Place card dimensions vary more by format than by region. Card sheets sold in the US and the UK use imperial dimensions; metric equivalents are approximate.
Common sizes
| Format | Folded size | Unfolded (flat) size |
|---|---|---|
| Standard tent | 2 × 3.5” (51 × 89mm) | 4 × 3.5” (102 × 89mm) |
| Standard flat | — | 3.5 × 2” (89 × 51mm) |
| Large tent | 2.5 × 4” (64 × 102mm) | 5 × 4” (127 × 102mm) |
| Escort card | — | 3.5 × 2.5” (89 × 64mm) |
Standard tent and flat formats share the same finished face — a 2 × 3.5” footprint at the place setting — but the tent version starts as a 4 × 3.5” sheet that folds in half. Larger tent sizes appear at corporate dinners and award events where the card needs to read from across the room. Escort cards (used at the entrance to direct guests to a table rather than a seat) often use a slightly squarer footprint to accommodate longer table names.
Fold styles
Single fold (tent) is the standard. The card folds once across the middle, the name appears on both halves, and the resulting structure stands on its own without a holder. Pre-scored sheets crease cleanly along the fold line; un-scored card stock needs to be scored manually with a bone folder before folding to avoid cracking the paper.
Double fold creates a card with two folds and three faces — a less common format used when there is additional information to print (table number, meal choice, dietary notes) alongside the guest name.
Scored card sits between flat and folded. The card ships flat with a pre-scored line; the user folds at the table during setup. This format stacks compactly for transport and works well when the cards are printed at a different location from the venue.
Mapping to Avery products
Avery 5302 (8-up tent cards) is the most common pre-scored sheet for the standard 2 × 3.5” folded format. Avery 8395 (8-up tent cards) covers the same size with perforations between cards for cleaner separation. Avery 5305 (10-up flat cards) provides the standard 3.5 × 2” flat footprint with cut lines but no scoring. Each Avery sheet carries its template ID into Word’s built-in label chooser, which handles the layout automatically. Our Avery place cards reference details each sheet’s dimensions and use case. For a side-by-side comparison of when each format works best, see tent cards versus flat place cards.