Most premium credit cards have the same width, length and thickness. Hence, they look identical in shape and size; only the details it contains differ. The person next to you won’t have the same balance on the credit card, but one thing should be common: its size.
Major banks keep the credit card size to make it convenient to fit into a wallet.
Credit card issuers follow the specific standards set by ISO when making cards. So, the same credit card size remains for years, but the design might change.
The International Organisation for Standardization outlined the credit card dimensions in 2003. Credit cards, debit, and ATM cards fall in the ID-1 format and have the same dimension. You will find the same thickness, width and length in these cards if measured.
Credit card companies update their technology to enhance card security. However, they don’t increase or decrease their credit card size. Government-issued cards also have similar dimension requirements as credit cards. The predetermined credit card size makes it easier for ATMs to read when purchasing items.
Let’s find out the credit cards’ dimensions and why do they have the same size:
What is the Standard Credit Card Dimension?
Every credit card company follows international standards for card dimensions. Managing all these cards in one wallet would be difficult if they refuse to follow it. Besides, thousands of credit card machines might exist for different-sized cards.
The International Organisation for Standardization uses 4 different sizes for identification cards, including credit cards – ID-000, ID-1, ID-2 and ID-3. Credit card issuers use the ID-1 format, widely known as CR80.
Based on that, all credit cards have an 85.6mm width and are 0.0625 inches long.
They have a 0.125-inch corner radius based on the ISO standard. So, credit cards, regardless of the issuer, are about 3.5 inches in width and 2 inches in length.
How Thick is a Credit Card?
Do all credit cards have the same thickness? Yes! They all have the same thickness, like width and length. The International Organisation for Standardization set the identification cards’ thickness at 0.76 millimetres, 0.03 inches.
However, credit cards’ thickness might vary depending on the material used. Plastic cards will be thicker than metal credit cards. Plastic card printing companies keep the credit cards’ thickness 30 mm to make them durable. Credit card machines can’t damage the cards for such thickness.
You might have noticed the magnetic strip on your credit card’s backside, which partly determines the card’s standard size. If you want to withdraw money from an ATM with the card, it should match the size the machine is built for. So, all ATMs have the same-sized slots for money-based cards.
What Else Determine the Credit Card Thickness?
All credit cards might not have the same thickness if measured. The thickness slightly varies from one money-based card to another. Do you know what influences a credit card’s size? The material a financial institution uses for constructing the credit card.
For instance, titanium-based credit cards have a 0.0325 inches thickness. However, plastic-based credit cards are around 0.036 inches thick. The wood-based credit cards also have different thicknesses than titanium and plastic cards.
What Was the First Credit Card Size & Who Standardised it?
Bank of America, a leading multinational bank, first issued the credit card in 1958. Other financial instructions follow the same generic credit card size at that time. Of course, the size differs from the credit cards you see today. So, Bank of America is the first banking institution to decide the standard credit card size.
Multinational and international banks changed the credit cards’ size for ATMs in 1960 and 1970. These cards also play a pivotal role in size standardisations.
Barclays, a British universal bank, issued the first ATM-compatible credit cards in 1967. These credit cards have the exact dimensions as the cards we have now. Chemical Bank also kept a similar credit card size to Barclays.
IBM first introduced point-of-sale systems 1973, and the card size was the same as the bank cards. IBM aimed to increase the demand for cards by keeping them similar in size. Banks and worldwide merchants widely accepted ATM and POS machines. All banks’ card sizes remained unchanged because of inadequate ATM and POS machine makers.
Leading companies assigned the credit card size to their business cards and other identification cards. The government also chooses the same size for passports and security cards. This standardisation saves the hassle of organising the essential cards in their wallets. Imagine how difficult it would be to have 6 different size cards in one place.
What are the Different Credit Card Materials?
Over 6 billion payment cards, including credit cards, are made from PVC plastics. This material prevents the money-based cards from bending and twisting. Credit card issuers include multiple plastic thin, saving the cards from crack development.
Financial institutions use shiny particles in the card’s centre layer for a premium look. Are you aware of the hot stamping process? It is a printing process where heat is used.
The digits or texts on a credit card are hot stamped, and plastic can withstand the heat. This hot-stamped data remains on credit cards for years. So, you don’t have to replace the card within a year or two after the purchase.
Here are the other materials you will find in a credit card:
1. Metal
Metal-based credit cards are a luxurious alternative to plastic cards. However, individuals must have a good credit score to qualify for this credit card. Metal cardholders must pay an annual fee to avail additional benefits and rewards.
Moreover, credit card issuers set certain eligibility criteria for metal credit cards. There are better options than these cards for people with low monthly incomes. Do you have debts to repay to 2-3 creditors? Applying for a plastic credit card is better than metal credit cards.
2. Wood
Very few people know about the existence of a wood credit card. Wood is the most sustainable material which credit card issuers use to avoid scratches or severe damage. However, wood-based credit cards are only available in some countries.
This material makes credit cards sleek and lightweight. Moreover, consumers can recycle their wood-based credit cards easily. Have you heard about Mastercard? They introduced Treecard, a wooden debit card card. No monthly service fees are applied to these debit cards; the same goes for wooden credit cards.
Does the Credit Card Material Matter?
Credit card material matters, so you must choose it wisely when applying for it to a bank. Most people use plastic credit cards for zero service fees. However, these cards can’t be disposed of, causing environmental impact.
Many people go for sleek and upper-tier cards like the American Express Platinum Card: Stainless Steel. However, not all credit card machines can read these cards, causing transaction problems. It also lacks a “Tap to Pay” option and only contains one magnetic strip.
What is a Credit Card’s Standard Font Size?
A credit card’s standard font size is around 12-16 points. However, different banking institutions use different sizes for the credit card font. Like the credit card size, no standard font style or type is pre-determined by the government or ISO.
Many credit card issuers use monospace font styles like Lusica Sans Typewriter. Some use Courier and Consolas to keep the font type simple and easy to read. They might upgrade the font style but don’t change the length, width or thickness.
