How to use Canva to create business cards

Business cards are crucial to a professional image. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a designer to create a professional-looking one with Canva.

If you don’t know where to start, here’s how to create your own business card from scratch using this handy design app. Check out the steps below, along with a couple of tips to help you design a business card that speaks for itself.

Create your business cards in Canva

Before you start designing, create a checklist of everything you want to include in your business card:

• Your name and position and/or the name of your company
• Your logo
• Your relevant contact information
• Your social media handles

Collect the image files you’ll need and get started.

Create your Canva

The first step to achieving a winning design will be to open the application and create a canvas. Canva has templates for all kinds of things, including business cards, so you won’t have to think about complicated dimensions. To get started, follow these steps:

1. Go to the canva website.
   
2. Create an account or log in if you are already a user.
   

Once you are logged into your account, you will be taken to the Canva home page. From there, you can create a business card in two ways:

1. Click the purple “Create a Layout” button in the top right corner.
   
2. Select “Business Card” from the drop-down menu.
   

Clicking here will open a new page in your browser where you can begin editing your blank canvas.

The second way to create a business card is through the templates page:

1. Hover over the “Templates” tab in the top menu.
   
2. Look for “Business Cards” in the “Business” section.
   

You can explore thousands of ready-made business card templates on this page. The tags at the top allow you to narrow your search if you’re looking for something specific to your profession. Some templates are free to use, while others are paid or require a subscription. A small “$” sign or yellow crown icon in the corner of the template will indicate a premium design.

The templates are fully customizable and are a great source of inspiration if you’re not sure how you want your final design to look. But to start from scratch, click “Create a blank business card,” which is the first option. Your browser will take you to the design page and you can start creating.

Add your data

Start designing by adding some text to your business card. That is how:

1. Click the “Text” tab on the left toolbar.
   
2. Use the heading option for your business name and the rest for smaller text, such as your contact information.
   

You can adjust the size of the text box by dragging any of its corners. Click and hold the text box to move it on your canvas. As you move your text box, you’ll notice that Canva has smart guidelines to help you position your elements. Your text box will snap to the nearest guide, making it easy to create an organized layout.

Edit your text

The text formatting tools will appear at the top of the page whenever you have text elements selected. From there, you can:

• Edit the font, size, color and style of your text
• Switch between upper and lower case with one click
• Change the alignment of your text and create bulleted lists
• Separate your letters and lines for an airy look
• Add eye-catching text effects like shadow, outline, background, etc.

You can edit multiple text boxes at the same time by selecting them first. Click and hold the left mouse button while dragging the cursor, or press and hold the Shift key and click each item. You can also group items, which will make them easier to move once you’ve arranged them. Select the text boxes and right click to find the “Group” option.

Bring some color

Colors play several vital roles in design, from communicating a brand message to evoking emotions. So, the next step will be to add a pop of color to your business card.

To add a simple, solid background, follow these steps:

1. Click on the background of your business card.
   
2. Find the colorful square icon on the top toolbar.
   
3. Press the “+” button to add a new color and adjust it as desired.
   

If your company has a specific brand color, you can enter its HEX code in the search field. If you’re looking for inspiration, simply search for a color and you’ll see some pre-designed palettes that you can apply to your design.

Use an image

If you want something more complex than a solid color, you can also use an image as the background of your business card. You can upload an image from your device or choose something from Canva’s wide selection of photos and graphics.

If you already have a particular image in mind, import it to your Canva gallery:

1. Click the “Uploads” tab in the sidebar.
   
2. Press the “Upload Media” button and select the image, or simply drag your file into Canva.
   

To explore the images Canva offers, navigate to Photos:

1. Click the “Items” tab in the sidebar.
   
2. Look for the “Photos” category.
   
3. Type any keyword in the search bar.
   
4. Click on the photo you want to insert.
   
5. Move and resize it on your canvas as needed.
   

For simple photos suitable for backgrounds, try keywords like “texture,” “gradient,” or any color name. Some of the results will be free to use, while others will have the yellow crown icon, meaning they are only available to Canva Pro users. Every time you add an item, Canva will generate a selection of “Magic Recommendations” that match well with your design, so you can continue browsing.

If the image you added blocked any previously inserted elements, right-click the photo and press “Send to Background.” You can also adjust the opacity of the image by clicking the transparency icon in the upper right corner when the image is selected.

Add your logos

A business card is a marketing tool. It should reflect your brand. You can upload your company logo to increase your brand recognition. This is how you do it:

1. Select the “Uploads” tab in the sidebar.
   
2. Click “Browse” or drag and drop your file into Canvas.
   
3. Move and resize your photo however you want.
   

In addition to your own logo, you may also want to use some simple icons to make your contact information stand out. Do this by inserting graphics from the Elements tab:

1. Click “Items” in the sidebar.
   
2. Search for keywords like “mail,” “website,” “phone,” or the name of any social media site.
   
3. Select the icons you want.
   
4. Resize them and drag them next to the corresponding contact information. The guidelines will help you position them.
   
5. Recolor the icon to match your card’s color palette by clicking the color boxes in the top toolbar each time the icon is selected.
   
6. Group the text and icon to make it easier to move them.
   

Explore more items

As you may have already seen, the Elements tab offers much more than just images. Some of these elements can significantly enhance your business card design, so be sure to explore your options:

• Insert lines to create piders.
• Use shapes creatively for a graphic look.
• Explore countless free, customizable graphics
• Add a frame to insert a photo.

There are even more advanced options if you navigate to the “More” menu in the sidebar:

• Add a QR code to your website
• Embed a Google Maps snippet so customers can find your location

However, try to avoid making your design too complicated. It’s easy to get carried away when Canva offers so many cool features, but a business card is a small document and you don’t want your crucial contact information to get lost in the design.

Create the back

Creating a back for your business card gives you more space to work while making the card look more professional. Once you’re done with the front of your card, the easiest way to create the back is as follows:

1. Click the “Duplicate” icon in the right corner of the top toolbar.
   
2. Delete items you don’t need by selecting them and pressing the Delete key.
   

To keep formatting consistent, do not delete text boxes. Instead, double-click them and edit their text.

Export your design

Your design will automatically save to your Canva, so you can come back and edit it if necessary. However, you can also export your business card. Canva gives you the option to save, share or even print your design.

Click the “Share” button in the upper right corner. You’ll see a variety of export options, from sending your design directly to someone to sharing it with a group. Click the Download button to get the file in your preferred format.

If you’re confident about your design, you can also print it directly in Canva. Click the “Print Business Cards” button to see your printing options. Before sending your card, remember to check the text for errors. You may also need to move some elements away from the edge of the card so they don’t get cut off. But don’t worry, Canva will show you the “danger zone” that you should keep empty.

Additional FAQs

What font size should I use for my business card?

It can be difficult to imagine the final size of your design when working on a large screen. Make sure the text is readable by keeping the font size above six points, depending on the font.

Can I import my own fonts into Canva?

You can import fonts to your Canva Brand Kit if you have a Pro or Enterprise subscription, or an educational or nonprofit account. Basic version users will not be able to import their own fonts. However, if you have a custom branding font you want to use, you can first create a transparent PNG file with the desired text in another app and import the image into Canva.

Can I make a business card with rounded corners?

The rounded corners certainly add a touch of elegance to a business card. Canva offers a rounded business card option too. Search for “rounded business card” on the home page and select a template or start with a blank canvas.

Create a professional design with ease

Canva gives you all the tools you need to create eye-catching business cards, whether for your own business or someone else’s. With numerous templates and a fully customizable canvas, your only limit is your imagination.