Standard SIM card

A standard (Mini) SIM card measures 0.97 inches (25 mm) wide and 0.59 inches (15 mm) tall, with a thickness of 0.03 inches (0.76 mm). This was the original SIM card size used from the early 1990s through the mid-2000s, before phone manufacturers began shrinking SIM cards to save internal space. This page covers the exact dimensions, the SIM card size family, and how these formats relate to each other.

Dimensions

Why it is called “standard” or “Mini”

This size is officially called Mini-SIM in the telecom industry, though most people simply call it a standard SIM card since it was the only size in common use for over a decade. The chip module inside is the same size across all SIM formats; only the surrounding plastic carrier differs.

The SIM card size family

The full-size SIM from 1991 was originally the size of a credit card, with the chip punched out for use in phones. What most people call the “standard” size today, technically Mini-SIM, is the same 25 x 15 mm chip carrier that became the universal format once phones shrank enough to only need the chip and not the full card.

What used the standard SIM size

Nearly all mobile phones from the early GSM era through around 2010 used Mini-SIM cards, including most Nokia, early BlackBerry, and first-generation smartphone models. Some older phones required cutting a Mini-SIM down using a SIM cutting tool to fit newer Micro-SIM slots, though this was never officially supported and risked damaging the chip.

Adapters between SIM sizes

Because the chip itself is identical across all sizes, adapters exist to fit a smaller SIM (Nano or Micro) into a slot designed for a larger size (Mini-SIM). These adapters are simple plastic frames that hold the smaller card in the correct position. Going the other direction, from a larger card to a smaller slot, requires physically cutting the card down, which most carriers now do at time of purchase by providing a combo SIM card sized to punch out to any of the three formats.

Frequently asked questions

What is the size of a standard SIM card?

25 x 15 mm (0.97 x 0.59 inches), officially called Mini-SIM in the telecom industry.

Is a standard SIM card still used today?

Rarely in current phones, which mostly use Nano-SIM, but some older devices, certain IoT hardware, and some routers or modems still use Mini-SIM slots.

Can I cut a standard SIM to fit a smaller slot?

Yes, using a SIM cutting tool, though this is not officially supported by carriers and can risk damaging the chip if done incorrectly. Most carriers now provide combo SIM cards designed to be punched out to any size.

What is the difference between a standard SIM and a Micro-SIM?

Standard (Mini-SIM) measures 25 x 15 mm, while Micro-SIM measures 15 x 12 mm. The actual chip is identical; only the surrounding plastic carrier is smaller.

Why did SIM cards get smaller over time?

Phone manufacturers wanted more internal space for batteries and components, so as connector technology improved, carriers and manufacturers agreed on progressively smaller SIM formats while keeping the chip itself the same size.

Related objects

• Micro SIM card
• Nano SIM card
• ID-1 card
• Credit/debit card