ID-1 card

An ID-1 card measures 3.37 inches (85.60 mm) wide and 2.13 inches (53.98 mm) tall. ID-1 is the technical name for the card format defined in the ISO/IEC 7810 standard, and it is the size used for credit cards, most driver’s licenses, and national ID cards around the world. This page covers the exact dimensions, the standard’s specifications, and what falls under this format.

Dimensions

Corner radius

ISO 7810 also specifies rounded corners with a radius of 2.88 to 3.48 mm. This detail is often overlooked but matters for card manufacturers, since a card with the wrong corner radius will not seat properly in some card readers and ATM slots designed to the exact standard.

The ISO 7810 card size family

ID-1 sits in the middle of the family in terms of use frequency, being by far the most common format that people interact with daily. ID-000 is technically the same standard family and is the size a full-size SIM card was originally cut to before micro and nano SIM formats became common.

Where you encounter ID-1 cards

Bank cards, most driver’s licenses in the US and Europe, national identity cards, health insurance cards, employee badges, hotel key cards, and European business cards all use the ID-1 size. This standardization is what allows a single wallet, card holder, or phone case card slot to work with cards from completely different issuers and countries.

Why this specific size

The ID-1 dimensions were established in the 1980s as international payment networks needed a universal card size that would work in ATMs and point-of-sale terminals globally. The size balances being large enough to hold a magnetic stripe, embossed numbers, and later a chip, while staying small enough to fit comfortably in a wallet or pocket.

Frequently asked questions

What does ID-1 mean?

ID-1 is the name given to a specific card size (85.60 x 53.98 mm) in the ISO/IEC 7810 standard, the same standard that defines other card sizes like ID-2 and ID-3.

What is the difference between ID-1 and a credit card?

There is no difference. A standard credit card is manufactured to the ID-1 specification, so the two terms describe the same physical size.

What corner radius do ID-1 cards have?

Between 2.88 and 3.48 mm, according to the ISO 7810 standard. This ensures consistent fit across card readers and holders designed to spec.

Is a SIM card part of the ID-1 family?

The original full-size SIM card used the ID-000 format, part of the same ISO 7810 standard family, though modern micro and nano SIM cards are cut much smaller.

Do all countries use ID-1 for driver’s licenses?

Most, but not all. The US and most of Europe use ID-1 sized licenses, though some countries still issue larger paper-based or differently sized identification documents.

Related objects

• Credit/debit card
• European business card
• Passport
• Standard SIM card