction, accepts handwriting cleanly, mailable in standard envelopes. Best for general-purpose holiday cards and corporate greetings.
- Kraft brown card stock: rustic, warm, handmade-feel. Best for indie bookstore thank-yous, craft brewery greetings, save-the-dates with a natural aesthetic.
- Pearl (metallic-coated) stock: luxe shimmer for wedding invitations and gala invites. Reads as formal without needing foil-stamping.
- Linen-finish stock: subtle woven texture. Refined, traditional — favoured for milestone announcements and corporate greetings.
Standard sizes and envelope pairings
- A6 (4.5×6.25 folded): the holiday card default. Pairs with A6 envelopes.
- A7 (5×7 folded): wedding invitation default. Pairs with A7 envelopes.
- 5×5 or 6×6 square: distinctive and modern. Pairs with square envelopes (which cost extra postage from USPS).
- 4×9 (DL-style): long narrow format used for save-the-dates and event announcements.
Fold styles
Side-fold: the conventional layout — opens like a book, vertical orientation. Standard for holiday and wedding cards.
Top-fold (or "tent fold"): opens upward, landscape orientation. Better for photo cards and landscape designs.
Z-fold or accordion: extends the design across multiple panels. Best for story-driven cards or save-the-dates with timeline details.
Finishing techniques worth knowing
- Foil stamping: gold, silver, rose-gold, copper, or holographic foil pressed into the card with heat and pressure. The premium accent that signals "luxury." Adds $30–80 setup per die plus per-card cost.
- Embossing / debossing: raised or recessed dimensional impression. Often paired with foil for monograms and luxury wedding stationery.
- Spot UV: glossy UV coating on selected areas of an otherwise matte card. Cheaper than foil but creates similar visual punch.
- Letterpress: ink pressed into the card via traditional metal plates. Tactile, vintage, premium. The classic wedding-stationery look.
- Die-cut shapes: cards cut into custom shapes (rounded corners, scalloped edges, full die-cut silhouettes). Increases per-card cost but creates distinctive keepsake appeal.
Envelope choices
Matching envelopes are included with every greeting card order. Standard choices: smooth white, kraft brown, pearl-coated, or recycled cream. Address printing on envelopes is a separate quote — most operators handwrite for personal events and digitally print for bulk corporate.
Quantity economics
- 50 cards: ~$60–120 depending on stock and finishing.
- 250 cards: ~$200–400. Standard wedding invitation quantity.
- 500 cards: ~$350–650. Standard holiday card quantity.
- 1,000 cards: ~$600–1,100. Corporate holiday or premium business gifting.
Foil stamping adds $40–80 setup per design plus ~$0.30 per card. Letterpress adds $80–120 setup plus ~$0.40 per card. Embossing adds $50–80 setup plus ~$0.25 per card.
Practical timeline
Standard printing: 5–7 business days from artwork approval. Foil stamping or letterpress: 10–14 business days. Plan accordingly — for holiday cards, order in early November to ensure delivery by early December.