Printable Index Card Template

Two ways to print index cards

Print on real index cards. Choose 3×5, 4×6, or 5×8 as the paper size. Each card is one "page", and the back of each card is printed on the reverse side. Feed blank index cards through your printer's manual feed or rear tray.

Print several cards on one sheet. Choose A4 or US Letter and a cards-per-page layout. A 3×5-sized card fits 4 to a Letter sheet; smaller layouts fit up to 16. Cut along the printed cut lines. Heavier paper or card stock makes cards that last longer.

Printer tips for card stock

• Use the manual feed or rear tray if your printer has one; the straighter paper path handles thick card better.
• Set the paper size in the print dialog to match (for example 3×5 in / 76×127 mm) and the scale to 100% / Actual size.
• Select a heavier paper type such as "Card stock" or "Heavy" if your driver offers it.
• Print one test card before a whole stack.

If the back is slightly offset from the front, use the calibration page and set an x/y back offset; it's saved for next time.

What goes on the cards

Index cards aren't just for vocabulary. People use this template for speech and presentation notes, recipe cards, study flashcards, Zettelkasten-style notes, and classroom games. Cards print as plain text with one image per side, in any script. Text shrinks to fit, but it's worth keeping one idea per card so it's readable at a glance.

For presentation notes, try fronts only with numbering on, so the stack stays in order.

Lined or blank?

Printed cards here are blank with your text centred, which reads well for flashcards. If you want classic ruled lines for handwriting, buy ruled index cards and print the front only, leaving the lined side for notes.

Cards per page on a regular sheet

If you print on A4 or Letter instead of real index cards, the number of cards per page decides their size. 1 or 2 per page is good for classroom display cards. 4 per page gives roughly postcard-size cards. 6 to 10 per page is typical for study flashcards. 12 to 16 per page makes small cards for long vocabulary decks, where you want the whole set in a pocket.

Turn on cut lines to make trimming easier, and use a paper trimmer if you have one; it's much faster and straighter than scissors for a full sheet.

Double-sided on index cards

Real index cards are thick, and some printers don't support two-sided printing on card stock. The reliable method is to print fronts only on the whole stack, turn the stack over according to your printer's paper path, and print backs only. Test with one card first: mark the top edge with a pencil so you can see how it went through.

If backs come out slightly offset, print the calibration page on an index card, measure the shift, and enter it as an x/y back offset. The step-by-step version is in our double-sided printing guide.