Recipe cards by size · 3 × 5
3×5 Recipe Cards
The classic recipe-box size — 3″ wide × 5″ tall, the same footprint as an index card. Eighteen pre-designed PDF themes ready to download below, or build a custom one from scratch in the browser. Free, no signup, photo upload supported.
Build your own
Make a custom 3×5 in 2 minutes.
Fourteen designer themes inside the builder. Pick one, drop in a photo of the dish, type the recipe, hit Download — print-ready 3×5 PDF, in your browser, photo never leaves your device.
Pre-designed PDFs
Eighteen 3×5 themes ready to download.
Every theme below ships in 3×5 — open the PDF, type or write your recipe, and print. Looking for a different size? See 4×6, 5×7, 5×8, or full-page below.
Common questions
People also ask.
Quick answers to the most-searched 3×5 recipe-card questions — and a guide to printing them at home.
Do 3×5 recipe cards fit a standard recipe box?
Yes — every retail recipe box (wood, tin, plastic) is built for 3×5 cards. The card is 3 inches wide × 5 inches tall (landscape), the same footprint as a plain index card.
Can I print 3×5 recipe cards directly on index cards?
Yes. Buy inkjet-rated 3×5 index cards, feed them one at a time through your printer's rear / manual tray, and print at Actual Size (never Fit to Page). The cards come out ready to drop into the recipe box, no trimming needed.
What paper should I use for 3×5 recipe cards?
Pre-cut 3×5 index cards are easiest. If you don't have them, print on 80–110 lb cardstock (multi-up on letter) and trim. Cardstock at this weight is sturdy enough to last in a recipe box and feeds through any home printer.
How many 3×5 recipe cards fit on a letter sheet?
Four — two columns × two rows fit cleanly on 8.5 × 11 paper at Actual Size. Use the 'Multiple pages per sheet' / 'N-up' option in your printer dialog, set 4 pages per sheet, then trim with a paper trimmer.
Why 3 × 5
The recipe-box default.
- Fits a standard recipe box.Every recipe-box at retail — wood, tin, plastic — is built for 3 × 5 cards. If you're putting cards in a box, this is the size.
- Same as an index card. 3 × 5 plain index cards are sold everywhere, so if you ever need extra blanks for handwritten recipes you can just buy a pack at any drug store and write on those.
- Compact for short recipes.Best for recipes with a small ingredient list and 3–6 steps. If you've got a long ingredient list or many steps, jump up to 4 × 6 or 5 × 7.