Cue card size: the standard sizes in inches, cm and pixels
Updated October 27, 2026 · Anthony Delmotte
Short answer. The standard cue card is a 3 × 5 inch index card (7.6 × 12.7 cm). Use 4 × 6 in (10.2 × 15.2 cm) if you want bigger text, and 5 × 8 in for hosts and presenters who hold cards on camera. Outside North America, A6 (10.5 × 14.8 cm) is the usual choice.
Cue card sizes compared
| Size | Centimetres | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3 × 5 in | 7.6 × 12.7 | Speeches, toasts: fits in a hand or a pocket |
| 4 × 6 in | 10.2 × 15.2 | Presentations, larger text, older eyes |
| 5 × 8 in | 12.7 × 20.3 | TV and event hosts, notes read on camera |
| A6 | 10.5 × 14.8 | Speeches in Europe: a quarter of an A4 sheet |
| A5 | 14.8 × 21.0 | Lecterns and podiums, not hand-held |
Which size should you pick?
Pick the smallest card on which you can read your text at arm’s length. For a hand-held speech that is usually 3 × 5 in with text around 20 to 24 point. If you need more words per card or larger type, step up to 4 × 6 in rather than cramming. Hosts holding cards on camera use 5 × 8 in because the cards are part of the shot and must be read from further away.
Sizes in pixels (Canva, Word, Google Docs)
For print at 300 dpi: 3 × 5 in is 1500 × 900 px, 4 × 6 in is 1800 × 1200 px, A6 is 1748 × 1240 px. In Word or Google Docs, set a custom page size to the card size with 1 cm margins and one card per page.
Or skip the template: the cue card maker splits your script into numbered cards and prints one per page at the size you choose.
Paper
Use ruled index cards or 160 to 200 gsm card stock: thin paper flutters and shows your hands shaking. Write or print on one side only, and number every card in a corner.