Index Card Sizes report
Imagine if you need to manually organize information about more than 12,000 animals, plants, and minerals with index cards. Isn't it painful? Not to mention all of this information is entered into Excel. The index card was invented in the 1700s by scientist Carl Linnaeus. Today we can find the information we need on a computer in a few seconds, but in the last few centuries, you need to lookup index cards.
You may not have thought that these 3 x 5 inches index cards can help humans write all knowledge. You might think that index cards are now outdated. We currently only use it to write memory cards, write recipes, and occasionally fold airplanes. But its original purpose was to organize information about animals, plants, and minerals and then build the library system's catalog structure to manage disordered information.
In 1791, librarians began to use the card catalog about 30 years after Carl Linnaeus invented the index card. In the 19th century, libraries in the United States and Europe began to use index cards for classification and search. The library just needs to add a new card to the general catalog for each new book. Now it is time to learn more about index card sizes and uses.
Index Card Size Guide
Index cards have a variety of practical uses. You can use index cards in your everyday life, from the classroom to the kitchen; the possibilities are endless. Whether you choose all-white index cards or some made with color, these handy pieces of heavy-duty paper provide you with a wide array of applications. If you are looking for index cards, you should know which size you need. There is a myriad of brands and styles to choose from.
An index card is a card stock cut to one of several standard sizes. These cards can feature a variety of colors and rules, from plain white and ruled to every color of the rainbow.
Index Card Size Chart
The internationally accepted index card size is 3 x 5 inches, the same size as the library catalog card. Their small size belies their important role in human history and their many practical uses today. The most common sizes are 3" x 5", 4" x 6", 5" x 8", and ISO-size A7.
| Size in Inches | Size in Centimeters | Size in Millimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 3 x 5 inches | 7.62 x 12.7 cm | 76.2 x 127 mm |
| 4 x 6 inches | 10.16 x 15.24 cm | 101.6 x 152.4 mm |
| 5 x 8 inches | 12.7 x 20.32 cm | 127 x 203.2 mm |
| 2.9 x 4.1 inches (ISO-size A7) | 7.37 x 10.41 cm | 73.66 x 104.14 mm |
Creative Uses of Index Cards
Index cards are easy to obtain, cheap, portable, durable, and versatile. Index cards continue to offer many benefits in modern busy life.
- Create your to-do list every day. You will get the satisfaction of checking items off a to-do list, and these instructions provide you with a simple way to turn blank cards into a daily to-do list.
- Organize bills. A catalog of your bill payment history is a great way to stay organized and reduce headaches. Write the bill source or category at the top of an index card and create a written log of your payment history.
- Take notes. Index cards can be easily stashed in a pocket and retrieved for taking notes on everything from a conference presentation to potential new clients. Taking notes like this can help you practice active listening and stay focused.
Index cards played an essential role in human history. Despite the increased use of digital tools, the variety of index card sizes available today provide plenty of opportunities for workers to enhance their productivity, simplify project management, stay organized in daily life. Nowadays, most paper stationery companies sell index cards and other paper supplies.
