We send thank you cards to friends and loved ones to show our appreciation for receiving a gift.
Sending these cards is a polite action that we are encouraged to take from a young age.
No matter how fancy or plain the card is, everyone appreciates the acknowledgment that comes with being given a thank you card.
Sending a card can be a great way to express your creativity as well as your thanks!
Handwriting a card means you can test out some elegant new techniques and styles.
With the use of the internet, you can create the ideal card to reflect your personality and the occasion celebrated with images, design features, and color schemes.
When sending a card there can be a lot of choices and you might be wondering which size of card you should be sending.
Here we will explore the standard size of a thank you card and everything related to sending one!
What Size Are Thank You Cards?
Paper comes in many sizes and has many uses, but typically, thank you card sizes are either 5 x 7 (12.7 x 17.8 centimeters) or 3 x 5 inches (7.6 x 12.7 centimeters).
These are just examples of the most commonly used sizes found in thank you cards, there are many others that depend on the manufacturer.
These sizes refer to the front of a folded card, therefore cards opened out will be double this size.
For the purpose of this article, we will be referring to thank you cards as having a standard size as indicated above as these are the most common card sizes.
Overall, there is no right or wrong size when it comes to thank you cards, they can be any size you like.
When To Send A Thank You Card
There are many reasons and events that warrant sending a thank you card, but sometimes we can be a little unsure especially if you’ve been made to write them by your parents all your life.
Here is a list of the major events and occasions that you should be sending thank you cards for.
- Receiving birthday gifts
- Receiving retirement gifts
- Wedding gifts
- Baby shower gifts
- Funeral flowers or wreaths
- Christmas and other major holiday gifts such as easter eggs or money
Thank you cards can also be extended if you have received a promotion or someone has really helped you with a difficult task or time in your life.
The majority of the time, we all get a feeling of when to send out thank you cards but it’s always good to double-check.
General Thank You Card Practices
Here is our mini-guide on the basics of sending thank you cards. Following these rules is best for sending the most thoughtful and polite thank you cards.
Making It Personal
Letting the recipient know that you really liked their gift and appreciated the thought means avoiding generic sentiments and templates.
Adding a personal touch to the thank you note is important as it shows you haven’t just written the same thing on each note.
Keep Accurate Records
When there is an event in which you may receive multiple gifts, make sure you keep an accurate record of who gave you what in order to be specific when writing out the thank you card.
Someone else may be able to help you with this, make sure to get their first and last name as well as a detailed description of the gift.
Keep It Specific
Using generic terms and sentiments rather than specifics can appear somewhat thoughtless.
If someone has gone out of their way to buy you a gift they think you’ll like, then it is polite to acknowledge this gift and express your gratitude for it.
Don’t Leave It Too Late
When receiving a gift from someone as a one-off, then it is important to send out a thank you card as soon as possible.
For other events and occasions, the general guide allows for up to two months to send out thank you cards.
Signing The Card
When two people receive a gift such as for a wedding, the thank-you cards should be signed by both partners but they can be written by either one.
For the best results, choose the one with the best handwriting!
Remember to choose the most appropriate sign-off, for colleagues you may choose ‘best’ or ‘warm regards’ whereas for relatives you may choose ‘love from’.
Where To Buy Thank You Cards
Thank-you cards can be purchased in many different stores, stationers, and online marketplaces.
When buying thank you cards after a large event such as a big birthday party, wedding, or baby shower it might be easier to get a base thank you card printed in bulk.
If you just need one card, you can purchase an individual one at any good card store.
Online retailers such as Vistaprint and Etsy have many inexpensive cards to choose from and can be bought in bulk.
Buying online means you can personalize the cards with pictures and text to make them unique to you.
Stores like Target also sell thank you cards in different designs, sizes, and prices.
Considerations When Purchasing
There is a right thank you card for every situation and budget, so it’s important to think about what you’d like to include in your note.
Images are a great way to add some personalization to a thank you card, especially after an event that has had a photographer such as a wedding.
However, these may come at an increased cost.
The size of your card can affect the cost of printing or purchasing, if you’re buying cards for a large number of people then you might consider buying smaller cards such as the 3 x 5 size to reduce the costs.
If you have a lot to say on your card, you’re obviously going to need a bigger card with more space. Larger cards also tend to be more expensive.
When buying large orders, printers and card retailers can sometimes offer a discount on the price. Be sure to shop around to get the best deal possible.
Alternatives To Thank You Cards
If you don’t think that sending a thank you card is for you but you’d still like to acknowledge your thanks and appreciation for something you’ve received then there are other options.
Some may think it a little old-fashioned to send a typical 3 x 5 card, so you could try sending a photo card, a video recording, or an item of food or drink to the recipient.
Sometimes, even a simple text or phone call will do.
However you choose to say thank you, the main thing is to let your loved ones know you are thinking of them and appreciate their effort.
Final Thoughts
There are many events in our lives that warrant us sending out thank you cards. There is no ‘right’ size of thank you card, it should just be suited to your needs.
Sending them out isn’t just a polite practice, it is also a way to let your loved ones know they are appreciated.
Remember to have fun making them and personalize them however you like.
We hope you found this article interesting and informative, giving you all the information you need on how large thank you cards are and when to send them.
Frequently Asked Question
What Size Is A Wedding Thank You Card?
Wedding thank you cards can be any size you like, including the most common sizes of 3 x 5 and 5 x 7 inches (see also ‘How Big Is 2 Inches?‘).
Photo thank you cards are a great idea and a way to extend the celebrations, these are a little larger and usually come in a square format of 14.8 cm x 14.8 cm.
What Size Is It started because of that passion, but I have also chosen to write about other size, weight, and value related topics that have interested me.
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