Home / Card Printing

Custom Card Printing for Games and Collectibles

Playing cards, tarot decks, trading cards, game cards, and flash cards manufactured in China. Blue core, black core, and PVC options from 200 decks.

MOQ 200 decks 3-5 day proofing Heidelberg and Komori presses
What We Print

Card Types We Manufacture

From casino-grade playing cards to collectible tarot decks, we produce every card category on dedicated offset and digital lines — backed by our full book printing capabilities.

Custom playing cards blue core linen finish

Playing Cards

Standard 52-card decks on blue or black core cardstock with linen finish and custom tuck boxes.

Custom tarot card deck 330gsm black core

Tarot Cards

78-card tarot decks on 330gsm black core with matte or gloss lamination and foil accents.

Custom trading cards holographic foil TCG

Trading Cards

TCG and CCG cards with holographic foil, spot UV, and booster pack packaging options.

Board game card printing custom decks

Game Cards

Board game component cards, instruction cards, and action decks in custom sizes and counts.

Educational flash cards rounded corners bulk

Flash Cards

Educational flash cards on durable 300gsm art paper with rounded corners and kid-safe inks.

Custom oracle cards celestial deck printing

Oracle Cards

Custom oracle and affirmation decks with premium finishes — gilded edges, foil, and rigid boxes.

Request samples of your card type →
Cardstock

Cardstock Options for Every Card Type

The right cardstock defines how a deck shuffles, snaps, and lasts. We stock blue core, black core, coreless art paper, and PVC — each matched to specific card applications.

CardstockWeightThicknessOpacityBest For
Blue Core 280gsm280 gsm0.32 mm95%Playing cards, game cards
Black Core 310gsm310 gsm0.35 mm98%Casino-grade, premium TCG
Black Core 330gsm330 gsm0.38 mm98%Luxury tarot, collector decks
Coreless Art Paper 300gsm300 gsm0.30 mm90%Flash cards, educational
Coreless Art Paper 350gsm350 gsm0.35 mm92%Promotional cards, tokens
PVC 0.3mm0.30 mm100%Waterproof, casino, outdoor
Swipe to view the full table →
Coating / Lamination
Face Paper (printed)
Core (blue or black opaque layer)
Face Paper (printed)
Finish (foil / UV / linen)
Card cross section core layers diagram

Card Anatomy

A card's opacity comes from its core. Blue core blocks about 95% of light; black core blocks 98% — the standard for casino and premium decks where see-through would ruin the game. The outer face papers carry your CMYK artwork, sealed by a coating or lamination for durability and shuffle feel.

Get a material recommendation →
Sizes

Standard Card Sizes and Custom Shapes

Standard sizes cost less because they fit the press sheet efficiently. Custom die-cut shapes and sizes are fully supported with dedicated tooling.

SizeDimensionsCommon Use
Poker2.5 × 3.5 in (63 × 88 mm)Standard playing cards, TCG
Tarot2.75 × 4.75 in (70 × 121 mm)Tarot and oracle decks
Bridge2.25 × 3.5 in (57 × 88 mm)Bridge-sized playing cards
Mini1.65 × 2.5 in (42 × 63 mm)Mini trading cards, promo
Square2.5 × 2.5 in (63 × 63 mm)Specialty games, coasters
CustomAny sizeDie-cut to your design
Swipe to view the full table →
Custom die-cut tooling: Unique shapes require a custom steel die, which adds a one-time tooling cost of roughly $80–$200 depending on complexity. Once the die is made, reprints use the same tool at no extra charge.
Finishes

Specialty Finishes for Card Decks

Finishes transform a standard deck into a premium product. These options can be combined on card faces, backs, and packaging.

Gold foil stamping card back printing

Foil Stamping

Metallic gold, silver, or holographic foil pressed into card surfaces.

Best for: tarot / TCG / luxury playing

Spot UV finish on matte playing cards

Spot UV

Glossy UV coating applied to selected areas for a shine contrast effect.

Best for: TCG / playing / promotional

Metallic gilded edges card deck

Gilded Edges

Metallic foil applied to card edges for a premium collector finish.

Best for: tarot / collector / luxury playing

Embossed pattern custom card printing

Embossing

Raised relief pressing that adds tactile depth to logos and patterns.

Best for: tarot / playing / oracle

Linen texture finish playing card stock

Linen Texture

Classic cross-hatch embossing that improves shuffle handling and durability.

Best for: playing / casino / game cards

Holographic film trading card printing

Holographic Film

Rainbow-shifting film layer for eye-catching TCG and promotional cards.

Best for: TCG / trading / promo

See all finish options →
Packaging

Packaging Options from Tuck Box to Rigid Box

Every deck needs packaging that protects it and communicates brand value. We produce all standard card packaging in-house with custom printing.

Custom tuck box playing cards packaging

Tuck Box

Lightweight cardboard box with custom printed exterior. The standard for playing card decks.

Standard
Rigid box card deck collector packaging

Two-Piece Rigid Box

Separate lid and base in thick board. Ideal for gift and collector editions.

Premium
Magnetic closure box tarot deck packaging

Magnetic Closure Box

Magnetic flap with foam or plastic insert. Luxury feel for tarot and oracle decks.

Collector
Foil booster pack TCG packaging

Booster Pack

Foil-wrapped sealed packs for TCG randomized packs and blind-box formats.

Standard
Custom printed boxes: All packaging is printed in-house on the same color-managed presses as your cards — so box and card artwork match perfectly. We also produce custom inserts, foam trays, and shrink-wrap.
Timeline

Production and Delivery Timeline

From artwork approval to your warehouse, here is the typical timeline for a card printing project.

1
3-5 days

Digital Proof

Layout, color, and text proof sent for your review and revision.

2
2-3 days

Press Proof

Physical sample deck printed on the actual press for final sign-off.

3
7-15 days

Mass Production

Full quantity printed, cut, collated, and finished on Heidelberg/Komori lines.

4
2-3 days

Packaging

Tuck boxes or rigid boxes assembled, decks inserted, and cartons packed.

5
Sea 20-30 / Air 5-7

Shipping

Sea freight for best cost or air freight for rush delivery. DDP available.

Rush options: Need it faster? We offer expedited production (5-7 day bulk) and air freight (5-7 day delivery). Send your target date and we will map the schedule backward.
Plan your project timeline →
Quality Control

Quality Control Across Every Deck

Every card order passes through five inspection checkpoints — from proof approval to final packaging — to ensure color accuracy, card count, and finish quality.

  1. 1

    Pre-Production Proof Approval

    Digital and press proof signed off before any bulk printing begins.

  2. 2

    First-Article Inspection

    First printed sheet checked against approved proof for color and registration.

  3. 3

    In-Line Pantone Color Check

    Spectrophotometer readings taken throughout the run to catch drift.

  4. 4

    Deck-by-Deck Count Verification

    Every collated deck checked for correct card count and sequence.

  5. 5

    Packaging Confirmation

    Final check that packaging, inserts, and carton counts match the order.

Card color QC Pantone light booth check

Our color management system uses Pantone reference standards and X-Rite spectrophotometry to keep your brand colors consistent across the full run — and across reprints months later.

Certifications

Certifications for Card Manufacturing

Our facility holds the certifications that US, EU, and global buyers require — especially for children's products and retail compliance.

ISO

ISO 9001

Quality management system certified across all production and QC processes.

FSC

FSC Certified

Forest Stewardship Council chain-of-custody for responsibly sourced cardstock.

CPC

CPC / CPSIA

ASTM F963 compliant for children's products — required for US retail flash cards.

EN71

EN71

European toy safety standard for children's card products sold in the EU.

The Factory

Heidelberg and Komori Offset Card Production

Heidelberg offset press card sheet printing

We print cards on our own Heidelberg and Komori offset presses — not brokered to a third party. That is how we hold color stable across large runs and hit the per-deck price breaks that card projects depend on.

For short runs and prototypes (200–500 decks), we run digital printing with no plate setup cost. For 1,000+ decks, offset delivers the lowest per-unit cost and the most consistent color.

Heidelberg Offset Komori Offset Digital Short Run Spectrophotometer QC

Request a factory tour video →

Start Your Project

Prepare Eight Details for an Accurate Card Quote

Send these details in your first message and you will get a complete, accurate quote back within 24 hours.

Include These in Your First Inquiry

  • Artwork file (PDF or AI, CMYK, 300 DPI, 3mm bleed)
  • Card type (playing, tarot, trading, game, flash, oracle)
  • Quantity (MOQ 200 decks)
  • Card size (poker, tarot, bridge, mini, or custom)
  • Finish requirements (foil, spot UV, gilded edges, linen)
  • Target delivery date
  • Packaging preference (tuck box, rigid box, booster)
  • Destination country for shipping quote
FAQ

Card Printing Questions Answered

The questions buyers ask before sending a spec. If yours is not here, send it in the form below.

MOQ starts at 200 decks for most card types. For playing cards and tarot decks on blue or black core cardstock, 200 decks is the entry point. Trading cards with holographic foil may require 500+ depending on the complexity of the finish. Flash cards and educational decks can start at 300 sets. Send your card type and quantity target and we will confirm the exact MOQ.
Pricing depends on quantity, cardstock, finishes, and packaging. We do not publish a fixed price list because paper and material costs fluctuate — but we quote your exact spec with DDP landed cost included. As a rule of thumb, per-deck cost drops sharply once you cross 1,000 decks on offset. Send your spec for a detailed quote.
PDF or AI files in CMYK color mode, 300 DPI, with 3mm bleed on all sides. Embed all fonts and outline text before exporting. Our prepress team checks every file for resolution, bleed, color space, and registration before it goes to press, and flags any issues in your digital proof. We can also work from Photoshop or TIFF files if needed.
Yes, we work with Kickstarter creators and crowdfunding projects regularly. We understand the timeline pressures of campaign fulfillment — we can phase production to hit backer ship dates, split shipments by pledge tier, and provide the documentation you need for customs in multiple countries. We also support companion components like board book manufacturing for game rulebooks.
Yes, we provide digital proofs (3-5 days) and physical press proofs (2-3 additional days) before mass production begins. The press proof is printed on the actual press and cardstock your order will use, so what you approve is exactly what you receive. Educational flash cards can be produced with CPSIA-compliant materials, and we also print children’s books with the same safety standards.
Sea freight takes 20-30 days and offers the best per-unit shipping cost for large orders. Air freight takes 5-7 days for rush projects. DDP (delivered duty paid) is available for both — meaning freight, customs clearance, and duties are all included in your quote, with no surprise broker invoices. We ship to the US, EU, UK, Australia, and worldwide.
Get Started

Start Your Custom Card Project

Send us your card spec and we will come back with a cardstock recommendation, a finish plan, and a DDP delivery date mapped to your target launch.

  • Free digital proof in 3-5 days
  • Physical press proof before bulk production
  • Cardstock matched to your card type and use case
  • DDP shipping with no surprise customs invoices
  • Dedicated project manager from spec to delivery

Get Your Factory-Direct Quote

Response within 12 hours. Save up to 30% on bulk orders.

🔒 100% Privacy. No Hidden Costs. Free Sample Options.

滚动至顶部

Get Your Factory-Direct Quote

Response within 12 hours. Save up to 30% on bulk orders.

🔒 100% Privacy. No Hidden Costs. Free Sample Options.

Where should we send your High-Res Swatch Book?

Explore 24+ premium colors with essential 180°C burnishing and CA65 compliance data.