We all love playing cards! From UNO for kids to poker, and rummy, there are so many varieties for adults. Other kinds like go fish, solitaire and so many other games are played with cards and the list is endless. The size of the cards is something that we rarely know about!
This article will enlighten you about the playing card dimensions and varieties.
Basic Idea of Playing Card Size
The standard size of a card is as follows:
Most standard and basic playing cards have a dimension of 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches (89 mm X 64 mm) and a thickness between 0.17mm and 0.24mm.
On the other hand, the size of the playing cards used for bridge games is 3.5 inches by 2.25 inches (89 mm X 57 mm).
The weight of the cards is around 280 grams while if you opt for better quality cards then the size will be around 310 to 330 grams.
Playing Card Size is 3.5″ x 2.5 “inches”
Why Do We Need Different Playing Card Dimensions?
The simplest answer to the question is that the size of the cards depends on the kind of game one plays with the cards.
If you have to play a game where several cards need to be balanced in your palm at once then you have to go for cards that have relatively less thickness.
Some of us know magic tricks and for those purposes, it is better to use larger cards.
Let us have a look at the different shapes and sizes of cards.
Also read: Pick-Up Truck Dimensions Explained
Different Shapes of Cards
Cards come in different shapes and sizes. They are required for different games and accordingly, the size of the cards keeps varying. Let us have a look at some of the cards and their sizes that are present in the market for us to purchase.
Standard playing cards
The size of playing cards is about 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches (89 mm X 64 mm). The standard playing cards come in this size. Most of us have the standard playing card deck in the house. If you are picnicking during the weekend or when you are planning a trip to the beach and packing standard card decks then the standard playing cards are what we pack.
If you are someone who is well-versed in poker and loves to play the game then you will need standard-size cards. The game of poker needs cards of this size and fine quality.
The other games that can be played with gaming cards are
- Rummy
- Go Fish
- Solitaire
- Spades
- Hearts
- Canasta
Bridge-size Playing Cards
The size of the bridge cards is 3.5 inches by 2.25 inches (89 mm X 57 mm). The bridge card decks are made narrower so that you can house multiple cards together in your hand. Bridge cards are cheaper to make and hence they are used in casinos for playing poker.
Also read: How Many Millimeters in an Inch?
Large Index Playing Cards
This is another type of playing card that you will come across. The size of the deck is 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches (89 mm X 64 mm). They can also be 5″ to 7 ” in length. The size of these cards is larger and hence helpful for the ones with impaired vision or reduced eyesight.
Jumbo Playing Cards
The jumbo playing cards are huge. They can be as large as 14.5″ x 10.5 “inches by “. They can get even bigger and you may use them when you are planning an outdoor picnic with your family and friends.
Also read: How Much Does a Roll of Quarters Weigh?
FAQs
How thick is a playing card?
A playing card has a thickness between 0.17mm and 0.24mm. The thickness of the playing cards varies depending on the company that manufactures them. They cannot be too thick as then you will have trouble shuffling them and if you have too thin cards then they will be hard to hold straight.
When did the game of cards originate?
Card games are a very ancient kind of indoor recreation. They are as old as 500-600 years and originated in the East. Hence these are very traditional games that originated in the past.
What are professional playing cards made of?
Playing cards are usually made of card stock, heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic.
How thick is a playing card in gsm?
Standard cards can weigh 280 gsm (grams per square meter). If you opt for high-quality playing cards with thicker card stock then they can weigh anywhere between 310gsm to 330gsm.
What is the aspect ratio of playing cards?
The normal aspect ratio of 7:5
When did the game of cards originate?
Card games are a very ancient kind of indoor recreation. They are as old as 500-600 years and originated in the East. Hence these are very traditional games that originated in the past.
How thick is a deck of cards?
The thickness of a deck of cards is between 8.84 mm to 12.48 mm
What are Bicycle playing cards
Bicycle Playing Cards is a popular brand of playing cards with a standard 52-card deck of red and black colored cards.
Why are there 52 cards in a deck?
The most popular view is that 52 cards in a deck represent 52 weeks in a year. The day and night are symbolized by red and black. The 12 court cards are the 12 months. Adding all the symbols in a deck adds up to 365 which is the number of days in a year.
Why are there 4 suits in a deck of cards?
One theory is that the four suits are the four seasons in a year. Some believe that suits in a deck are the four classes of Medieval society. Cups and chalices (hearts) represent clergy, swords (spades) are the nobility while coins (diamonds) portray merchants, and batons (clubs) stand for peasants.
Another theory is that the four suits in playing cards – clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades, represent the four elements (wind, fire, water, and earth), the seasons, and cardinal directions.
Why are there 13 cards in each suit?
13 cards represent the total number of lunar cycles in a year.
Naomi is an educator with 2 decades of experience working with children of all ages. She is a keen observer of the magic and importance of Maths in our daily lives. Follow me on Linkedin