What Does CR80 Mean? The Standard Plastic Card Size Explained
CR80 is the international standard size for plastic cards — the same dimensions as a credit card, debit card, or driving licence. If you are ordering printed plastic cards for your business, CR80 is almost certainly the size you need.
CR80 dimensions — the exact measurements
A CR80 card measures 86mm x 54mm (3.375" x 2.125"), with a standard thickness of 0.76mm. That is the globally recognised ID-1 format defined by ISO/IEC 7810.
In plain terms: if it fits in a wallet, it is probably CR80.
Free CR80 artwork templates
Set your card up on one of our free templates. The PDF, Photoshop and SVG files are 92 x 60mm: the 86 x 54mm card plus 3mm of bleed on every side, with the trim line and a 3mm safe area marked. Run your background to the outer edge, keep wording and logos inside the blue line, then hide or delete the template lines before you save.
The SVG opens in Illustrator, Inkscape, Affinity Designer and Figma, with the guides on their own layer. Canva works at the card’s own size, 86 x 54mm, and adds the bleed itself, so the Canva guide marks only the safe area: upload it, stretch it over your design, and delete it before you download. Our Canva guide has the steps, and the artwork setup guide covers bleed, resolution and colour. Templates for key tags, event passes, combo cards and hot foil cards are on our artwork guides page.
Why is it called CR80?
The "CR" stands for Credit Card, and "80" refers to the card's position in the CR series of standard sizes. CR80 is by far the most common — the others (CR90, CR100, CR79) are niche formats used in specific applications like hotel key sleeves or certain ID holders.
When a supplier asks for your card size and you say "credit card size," they mean CR80. For the rest of the credit card look, such as embossed numbers and a magnetic strip, see credit card style plastic cards.
What types of cards are printed in CR80 size?
CR80 is used across virtually every plastic card application:
- Loyalty cards — coffee shops, salons, gyms, retailers
- Membership cards — clubs, gyms, professional associations
- Gift cards — retail, hospitality, leisure
- Staff ID cards — employee identification and access
- Hotel key cards — RFID and magnetic stripe
- Business cards — premium plastic alternatives to paper
If you are not sure what size to order, choose CR80. You will be right 99% of the time.
CR80 and card thickness — what is standard?
Standard CR80 cards are 0.76mm thick — the same as a bank card. This is sometimes called 760 microns or 30mil.
You may also see thinner options (0.5mm) used for discount cards or mailers, and thicker cards (1mm+) for premium applications. But unless you have a specific reason to deviate, 0.76mm is the print industry default.
Does CR80 work with card printers and wallets?
Yes. CR80 is the format all standard desktop card printers — Zebra, Matica, Evolis, HID — are built around. It also fits standard card wallets, lanyards, and ID holders without modification.
If you are buying a card printer or ordering card sleeves, they will be designed for CR80 unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Need CR80 plastic cards printed in the UK?
At CP Cards, we print CR80 plastic cards to order — single or double-sided, full colour, any design. Manufactured in England with fast turnaround and free delivery within Great Britain.
View our plastic card printing options or get in touch to discuss your requirements.