Recipe Card Sizes: 3x5 vs 4x6 vs 5x7 vs Binder Pages
The right size depends on where the recipes will live and how long they are. Here's how the common formats compare, so you can buy the right box or binder before printing anything.
| Format | Writing area | Fits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 x 5 in | Very small | Classic small index-card boxes | Short recipes, dressings, drinks. Most full recipes need the back or a second card. |
| 4 x 6 in | About 60% more than 3x5 | Standard 4x6 recipe boxes, photo albums with 4x6 pockets, most photo printers | The everyday choice. A typical recipe fits on the front, with the back for long methods. |
| 5 x 7 in | About 45% more than 4x6 | 5x7 recipe boxes, 5x7 photo sleeves, half-letter binders (trim to fit) | Baking and multi-step dishes, larger type for easier reading at the counter, gift sets. |
| 8.5 x 11 in page | Full page | 3-ring binders with sheet protectors | Family cookbooks, long recipes, room for stories, photos and notes. |
Pick by where the recipes will live
A recipe box on the counter
Measure the inside of the box, not the outside. A box sold as "4x6" takes 4x6 cards plus tab dividers that stand about half an inch taller. If you already own a box, match it. If you're buying one, 4x6 boxes and accessories are the easiest to find.
A binder on the shelf
Full pages hold the most and slide into sheet protectors, which handle splashes better than any card. A binder also lays flat when open. You can mix sizes, too: some photo-pocket pages hold two 5x7 cards or four 4x6 cards per sheet, so handwritten cards from relatives can go in next to typed pages.
A gift
For a bridal shower or housewarming where guests each write one recipe, 4x6 cards are quick to fill in and fit a standard box. For a finished family cookbook, 5x7 cards or binder pages look more like a book.
Pick by recipe length
- Under 8 ingredients and 5 short steps: fits the front of a 4x6 card.
- Up to about 12 ingredients and 8 steps: 4x6 front and back, or the front of a 5x7.
- Long baking recipes, components, or stories: 5x7 front and back or a binder page.
Try it: type the recipe into the free card maker. It warns you when text overflows the front, and you can switch between 4x6 and 5x7 to compare.
Can I print 4x6 and 5x7 on a normal printer?
Usually yes. Most home inkjet and laser printers accept custom paper sizes down to 4x6 in the rear or manual feed tray. If yours won't, print two cards per letter sheet and trim. Both 4x6 and 5x7 fit twice on a letter page. See how to print recipe cards for settings.
Every size, in 12 matching designs
- 12 matching designs as fillable PDFs: 4x6 cards, 5x7 cards and 8.5x11 binder pages (front and back)
- Print-ready lined versions for handwriting, 2 cards per letter sheet with crop marks
- Dividers: 10 labeled categories plus a blank fillable one, as binder pages and as tabbed 4x6 and 5x7 recipe box cards
- Fillable recipe index page in every design, plus a kitchen measurement chart