A line that ends with “:” becomes a small heading, like “For the topping:”. Leave a box empty to get lines to write on.
Making the PDF…
About the recipe card maker
Keep your family recipes on neat cards. Type the recipe name, how many it serves, the prep time and cook time, the ingredients and the steps, and you get a print-ready PDF. Add a note and a “From the kitchen of” line, and the cards are ready for your recipe box or to give away.
Choose a card size: 4 × 6 in, 3 × 5 in (the classic index card) or A6 (148 × 105 mm). Print several cards on one sheet of A4 or US Letter with cut marks, or one card per page to feed card stock or index cards straight into your printer.
If a recipe is long, the text gets a little smaller. If it still does not fit, the directions move to a back side on the next page. The text is never cut off without a warning.
Features
- 3 card sizes — 4 × 6 in, 3 × 5 in and A6 (148 × 105 mm)
- Several per sheet or one per page — 2 or 3 cards on A4 or US Letter with cut marks, or one card per page for card stock
- 6 styles — Classic, Farmhouse gingham, Vintage, Modern, Holiday and Minimal (saves ink)
- Long recipes fit — the text shrinks first, then the directions go on a back side that lines up when you print on both sides
- Blank recipe cards — leave a box empty and it prints lines to write on
- Many recipes at once — add up to 12 recipes and print them together, each filling its own sheet or as many copies as you choose
- One card, close up — see one card big above the sheet and save it with Download image (PNG)
- Saved in your browser — your recipes stay on your device; nothing is uploaded
Six styles
| Style | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Classic — warm frame | A thin double frame, an elegant title and a small diamond under it |
| Farmhouse — red gingham | A red gingham band at the top with the title on a white label |
| Vintage — old paper | Cream paper, a brown double frame and a retro title |
| Modern — colour band | A bold colour band with the title in white and numbered circles for the steps |
| Holiday — red and green holly | Holly leaves and berries in the corners, for Christmas baking |
| Minimal — black and white (saves ink) | Black text and thin lines only |
You can also pick your own Colours and Heading style, or keep the style’s own.
How many cards fit on a sheet?
| Card size | US Letter | A4 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 2 | 2 |
| 3 × 5 in | 3 | 3 |
| A6 (148 × 105 mm) | 2 | 2 |
With One card per page (card stock), each page of the PDF is the size of the card, so you can put 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 cards in the printer’s tray.
Tips for printing
- Use card stock or thick paper — about 160–250 g/m² (or 65–110 lb cover)
- Print at 100% / Actual size — “Fit to page” makes the cards smaller
- For one card per page, set the paper size in the print window to the card size (for example 4 × 6 in)
- When a card has a back side, print on both sides. On a sheet, flip on the long edge; with one card per page, flip on the short edge
- Cut along the small grey marks with a paper cutter or a ruler and a sharp knife
Frequently asked questions
What size is a standard recipe card?
The most common sizes are 4 × 6 inches and 3 × 5 inches, which fit most recipe boxes in the USA. In Europe, A6 (148 × 105 mm) is common. All three are in the Card size list.
What happens if my recipe is too long for the card?
First the text gets smaller. If it is still too long, the Directions and Notes move to the back of the card, and the front says “Directions on the back”. If even the back is full, the end is cut off with “…” and a red message tells you, so you can choose a bigger card or shorten the text. You can change this in Back side.
Can I make blank recipe cards?
Yes. Leave the boxes empty and keep Lines to write on where a box is empty ticked. The card prints lines for the recipe name, the times, the ingredients and the steps, so you can write by hand.
Can I print many different recipes at once?
Yes. Press Add a recipe to start a new one; the buttons at the top switch between them. With Fill the sheet, each recipe fills its own sheet. Choose 1, 2, 3 or 4 copies to put different recipes on the same sheet.
Can I add a heading inside the ingredients, like “For the sauce”?
Yes. Type a line that ends with a colon, like For the sauce:. It becomes a small bold heading. This works in the steps too.
Can I print on index cards or card stock?
Yes. Choose One card per page (card stock). Each page of the PDF is exactly the card size. Load the cards in your printer and choose the same paper size in the print window.
Is it free?
Yes. The cards are made in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded.
Related tools
- Recipe Scaler — make a recipe for more or fewer people
- Meal Planner — plan the week’s meals with a grocery list
- Menu Maker — a printable menu for a dinner, a wedding or a holiday
- Printable Gift Tags — tags for jars of jam and homemade gifts
- Address Label Maker — labels for jars, boxes and envelopes
How to use it
- Type the Recipe name, From the kitchen of, Serves, Prep time and Cook time
- Type the Ingredients and the Steps, one per line
- Add Notes (optional), such as a serving tip
- To add another recipe, press Add a recipe
- Pick the Card size, how to Print, and a Style
- Check the close-up of one card, then press Download PDF or Print
- Use Download image (PNG) under the close-up to send one card in a message
