The Best Holiday Photo Cards

This site makes it easy to find and customize a stylish template. The prints are consistently the best we’ve seen. And a free design review just might save you from sending an embarrassing mistake to your nearest and dearest.

In our busy, digital world, a tangible holiday card may provide more meaning than ever before, and Simply to Impress is the best service for creating and sharing holiday cheer.

If you need last-minute cards, this is the best option for getting decent (but not great) prints in less than 24 hours.

This service delivered cute holiday cards that were comparable to cards from our top pick. It provides double-sided printing and has a terrific app, if you want to create a holiday card directly from your phone.

This service has fewer options than top competitors, and the site is harder to use. But no other service we tested offered such high-quality cards for such a low price.

With Simply to Impress, it was easier to create a beautiful, custom holiday photo card than with the other services we tried. This company offers an exceptionally wide selection of designs, with filters that efficiently narrow the results, so you won’t spend ages scrolling. Once you’ve found the right one, you can customize it with simple editing tools and choose from ample paper, finish, and trim options. Turnaround is brisk, and there are various options for shipping speed. And if you’d prefer, the service can do the work of addressing and mailing your cards (at extra cost).

If you’re on a tight budget, the holiday photo cards from Nations Photo Lab look nearly as good as those from Simply to Impress. The site offers fewer customization choices and photo-upload methods, and it has scant photo-editing tools. Also, Nations Photo Lab has neither an addressing service nor a card-mailing service. But the company’s per-card prices were about 70¢ less than those of our top pick. And shipping is free on orders of $79 or more, so this one is an especially good value if you’re ordering a significant number of cards.

Also great

Mixbook

Best for creating holiday cards from your phone

This service delivered cute holiday cards that were comparable to cards from our top pick. It provides double-sided printing and has a terrific app, if you want to create a holiday card directly from your phone.

Buying Options

Buy from

Mixbook

If you don’t need your holiday cards shipped out for you, as Simply to Impress will do, you may find a better deal through Mixbook. This service offers free double-sided printing and an app, unlike our top pick. It also stocks some creative card sizes and has a minimum-order option as low as one. The quality of Mixbook’s cards is on a par with the ones we got from our top pick. But we thought the plethora of design choices and being able to have your cards mailed for you gave Simply to Impress an edge.

If time isn’t of the essence, go with one of our other picks. But if the holidays sneak up on you, or you’re stuck with a last-minute assignment from your boss, Staples provides the best mix of quality templates, ease of use, and quick turnaround at a reasonable price. Our Staples cards looked almost as good as those from Simply to Impress, with comparable sharpness and color fidelity (albeit slightly darker and on slightly flimsier paper). These cards are not the best, but they’re definitely good enough for display on a fridge.

With so many different cards and envelope sizes out there, we’re sharing this complete guide on Christmas card sizes. Whether it’s a photo Christmas card, a small thank you card, or a holiday party invitation, you’re sure to find what you need. Keep reading for tips on how to put together and mail your holiday greetings. From what to wear to when to book a photographer, our tips will help you set the right timeline to plan out your Christmas cards and photos.

Christmas Card Sizes Chart

Card Size (in)Envelope Size (in)Great for:9 x 69 ¼ x 6 ¼ (A10)Greeting cards, photo cards, large invitations8 x 68 ¼ x 6 ¼Greeting cards, photo cards, invitations8 ½ x 5 ½8 ⅝ x 5 ⅝ (A9)Greeting cards, photo cards, invitations8 x 58 ½ x 5 ½ (A8)Greeting cards, photo cards, invitations8 x 48 ¼ x 4 ¼Greeting cards, photo cards, invitations7 x 57 ¼ x 5 ¼ (A7)Greeting cards, photo cards, invitations6 ¼ x 4 ⅝6 ½ x 4 ¾  (A6)Greeting cards, enclosure cards, thank you cards5 ¼ x 5 ¼5 ½ x 5 ½Square invitations, greeting cards, thank you cards5 x 55 ¼ x 5 ¼Square invitations, greeting cards, thank you cards5 ½ x 4 ¼5 ¾ x 4 ⅜  (A2)Greeting cards, enclosure cards, thank you cards, RSVP cards5 x 3 ½5 ¼ x 3 ½  (4-bar)RSVP cards, thank you cards

Find The Right Christmas Card Size

As you can see from our chart above, there are plenty of options to choose from for your holiday cards. To help you decide, below are some of the most popular choices this year based on the purpose of your card.

1. 9 x 6

This size is perfect for a large, show-stopping Christmas card. Whether it’s your baby’s first Christmas or you just want to add a few different photos to your card, this size will do the trick. An A10 envelope is the best fit for this card.

2. 8 x 5

The standard for Christmas card size is 8×5. This size will check all your basic needs. It’s perfect to fit one or two photos and a note to wish your friends and family happy holidays. Be sure to choose an A8 envelope with this card size.

3. 7 x 5

A more compact option but nevertheless perfect for a holiday party invitation or Christmas card. It has enough room to add a photo of your family’s latest adventure and a brief message or details of your event. An A7 envelope is the best fit for this card.

4. 5 x 5

For a more modern Christmas card, go for a square sized card. This size and shape also make a great thank you card or invitation. To complete your card, add a cute holiday quote and a bold colored envelope.

5. 5 x 3.5

One of the smallest standard card sizes, this card is ideal for thank you notes and RSVP cards. If you’ll be gifting any gift cards or cash this holiday season, add this small card along with your gift and package them in a festive envelope for a simple yet polished present. Make sure to pair with a standard 4-bar envelope.

Plan Your Christmas Photo Card

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s always a good idea to start planning early for gifts, festive home decor, and Christmas cards. So if you’re starting to plan your family Christmas card, read some of our tips below to help you get the perfect shot. We include everything from budget-friendly alternatives to how to pick the right time of day.

1. Book Your Photographer Early

When booking a photographer, it’s important to keep in mind the season you’d like to have your photos taken. Most photographers are busiest during the fall season so booking early is key. If you’d like to shoot your photos during the winter or snowfall, make sure you have enough time to mail your cards before the holidays.

2. Coordinate Your Attire

We recommend focusing on clothes you and your family feel confident and comfortable in first, and then consider adding patterns, textures and colors. Make sure not to choose garments that your kids will constantly feel the need to fidget in, so be sure it’s soft, breathable and movable fabric.

For patterns and color, it’s always best to go for solid colors like red, green, blue and white mixed with one or two fun patterns.

3. Choose A Festive Location

Nothing says holidays more than an orange background of fallen leaves or mounds of snow. Pick a beautiful location with plenty of spots for various poses and angles. A unique location or non-traditional background like a beach is always fun, so don’t be discouraged to think outside the box.

If you’re unsure, ask your photographer. They’ll know plenty of locations that can capture what you envision.

4. Pick The Right Time

Your photographer will be able to recommend the right time of day to take your photographs. Typically early morning or evening help capture the best light, as well as provide the ideal weather to shoot comfortably in.

We also recommend keeping your family’s schedule in mind. You don’t want to feel rushed or tired so choose a time that works with your work schedule and outside of your kid’s nap time.

5. Mail Them On Time

The best time to send out your photo Christmas cards is two to three weeks before Christmas Day or during the first week of December. For relatives outside the country, try sending them out during the last two weeks of November.

6. Keep A Few Extra Prints

Keep a few copies of your Christmas cards handy in case you miss a certain friend or family member on your mailing list. Whether you’re attending a holiday party or hosting one, having some extra cards for those who ask will be easier than having to make copies later.

7. Go Digital

For a budget-friendly and time-saving option, sending your Christmas card digitally is a great alternative. Since digital Christmas cards can be sent instantaneously, you’ll have more time to book your photographer in case you haven’t already.

8. Choose The Right Style

Many photographers specialize in either traditional, posed photography or more lifestyle and candid shots. A good rule of thumb is to go with a style that works best with your family and a photographer who can do a balanced mix of both.

9. Include Your Furry Family Members

Including your pets in your Christmas card is a must, so plan ahead and ask your photographer for cute ways to incorporate them into your photos. If you are buying them an outfit, try it on before the photoshoot to make sure they’ll feel comfortable in it. Hanging a funny sign or prop on your pet is also a great way to include your furry loved ones.

10. Make It Fun

For a family with kids, making your Christmas card photography session fun is a must. Enlist your kid’s help and make a few DIY props and signs. Having a few leaf piles to play with or a snowball fight is great for some awesome candid shots.

Final Thoughts on Holiday Cards

Christmas photo cards are a great way to send family and friends well wishes during the holidays and capture some sweet moments with your spouse and kids. Once you’ve shot the perfect Christmas photo, you’re ready to choose the right size and layout of your card.

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