Free recipe card template
Type your recipe, pick a design and a size, then print it or save it as a PDF. Six designs in 4×6, 3×5, Letter and A4. Free, no signup, and your recipe stays in your browser.
Design
Preview 4 × 6 in card
To download it, choose Save as PDF in the print window.
Free printable pack
All six designs, blank, in one PDF
Every design as a blank 4×6 card, a 3×5 card and a full Letter page, laid out with cut lines. Print a stack for your recipe box, a recipe swap or a bridal shower.
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How to make a recipe card that gets used
A recipe card has one job: to be easy to cook from with flour on your hands. That means big enough type, the ingredients in the order you use them, and short steps. Here is what to put on one.
1. The name, and who it came from
Use the name people actually call it. “Mum's Sunday lasagne” beats “Classic lasagne”. The From the kitchen of line is what turns a card into a keepsake, so fill it in.
2. Serves, prep and cook time
These three numbers answer the question everyone asks first: can I make this tonight? Keep them short: “4”, “15 min”, “1 hr”.
3. Ingredients, in the order you use them
Put the amount first (“2 cups flour”), one ingredient per line. If the recipe has parts, like a cake and a glaze, group them. Type a line that ends with a colon, such as For the glaze:, and the card sets it as a small heading.
4. Steps you can follow at a glance
One action per step. Oven temperatures and times go in the step where you need them. The card numbers the steps for you.
5. A note, if it matters
Swaps, storage, or the one thing that makes it work. Keep it to a line or two.
Which size should you pick?
3×5 is the traditional recipe box card. It suits short recipes like dressings, drinks and cookies. 4×6 gives you about 60% more room and fits most recipe boxes sold today. Letter and A4 pages suit long recipes, binders and anything with a photo you want to see. If a recipe runs long, the template carries it onto a second card rather than cutting it off.
When another tool is the better call
If you want to hand-design a card with your own fonts and illustrations, Canva gives you more freedom. This template is for a clean, readable card in a couple of minutes. And if you sell food on Shopify, Recipe Kit puts the same kind of card on your store, with a print view and Recipe schema built in.
Recipe cards, answered
Sizes, printing, and what happens to your recipe.
What size is a recipe card?
The two standard sizes are 3×5 inches and 4×6 inches. 3×5 is the classic recipe box card and fits a short recipe. 4×6 holds more and fits most recipe boxes sold today. For long recipes, or a recipe binder, use a full Letter or A4 page. This template does all four.
How do I make my own recipe card?
Type your recipe into the form above: the name, how many it serves, prep and cook time, ingredients and steps. Pick a design, a size and a colour. The preview updates as you type. Then press Print or save as PDF.
Where can I find a free printable recipe card template?
Right here. All six designs are free to use and print, with no signup. If you want blank cards to fill in by hand, switch the card to Blank, to write on, or get the printable pack with every design in every size.
How do I print a 4×6 recipe card?
You have two options. On plain Letter or A4 paper, choose with cut lines: you get two 4×6 cards (or three 3×5 cards) on each sheet, and you cut along the dashed lines. On 4×6 card stock, choose Card stock, cut to size, then set the paper size to 4×6 in your printer settings. Chrome and Edge pick the size up for you. Safari and Firefox may need you to pick it.
How do I save my recipe card as a PDF?
Press Print or save as PDF, then pick Save as PDF as the printer. On a phone, use the share button in the print preview to save or send the PDF.
Does Word or Google Docs have a recipe card template?
Word has a few in its template gallery, and you can build one in Google Docs with a table. Both work, but getting the card size, margins and photo to line up takes some fiddling. This tool prints at the exact card size, and nothing moves when you print.
What if my recipe does not fit on one card?
The card shrinks the text a little first. If the recipe still does not fit, it carries on to a second card, marked “continued”. Print the two cards and keep them together, or pick a bigger size.
Do you keep my recipe or photo?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your photo is never uploaded, and your recipe text is saved only on your own device, so it is still there if you reload the page.
Still have questions?
Talk to the founderYou'll often hear back directly from Patrick, the founder.