How to Print Business Cards at Home: Templates, Cardstock & Cutting Tips

Do You Really Need a Print Shop for Business Cards?

For a small batch of business cards — a few dozen to a couple hundred — printing at home is often just as professional-looking as ordering online, and you get them same-day instead of waiting a week for shipping. The trick is using the right template and cardstock so the final product doesn't look homemade.

What You'll Need

• An inkjet or laser printer (laser holds up better to handling and doesn't smudge)
• Perforated business card cardstock sheets, or full sheets of heavy cardstock (100–110 lb) if you'll cut them yourself
• A design tool: Microsoft Word, Canva, or Google Docs all work
• A paper cutter or paper trimmer if you're using full sheets instead of perforated ones

Method 1: Using Microsoft Word's Business Card Template

1. Open Word and search "business card" in the template gallery, or go to Mailings > Labels > Options and select a business card product number
2. Design your card in the first cell, then copy it into the remaining cells to fill the sheet
3. Print a test page on plain paper first to check alignment before using your cardstock

Method 2: Designing in Canva (Free Templates)

1. Search "business card" in Canva and pick a free template sized 3.5 x 2 inches
2. Customize your text, logo, and colors
3. Download as a high-resolution PDF and arrange multiple cards per sheet before printing, or print one at a time on perforated cardstock

Getting Clean, Even Cuts

Perforated cardstock sheets pop out cleanly by hand and are the easiest option for beginners. If you're using full sheets of cardstock instead, a paper trimmer gives straighter, more consistent edges than scissors — small variations are very noticeable on a stack of business cards.

Common Problems

Ink smudges or takes a long time to dry on cardstock

Cardstock absorbs ink differently than plain paper. Let printed sheets sit for a few minutes before handling, and consider a laser printer if you print cards often — toner fuses to the page instantly and won't smudge. If you also print on envelopes for mailers, see our guide on printing on envelopes for related paper-handling tips.

Printer jams on thick cardstock

Feed cardstock through the manual/single-sheet tray if your printer has one, and check your printer's spec sheet for its maximum supported paper weight before buying stock that's too heavy for it.

Recommended Supplies

For most home setups, perforated business card sheets are the fastest path to a clean result with no cutting needed. If you print cards regularly for a small business, pairing a laser printer with bulk laser-compatible cardstock keeps per-card cost low and avoids smudging entirely. Running low on toner or ink from all that test printing? Check our ink and toner cartridges for your printer model.

With the right template and cardstock, a home-printed business card is hard to tell apart from one ordered through a print shop — at a fraction of the cost and wait time.