Greeting Card Panel Layout Calculator
Calculate greeting card panel widths for any fold style.
Get exact dimensions for single-fold, gate-fold, accordion, and z-fold cards by sheet size.
Greeting Card Panel Layout
Card-making requires precise panel widths so the card folds flat and any printed design aligns correctly.
Common fold styles:
1. Single-fold (most common):
- Width = full sheet
- Two equal panels meet at center fold
- Front and back are same height
- Bottom or side fold both work
2. Tent fold:
- Same as single fold but oriented for landscape (top fold)
- Common for greeting cards displayed standing up
3. Gate fold:
- 4 panels: outer-left, inner-left, inner-right, outer-right
- Outer panels are HALF the width of inner panels
- Typical: outer 25% / inner 25% / inner 25% / outer 25% (for symmetric)
- Outer panels meet at center when closed
4. Z-fold (concertina with single Z):
- 3 equal panels, alternating direction
- Front, middle, back at equal width
- Each panel = sheet width / 3
5. Accordion fold (multi-pleat):
- Equal panels, pleats alternating
- 4 panels: each = width / 4
- 6 panels: each = width / 6
- 8 panels: each = width / 8
6. French fold (double parallel):
- Folded in half, then in half again
- 4 panels per side, all same width
- Width per panel = sheet / 4
7. Pop-up card:
- Single fold or gate fold base
- Internal pop-up tabs/spring need their own calculation
Standard greeting card sizes (US):
| Style | Folded Size | Sheet Size Needed |
|---|---|---|
| A2 (small note) | 4.25" × 5.5" | 8.5" × 5.5" |
| A6 (standard) | 4.5" × 6.25" | 9" × 6.25" |
| A7 (mid) | 5" × 7" | 10" × 7" |
| A9 (large) | 5.5" × 8.5" | 11" × 8.5" |
| Square 5" | 5" × 5" | 10" × 5" |
| Square 6" | 6" × 6" | 12" × 6" |
Cardstock weight considerations:
- 80-110 lb (216-298 GSM): standard, holds creases well
- 110-140 lb (298-380 GSM): heavyweight, better for gate folds
- Score before folding (use a bone folder or scoring tool) for clean edges
- Heavier paper (over 130 lb) may require pre-creasing
Bleed and trim allowances: For printed cards, add 1/8 inch (3 mm) of bleed on all panels that print to the edge. Trim final card 1/8 inch smaller than your sheet plan if printed at home (printer tolerance).
Common errors to avoid:
- Forgetting that “card width” means folded width, not sheet width
- Gate-fold outer panels too wide — they should be HALF inner panel width
- Accordion folds with odd panel widths — folds won’t close properly
- Forgetting the 0.5-1mm “swing” allowance in z-fold for clean closure
Precision tools:
- Bone folder: $5-15 (essential)
- Scoring board (Martha Stewart, Crafter’s Companion): $30-60
- Paper trimmer with score blade: $15-50
- Score-and-fold ruler: $10-20