If you are looking to make your own custom playing card box, you're in the right spot! Making these card boxes are surprisingly easy and a great way to create your own custom playing card box, poker DIY or magician-themed event.
No need for you to tinker with sizing, everything you need to create an awesome customer playing card box is here.
Here's one of the playing card boxes made with this template:
A printable playing card box is a great DIY project you can easily complete in just a few about ten minutes. From start to finish, this template helps to create your own card boxes much faster. Some of the templates I've seen online were overly complicated.
You can either cut out the template and trace or print it directly onto your favorite paper.
You can make your own playing card box out of one regular 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of paper. It's simple and easy to do without a template by measuring the total dimensions of the playing cards tracing out a template on paper that includes tabs for gluing. However, a template helps make playing card boxes so much easier.
You'll find several playing card box templates below including a Canva Template, PDF, and Adobe Illustrator (AI) file. You can download and make your own fully customized boxes.
We've provided helpful step-by-step instruction so you can use this template to make multiple boxes or customize your own.
Playing card sizes: Poker or Bridge?
Traditionally, most major playing card companies print both poker and bridge sized playing cards. The standard measurements for a poker-sized playing card deck is 3.5 by 2.5 inches and the bridge-sized playing cards are 3.5 by 2.25 inch.
The template below is for poker-sized playing cards.
What's the best paper?
I found the best papers were card stock or thicker fibre papers. Plastic or firm style paper also works, but they don't fold as nicely as thick paper stock. If you use usually thick paper, be sure to score your folds with a sharp knife and ruler. This will help keep the edges sharp.
Be sure to always use caution when using sharp knives and objects.
Here's a fancy paper card box
How to get crisp edges
To get sharp edges on your custom playing card box, you'll need a ruler. Aligning the ruler along the template's printed lines and using your thumbs for sharp 90 degree bends.
Playing card box template formats
You'll find several formats below that you can download. Here is a quick description of the most popular file formats. All file sizes and download links below.
🔸Playing Card Box PSD
One of the many file types below for download is PSD. Easily open the card box template into Photoshop. Since Adobe Photoshop has many different versions, you'll find an older CC PSD file that will open a newer Photoshop version.
🔸Playing Card Box Adobe Illustrator
Bring the template right into Adobe Illustrator and start customizing it.
🔸 Playing Card Box SVG
Scalable vector graphics (SVG) is an open standard graphic format that can be used in a wide variety of software applications. This playing card box template SVG can be scaled and stretched.
🔸 Card Box Design Template Generator
You can customize your own card box online using Canva. Canva is a popular free online graphic and layout tool.
Formatting and guidelines
This playing card template has been designed to fit on one 8.5 x 11 sheet. The various templates below can be easily adjusted to various paper sizes.
Playing Card Box DIY for kids?
This is a quick and easy craft that is suitable for young adults and children. Always be careful using sharp objects and cutting utensils. Also, don't glue yourself together.
That's not good either.
WATCH
How to make a playing card box
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Download and print the PDF below (here)
Step 2: Trim excess card box template
Trim the three sides with a ruler and sharp knife.
I trim the top of the playing card box template with scissors but if you are taking extra care be sure and use a ruler to get a nice crisp edge.
Use some sharp scissors and trim away the cut lines on the bottom of the card box template.
These cut-outs make up the bottom folds of the box.
The half-circle on the right side of the card box template is helpful for inserting and removing the lid.
I used a razor blade to trim the half-circle from the left side of the template.
Cut down to the top lines to create the lid of the card box.
Follow the cut lines closely, you'll see they are two tiny triangles that extend slightly below the card box top. These cut-outs help to make the hinge of the card box lid move more fluidly.
Here's what your trimmed paper playing card box should look like
This blue card box shows where to apply your glue. Use lots of glue for a stronger bond and firmer card box.
Here's how the folds of the card box form together.
Fold the card box using a ruler for nice sharp edges. Have a deck of cards handy, we'll use those cards soon.
Here is a look at the card box folds before gluing.
Add glue. I use a glue stick. You'll find a blue template above showing where glue should be applied.
It's helpful to use a piece of the discarded paper to protect your work surface.
Glue the outside leftmost fold (fig 18) and the bottom tabs of the rightmost box (fig 19)
Add a deck of card and fold the card box. Press firmly.
Fold all the card box tabs together. Press firmly to secure the glue.
Hold the card box tightly and press firmly on a smooth surface.
Here is a look at the final card box using the templates below!
