ID Card Sizes Explained: CR80, A4 Layout & Print-Ready Exports

Why ID Card Size Matters

Using the wrong size when designing a school ID card leads to one outcome: reprints. Cards that are too small leave excess plastic around the edges; cards designed for A4 don't fit in standard ID card holders; portrait cards get printed landscape by mistake. Getting the dimensions right from the start is a non-negotiable first step.

This guide explains the three standard formats used in Indian schools, when to use each, and how ID Card Master handles sizing automatically.

CR80 — The International Standard Card Size

CR80 (also called ISO 7810 ID-1) is the global standard for credit cards, debit cards, and most professional ID cards. Dimensions: 85.6 mm × 54 mm (3.375 in × 2.125 in).

• Fits standard ID card holders, lanyards, and wallets
• Compatible with PVC card printers (Zebra, Matica, Entrust)
• The format used by UID/Aadhaar cards and most government IDs in India
• Works for both portrait (54×85.6 mm) and landscape (85.6×54 mm) orientations

ID Card Master refers to this as the 55×88 card size (a rounded variant commonly used in Indian school card printing). If you're sending cards to a PVC printer, this is almost certainly the format they expect.

55×88 mm — The Indian School Standard

While CR80 is 85.6×54 mm, the 55×88 mm variant is slightly larger and is the de facto standard used by most ID card printers, laminating pouches, and holders sold in India. The extra 0.4 mm margin prevents edge-cutting issues during lamination.

Both CR80 and 55×88 are visually identical in use — cards fit all standard holders. ID Card Master uses 55×88 by default for all school templates.

A4 Multi-Card Layout — For Inkjet/Laser Printing

Not all schools use PVC card printers. Many vendors still print on A4 paper or PVC sheet using a standard inkjet or laser printer, then cut and laminate the cards. For this workflow, ID Card Master offers multi-card A4 PDF export:

• 4 cards per A4 page (portrait orientation)
• 6 cards per A4 page (smaller cards or landscape)
• 8 cards per A4 page (CR80-sized portrait layout)
• Cutting guides included so cards are cut evenly
• 300 DPI resolution — cards print sharply even on budget inkjet printers

Select your preferred layout when exporting from the ID Cards page in your dashboard.

Portrait vs Landscape — Which Should You Use?

Most primary and secondary schools in India use portrait orientation for student cards. Landscape is more common for administrative and senior faculty badges.

Bleed Margins and Safe Zones

When printing and cutting cards, a 1–2 mm bleed margin around the card ensures that slight cutting inaccuracies don't leave white edges. ID Card Master automatically adds bleed-safe padding in PDF exports when using the physical card printer flow.

• Keep important content (names, barcodes, photos) at least 3 mm from card edges
• Background colors and gradients should extend to the very edge (or beyond the safe zone)
• Avoid placing barcode/QR elements too close to card edges — scanners need clear quiet zones

How ID Card Master Handles Sizing

When you create a template in Card Studio, you choose the card size and orientation upfront. All elements are positioned in exact pixel coordinates mapped to the real-world card dimensions. When you export:

• Individual card JPGs/PNGs are generated at the exact card size at 300 DPI
• PDF exports lay multiple cards per A4 page with correct bleed margins
• ZIP exports contain one high-resolution image per student card

You never need to think about pixels vs millimetres — ID Card Master handles the conversion automatically.

Summary: Which Size to Choose

• PVC card printer → Use 55×88 portrait or CR80 portrait
• Inkjet/laser print + laminate → Use 55×88 portrait with multi-card A4 PDF export
• Senior staff / access cards → Use 55×88 landscape

Create your first template in ID Card Master — pick your size and start designing for free.