Name card size and design checklist for Malaysia

Name card size in Malaysia

Most Malaysian printers use 90 x 54 mm as their standard name card size. Two other sizes turn up in templates downloaded online:

Standard	Size	Where you see it
Malaysia	90 x 54 mm	Most local printers
United States	88.9 x 50.8 mm (3.5 x 2 in)	US templates and online tools
Europe	85 x 55 mm	European printers and templates
Square	Varies, often 55 x 55 mm or 65 x 65 mm	Special orders, check with your printer

A US template printed on a Malaysian 90 x 54 mm card will not fit cleanly, so set up the file at the size your printer uses. Fancy shapes and square cards often need a custom die and cost more.

Bleed, trim and safe zone

Printers cut cards from large sheets, and the blade can shift slightly. Three measurements protect your design:

1. Trim size. The finished card, 90 x 54 mm.
2. Bleed. Background colours and images extend 3 mm past the trim on every side, so the artwork is 96 x 60 mm. Without bleed, a thin white edge can appear after cutting.
3. Safe zone. Keep text, logos and QR codes at least 3 to 5 mm inside the trim line. Anything closer may be cut off.

Borders that run close to the edge show every small cutting shift. If you want a border, keep it well inside the safe zone or leave it out.

File setup checklist

• Colour mode. CMYK for print. Colours chosen on screen in RGB will shift when printed.
• Resolution. Photos and textures at 300 dpi at the final size.
• Logo. Vector format (AI, EPS, SVG or PDF), not a screenshot.
• Text size. Keep body text at about 7 pt or larger. Thin fonts below that size break up in print.
• Fonts. Convert text to outlines or embed fonts in the PDF.
• Black. Use a rich black for large solid areas only if your printer recommends it. Small text should be plain black.
• Export. A print-ready PDF with crop marks and bleed, one page per side.

Paper weight (GSM)

GSM is grams per square metre. A higher number means thicker, stiffer card. Name cards are commonly printed on card of about 260 to 350 gsm.

Paper	Feel	Suits
Around 260 gsm art card	Standard, light	Large quantities, staff cards
Around 300 to 350 gsm	Firmer, more premium	Most business owners and sales teams
Textured or specialty paper	Distinctive, uncoated	Design, property and premium brands
Thicker or layered card	Heavy, noticeable edge	Small runs where the card is part of the brand

Uncoated and textured papers are easy to write on but show colour less brightly. Coated art card prints colour sharply. Ask your printer for a sample pack before you decide.

Finishes

Finish	What it does	Design note
Matt lamination	Soft, low-glare surface, protects the print	Fingerprints show less than gloss
Gloss lamination	Shiny surface, stronger colour	Can be hard to write on
Spot UV	Glossy coating on selected areas only	Use on the logo or one element, not everywhere
Hot stamping (foil)	Metallic gold, silver or colour foil	Avoid very thin lines and small text
Embossing or debossing	Raised or pressed areas	Needs heavier card and a custom block
Rounded corners	Softer shape, corners wear less	Keep content further from the corners

Each finish adds setup time and cost at the printer. One well-chosen finish usually looks better than three.

Bilingual name card layouts

Many Malaysian businesses serve customers in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese. Common layouts:

1. One language per side. English on the front, Bahasa Malaysia or Chinese on the back. The cleanest option.
2. Name in two languages, details in one. The person’s name in English and Chinese, with contact details once. Suits a sales card with limited space.
3. Logo side and information side. The logo alone on the front, all details on the back, in one or two languages.

Keep the logo, name and phone number in the same position on both sides so the card reads as one design. Chinese characters need a slightly larger size than Latin text to stay legible, so check them at 100% on a printed proof. Have a native speaker proofread job titles, because translated titles are where most mistakes appear.

What to put on a name card

• Logo
• Name and job title
• Mobile number, and an office number if you have one
• Email address and website
• Office address, or just the city if you work from several sites
• A QR code to your website, WhatsApp or digital profile, at least about 2 cm wide

Leave out social media handles you do not update. Space is limited, and a clear card is easier to use than a full one.

Getting your name cards designed

A name card should match your logo, colours and fonts. If you do not have those yet, start with logo design or a full corporate identity, which usually includes stationery. For the difference between the two, read logo vs corporate identity vs branding.

We design name cards, flyers and other print pieces through our marketing collaterals service, from our studios in Petaling Jaya and Penang. Send the names, titles and languages you need through the quote form.