Index Card Sizes Compared

Even in today's increasingly digitized world, index cards remain an important part of the workplace. Most of us are familiar with the classic 3x5, but there is a range of sizes, including 3x5, 4x6, 5x8, and ISO-size A7. Don't be fooled: Their small size belies their important role in human history and their many practical uses today.

Before we dive into the history and uses, let's get clear on what we're talking about when we refer to these paper supplies. Put simply, an index card is a piece of card stock cut to one of several standard sizes. These cards can feature a variety of colors and rules, from plain white and ruled to every color of the rainbow. The most common sizes are:

Index cards may not grace the pages of history textbooks, but they played an important role in human history: They assisted with the classification of knowledge. The index card was invented in the 1700s by scientist Carl Linnaeus, who needed a system to work toward his goal of classifying every single animal, mineral, and plant known to the world at that time. Linnaeus devoted a single piece of paper to each of the more than 12,000 organisms and minerals he set out to classify. At first, Linnaeus used regular sheets of paper, but he gradually opted for smaller and thicker paper (in the form of card stock) to create a durable and portable indexing system. Thus, the index card was born.

Linnaeus' system soon caught on among librarians, who used index cards to create catalogs. Partway through the nineteenth century, they could be found in libraries across Europe and the United States. Their use paved the way for the development of the Dewey Decimal System, which set the standard for library organization (until online card catalogs took over).

Librarians' enthusiasm for index cards soon made its way to the general public. This was partly thanks to librarians' habit of leaving out stacks of castoff cards for patrons to use. The value of the cards was so apparent that paper stationery companies began selling them along with other paper supplies. Eventually, index cards worked their way into the daily operations of many businesses, where they remain to this day.

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Creative Uses for Index Cards

Despite the increase of digital data management and organizational tools (here's looking at you, Microsoft Office!), index cards continue to offer many benefits. For starters? They're easy to obtain, cheap, portable, durable, and versatile. No matter your preferred index card size, you can put this staple office supply to good use with the following strategies:

• Create a mini dry erase board

  If you love the satisfaction of checking items off a to-do list, these instructions provide you with a simple way to turn blank cards into a daily to-do list. You can check off items throughout the day, and then erase so you can start over the next day.

• Organize bills

  A catalog of your bill payment history is a great way to stay organized and reduce headaches should there be any billing disputes. Simply write the bill source/category at the top of an index card and create a written log of your payment history underneath it. Then organize all the cards by category for foolproof tracking.

• Jot down notes

  Index cards can be easily stashed in a pocket and retrieved for taking notes on everything from a conference presentation to potential new clients. Taking notes like this can help you practice active listening and stay focused. Using index cards instead of your phone, tablet, or laptop makes it clear you're writing about the topic in question instead of processing email or texting friends.

• Manage projects

  There are so many ways to keep track of projects using index cards. For example, you could use a card to keep a master list of all the projects you're currently working on. Create a separate card for each project and fill it with notes and ideas for said project, or use a series of cards to plot out a given project or presentation step by step.

• Doodle during a meeting

  Research suggests drawing or coloring can improve focus and creativity. This means doodling on index cards during a meeting may help you pay attention and come up with creative ideas based on what you've heard.

• Improve white balance

  If your work involves taking photographs, this trick is for you. Any photographer is familiar with the fact that sometimes cameras don't adapt well to different lighting, and the color of the photograph can turn out wonky as a result. Using an index card is a simple way to manually set a phone or camera's white balance function. Simply point it at a blank, white card. Follow that same link to learn how to bounce a camera's flash using index cards.

Despite the increased use of digital tools, the variety of index card sizes available today provide plenty of opportunities for workers to enhance their productivity, simplify project management, stay organized, and achieve their goals.

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Abby Quillen

Environmental & Personal Wellness Expert