These days, business cards are a dime a dozen. You can hardly even find a decent card to add to your collection anymore. But what is the real story behind these boring little scraps of paper?
Why do businesses still use them? Is there any hope left for the once-essential marketing tool?
We crunched the numbers on this and a whole lot more, so you don’t have to. Scroll down and read on for our roundup of the most important business card stats!
Top Business Card Facts and Stats (Editor’s Pick)
Business cards play a significant role among business people, and there are many reasons why they’ve been around for so long. For example, offering a physical business card with a smile and firm handshake can strongly impact its receiver.
However, it might seem that plastic or paper business cards aren’t as popular as their digital versions. So, what’s going on with the business card industry these days?
We’ve compiled some insightful business card statistics so you can gain a clear insight into the importance of business cards, their price, the business card industry, and future forecasts.
- 100 billion business cards are printed each year globally.
- About 80% of all the business cards passed to another person are thrown away in seven days.
- 68% of small business owners consider business cards to be “very impactful”.
- 77% of individuals and 63% of small business owners have not yet used a digital business card app.
- Handing a business card is the quickest way to exchange information.
- Sales increase by 2.5% for every 2000 business cards given out.
- The world’s most expensive business card costs $153,000 per 100 cards.
- 39% of people wouldn’t do business with a company that has a cheap-looking business card.
- The production of business cards leads to the potential loss of around six million trees.
General Business Card Statistics
1. It is estimated that 100 billion business cards are printed each year globally.
(Clean Tech Loops)
That’s a lot of business cards.
The next time you are at a networking event and you’re handing out business cards to everyone in the room, think about this: Around 100 billion business cards are produced in the world every year. That’s how many business cards we’re talking about here.
In the digital age, there’s a lot of talk about how business cards are going to be replaced by things like QR codes or virtual cards. But in reality, there are very few alternatives that can get you all the information you need and keep it in one place. Not only does this mean more time spent figuring out how to contact someone, but it also means keeping track of multiple different accounts and social platforms rather than just having one card for everything.
And when it comes to making an impression on someone you’ve just met? There’s no better way to do it than with a sleek design that makes you look professional and organized.
It’s no wonder that so many companies go through so many cards every year; they’re an essential part of doing business!
2. Nearly 7 in 10 small business owners say they find business cards to be very impactful when networking.
(MOO.com)
When you’re introducing yourself to someone new, how do you usually hand them your contact information? Do you scramble to pull together a pen and piece of paper? Maybe you text them your number or Facebook and Instagram handles. Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve got a business card ready to go.
According to our research conducted by MOO.com, 68% of small business owners consider business cards to be “very impactful,” when they’re meeting people face-to-face.
In an age where most of our information is digitized and accessible through the internet, it’s pretty impressive that so many business owners still prefer a physical card over the other options.
After all, it’s not just about a piece of paper or a stack of cards. It’s about presenting your brand and yourself in the best light possible. It’s about making sure your image is polished, professional, and consistent.
And if you can do all of that while giving your customers something they can hold in their hands that represents who you are and what you stand for… well, then you’ve got a winning combination!
(Design Inc)
Nearly 30 million business cards were made every day, and there was a good reason for that. According to the paper business card statistics, investing in business cards leads to increased branding and bottom-line revenue.
Still, we can’t undermine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which led to people switching to digital business cards or other alternatives.
4. 88% of all the business cards distributed are thrown away within seven days.
(Adobe)
That’s 8.8 billion business cards discarded in the US alone. Even though most business cards are discarded within a week, that doesn’t mean people should print and use them.
One of the well-known business card facts is that a business card has to be unique and leave a good first impression not to get thrown away.
5. A colored business card is ten times more likely to remain with someone than a plain white business card.
(Adobe)
Did you know that a colored business card has ten times more of a chance to stick around than a plain white business card? It turns out, that if you hand someone a colored card, they’re ten times more likely to hang onto it than if you hand them a basic white card.
Whenever you give someone any kind of business card, it’s likely going to end up in the trash can. But when you hand someone a well-designed and colored business card, they’ll keep it around for a lot longer. This means your brand has a much better chance of being remembered, and that’s what good branding is all about!
So what does this data mean? It means that if you want to get your business noticed, and have your brand remembered long after your client or customer has left your shop or office, then you need to think outside the box when it comes to designing your business cards!
6. The digital business card market is estimated to reach $3.1 billion by 2027.
(Businesswire)
As Businesswire’s market forecast indicates, the digital business card market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 14.7% from 2020 to 2027.
It’s important to mention that the coronavirus pandemic has had a substantial impact on this industry, as virtual events encouraged business owners to use digital business cards.
7. 77% of individuals and 63% of small business owners have not yet used a digital business card app.
(MOO.com)
With the number of people downloading smartphone apps increasing every year, it’s become more and more common for business owners to seek out new ways to expand their brand recognition through mobile technology.
But according to a recent study, 77% of individuals and 63% of small business owners haven’t used a digital business card app before.
This means that only 23% of individuals and 37% of small business owners have used a digital business card app. It’s shocking but true. Maybe you’re one of them, wondering what the big deal is.
It’s no wonder, considering that even the best digital business cards can be a pain to use. You typically have to pull them up in a browser and share your contact info, which doesn’t sound bad at first blush… until you realize that the person you just gave your contact info to can’t add it to their phone!
8. In 2019, North America held 33.4% of the global business card software market.
(Businesswire)
Digital business card statistics from a 2020 report reveal that North America held the largest part of the global business card software market the year before.
Europe was right behind North America with a share of 26.8%. France, the UK, Germany, Russia, and Italy were among the major countries in the European market.
9. Handing a business card is still the quickest way to exchange information.
(Forbes)
According to many experts, business cards are much more useful than it seems. Apart from being the quickest way of exchanging information, business cards are a physical reminder of someone and last longer. Furthermore, creative business cards get shared.
10. It’s estimated that there was a drop of over 70% in the business card print rate.
(Design Inc)
Since there’s no new data on the exact impact of the coronavirus crisis on this industry, it’s estimated that there the print rate of business cards decreased by over 70%.
People couldn’t meet and exchange business cards like before the pandemic, so they became relatively redundant. Time will tell if people will go back to this pre-pandemic habit.
11. The US business card printing industry was worth $1.2 billion in 2017.
(Mercury News)
Business card statistics from 2017 reveal that the business card industry was valued at $1.2 billion that year. Unfortunately, there’s no new data about the current value of this industry, but we can assume that this number has decreased in recent years.
Business Cards Cost Statistics
12. The most expensive business card in the world costs $153,000 per 100 cards.
(Snap)
The most expensive business card in the world is the Black Astrum Signature Card. It’s made of Swiss metal, and each of them is studded with 30 carats of diamonds.
Of course, a business card doesn’t have to be this expensive to be good. You can make it unique in many other ways. For example, there are even edible credit cards made of chocolate, biscuits, etc.
13. The cheapest business card can cost up to $50, while those made by design agencies can be priced at over $2,500.
(99designs)
If you use a free template you’ve found on the Internet, your business card won’t cost you anything. On the other hand, design agencies can cost more than $2,500, but their services are for companies that need a complete branding package and have lots of resources.
14. Design contests and freelancers usually cost between $200 and $1,000 for a business card design.
(99designs)
Business card cost rates depend on the service, design, and materials. Freelancers and design contests aren’t as expensive as design agencies, but not everyone should ask for their services.
For instance, freelancers and contests are great options for companies that need to stick to a mid-range budget or businesses that can understand the design process.
Business Card Statistics Regarding Sales and Revenue
15. Sales increase by 2.5% for every 2000 business cards that are given out.
(Adobe)
We’ve already mentioned that a good business card can increase revenue. In fact, sales increase by 2.5% for every 2000 business cards that are distributed.
We should take into consideration that 63% of business cards are discarded because people don’t need the service. Still, that doesn’t mean they won’t remember that brand if they change their minds.
16. 100 business cards can bring in an additional $5,000 in revenues, a survey of small-business owners suggests.
(MOO.com)
Small business owners who hand out 100 business cards can expect to generate $5,000 in revenue.
That’s a big number! In fact, it’s a pretty big leap of faith. But here’s the thing: if you’re not taking that leap, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table.
Just think about it. If you’re at a networking event and you have 100 business cards to hand out, there’s no telling what can happen. Maybe you’ll meet your next biggest client there, or maybe they know someone who is looking for exactly what you offer and can’t recommend anyone else but you. Maybe the person who takes your card just needs to look at it for a few days before he or she calls—and maybe that call is worth thousands of dollars.
It’s impossible to put a dollar amount on your connections because you never know when one will turn into something that could help your business grow. So go ahead and take that leap of faith—because all it takes is one connection to turn into something amazing!
17. 39% of people wouldn’t do business with a company if they had a cheap-looking business card.
(W.A.M. Strategies)
Business card numbers and figures suggest that a shocking 72% of people judge a person or company based on the quality of their business cards.
Nevertheless, even though almost 40% of them don’t want to do business with a company with a credit card that looks cheap, it’s better than having no business card at all.
18. Vistaprint’s annual revenue is more than $1.4 billion.
(Quicksprout)
Vistaprint is the most popular business card printing company. This company has existed for 25 years and has over 6,000 team members from all around the world.
You pay $20 for 500 cards and have 7,700+ templates at your disposal. Therefore, it’s no wonder why Vistaprint is so popular.
Other Noteworthy Business Card Stats, Facts, and Trends
19. The production of business cards leads to the potential loss of nearly six million trees.
(Clean Tech Loops)
Regardless of trends in business cards, they are all harmful to the environment. Namely, around 6 million trees need to be cut per year to produce business cards.
Given the fact that 42% of harvested wood is used to make paper and that it comprises 50% of business waste, we should think twice before printing too many business cards.
20. People are ten times less likely to throw away a business card if its background is colored.
(Snap)
It sounds almost unbelievable, but it’s true: even seemingly unimportant details can greatly impact the effectiveness of your business card.
For instance, your business card is 1000% less likely to be discarded if its background is colored. That’s why it’s wise to follow business card trends and be up to date.
21. 57% of business owners strongly believe that business cards are good for their business.
(Snap)
Almost 60% percent of businesspeople highly rely on their business cards. In addition, exchanging business cards is a ritual in some cultures, such as Japan and China.
That means that the way a business card is presented and received should be done with respect. Therefore, it’s not surprising that some business people find them very important.
22. Vistaprint’s use of automation enables it to produce 250 business cards in just 14 seconds.
(Hayden Capital)
Vistaprint has experienced a lot of growth because it’s been able to take advantage of economies of scale in order to charge less for its products.
For example, when it comes to the production of business cards, Vistaprint can produce 250 business cards using only 14 seconds of labor, compared to over an hour for traditional printers. This is because Vistaprint invests significantly in R&D, and uses automated manufacturing processes that are supported by proprietary software.
This allows Vistaprint to operate at a much lower cost than its competitors while offering customers a broader range of products.
23. The standard size for business cards in the US is 3.5 by 2 inches.
(Biz Fluent)
One of the business card facts all business people should remember is that there are no rules when it comes to business card size and design. Still, the most common size that’s considered standard in the US is 3.5 by 2 inches.
24. 14 and 16-point cardstock are the most prevalent business card paper types.
(Printivity)
Typical business cards are most commonly printed on 100 lb. gloss cover (thin), 14-point cardstock (thick), and 16-point cardstock (thicker). “Cheaper” business cards are printed on a 100 lb. gloss cover, but thicker cardstocks give a higher level of professionalism and luxury.
25. Many companies use classic business card fonts such as Helvetica, Arial, and Times New Roman.
(PsPrint)
Traditional fonts are still the choice of many companies when business card design is in question. These fonts are a good choice because they’re universal and easy to read. However, they aren’t the only ones that are easy to read, so business owners should focus on fonts that represent their company well.
Related Questions
Are business cards a thing of the past?
It wouldn’t be true if we said that physical business cards are entirely a thing of the past. The coronavirus pandemic harmed the usage of business cards because of spreading germs, so many entrepreneurs switched to digital business cards. Nevertheless, paper business cards can be really handy when you don’t access the Internet.
How effective are business cards?
Business cards are very effective, and unique business cards are rarely discarded. That means that a good business card serves its purpose for weeks and even months after it’s given to a person. Furthermore, business cards are much more personal than online or email marketing.
What percentage of business cards get thrown away?
Around 80% of all the business cards that are passed to another person are thrown away in the first week. Still, the most important thing about business cards is the first impression on people. A fantastic business card can attract customers with clean packaging or excellent marketing pieces.
Why do people throw away business cards?
There are four primary reasons why people throw away business cards. For example, unprofessional design and bad printing can repel those who receive a business card. That’s why people should invest in designing them, even if it seems irrelevant. Apart from that, the other two reasons are no added value and business owners not caring about the service.
How long does it take to design business cards?
It takes between one and three weeks to make a business card. Of course, the amount of time for designing it depends on the size and the complexity of an order. Also, you can hire freelancers or design agencies or even use an online template and make it yourself (which probably wouldn’t take much time).
How big is the business card market?
As business card statistics indicate, the digital business card market is projected to reach $3,065.8 million by 2027. Also, it’s expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.7% between 2020 and 2027.
It’s important to mention that the coronavirus pandemic made people hold online meetings, which contributed to the increased demand for digital business cards, while the opposite happened with paper business cards.
Conclusion
Sometimes, physical is better and more effective than digital. For instance, physical business cards are faster, and you never know when you might meet a potential customer. Furthermore, some cultures value business cards so much that you won’t stand a chance if you don’t have them.
Therefore, investing in a good business card is never a bad idea. Get creative, and play with fonts, colors, or textures, as it can greatly impact those who receive them. Also, having a card that looks cheap can hinder your business.
If you still wonder if business cards are dead, be sure they’re not.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and we hope you found it helpful! We’re thrilled to be a part of your business card journey—whether you just got your first order or you’re an old pro.
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