A good thank you card for a package is usually postcard or business-card size, printed on firm card, and does one job: a short thank you plus one useful line such as care, a reorder code or a contact. Many sellers start with 200 cards from a copy shop. As the business grows, the card has to match the box and logo, carry a QR code and cover four product lines, and the question shifts from "what should it say" to "what size, what paper and who supplies 20,000 of them". This guide is for brands that order custom printed thank you cards with their packaging: size, paper, print, wording and the practical points of getting cards into parcels.
What size should a thank you card for a package be?
The most common sizes are A6 (105 x 148 mm), a business-card format of about 85 x 55 mm or 90 x 55 mm, and a square of about 100 x 100 mm. Choose the size that lies flat inside the box or bag without bending, and leaves room around it so it does not look lost.
| Format | Size (mm) | Approx. inches | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business-card format | 85 x 55 or 90 x 55 | 3.3 x 2.2 or 3.5 x 2.2 | Small boxes, jewellery, cosmetics, short message plus QR or code |
| A7 | 74 x 105 | 2.9 x 4.1 | Compact note with a logo and one line |
| A6 | 105 x 148 | 4.1 x 5.8 | General standard; room for a short message, care or reorder details |
| Square | 100 x 100 | 3.9 x 3.9 | Gift and subscription boxes; modern look |
| DL-style narrow | about 99 x 210 | 3.9 x 8.3 | Fits long, flat mailers; usually a folded or long note |
| A5 folded to A6 | 148 x 210 flat; 105 x 148 folded | 5.8 x 8.3 flat | A longer message or an offer on the inside; needs a crease |
How to check fit: measure the inside of the mailer or bag, not the outside, and allow at least 5 mm clearance on each side so the card does not catch or buckle. If the card sits on top of the product, test with the real product and tissue in place; see mailer box sizes for inside-dimension basics.
Which paper is best for thank you cards?
A 300 to 350 gsm board is the usual choice; 250 to 300 gsm is the lowest weight that still feels like a card; 400 gsm gives a premium feel. Uncoated white or off-white is best if the card will be hand-written; coated board gives sharper colour; kraft suits natural brands.
| Paper | Feel | Writing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated white or cream, 300 to 350 gsm | Soft, matt | Easy to write on with pens | Colours slightly soft; good for text-heavy cards |
| Coated board, 300 to 350 gsm, matt | Smooth | Pens may smudge | Best for photography and strong colour |
| Kraft board, 300 to 350 gsm | Natural, rough | Pen works | Dark ink only; light colours fade into the brown |
| Thick duplex, 400 gsm and above | Rigid, premium | Depends on face stock | Higher board cost and freight |
| Light card, 250 gsm | Flexible | Easy | Short-life promotional use |
Weight matters for shipping: an A6 card at 350 gsm weighs about 5.4 g, so 1,000 cards weigh roughly 5.4 kg. Cards add little to parcel weight, but they add up in bulk freight. For more on board choice see hang tag materials, which applies equally to cards, and the paper weight converter.
What should you write on a thank you card?
Write a short, specific thank you in the customer's language, add one useful thing (care, reorder, a code or a contact) and keep the rest white space. Cards that try to do four jobs are usually ignored.
Choose one main job per card:
- A personal thank you: "Thank you for ordering from us" plus a first name or a signature. A handwritten note is the strongest, a printed signature the practical option at volume.
- Care or use instructions: a short usage note for candles, plants, textiles, cosmetics or food items.
- Reorder or loyalty: a code for the next order or a QR code to the reorder page.
- Feedback: a polite invitation to share feedback, with a direct link or QR.
- Returns or help: contact details and a short returns note.
A short example structure:
- A greeting and thank you (one sentence).
- One practical line (care, how to use, or what is in the box).
- A call to action (a code, a link, a QR).
- A name or a signature.
Things to avoid: long paragraphs, unreadable script fonts at small sizes, discount codes that cannot be traced, and a QR code with no short text link beside it for people who cannot scan.
Which rules affect what the card says?
Marketplace and consumer rules limit some wording on cards. Several marketplaces restrict inserts that ask for positive reviews, offer incentives for reviews or direct buyers off the platform, so check the seller policy for each channel before printing. In the EU and UK, a card that collects an email address or links to a sign-up page falls under data-protection and marketing-consent rules.
- Marketplaces: read the current seller rules for inserts on each platform you sell through.
- Marketing consent: the card itself cannot collect consent; if the card leads to an email sign-up, the sign-up page needs its own consent wording.
- Claims: statements such as "sustainable" or "recycled" on a card are subject to green-claims rules; see the recyclable vs compostable packaging guide.
- Prices and offers: state the terms of a discount code; the offer must be accurate.
This is general information; check the rules for your markets and platforms.
How should the card be printed?
Print one or two sides depending on the job. Front: logo and short message. Back: care, reorder or code, or left blank for a handwritten note. Offset or digital print suits cards, depending on quantity and the number of versions; packaging printing methods explains the difference.
Common options:
- Printed both sides with a blank writing area on the back.
- Spot UV, foil or emboss on the logo, where the board suits it; confirmed at quotation.
- Matt lamination or soft-touch coating for a premium feel (not on cards that will be hand-written on).
- Rounded corners for a softer look.
- Multiple versions (language, product line, market) using one template; ask for each version to be proofed.
Colour will vary by board; approve a proof on the actual stock and, if the card must match a box, bag or tissue, see Pantone and CMYK for packaging.
How do cards fit the rest of the unboxing?
The card is one part of an opening sequence that includes the outer box, tissue, any inserts and the product. Where the card sits matters: on top of the tissue gets read first; under the product gets found later. For the full opening sequence and inside printing, see inside printing and unboxing design. For protective inserts, see mailer box inserts. Tissue wrapping is covered in how to wrap products in tissue paper. A sticker can seal tissue and carry a small brand mark; see custom printed stickers and labels.
Operational points when ordering cards in volume
Cards for a fulfilment line should be easy to pick, stack and place. Cards packed in counted bundles, all facing the same way, save seconds per parcel and avoid stuck or double cards.
- Order enough for the next several months of volume, but not so many that artwork or offers expire.
- Keep codes and dates off the card if they change; use a QR code to a page you can update.
- Consider one neutral card for all products and a small number of product-specific cards.
- State the language version needed for each market, for example a German Dankeskarte or a Dutch bedankkaartje.
- Plan the proof approval date; digital and offset runs have different lead times, and MOQ, cost and lead time are covered in what determines MOQ, packaging cost drivers and packaging lead times.
Thank you card checklist for a quotation
Send to contact or fill in the packaging RFQ template:
- Finished size and the inside dimensions of the mailer or bag.
- Paper: uncoated, coated or kraft; gsm.
- Print: one or two sides; colours; Pantone references; finishes.
- Writing area: blank back for a handwritten note, yes or no.
- Number of versions (languages, products) and quantity per version.
- Packing: counted bundles or loose.
- Delivery country and timing.
Return to the hang tags and thank you cards hub for the full specification guide.