Index Cards
Index cards are the perfect size for a wide variety of uses in homes, offices and classrooms. Superior quality index cards, indexing accessories, and paper from brands like Mead, Avery, Top Notch Teacher Products and JAM Paper are all available at Staples. Learn more about index cards and their uses below.
What Is an Index Card?
An index card is card stock cut to a standard size, most commonly 3” x 5”. The system of using these small cards as an index or means to quickly look up information was invented by Carl Linnaeus in the mid 1700s. Since then, index cards have been widely used for note-taking, storing recipes, keeping up with contact information and other organizational needs. Index cards are most commonly white but now come in a variety of other colors as well.
What Are the Most Common Index Card Sizes?
Index card sizes vary. See below for the most common size options.
- 3” x 5” (7.62 cm x 12.7 cm)
- 4” x 6” (10.16 cm x 15.24 cm)
- 5” x 8” (12.7 cm x 20.32 cm)
- ISO size A-7 (2.9” x 4.1”, 7.366 cm x 10.414 cm)
What Size Is a ¼ Index Card?
While the measurements above refer to an index card’s width and length, card thickness is also an element to look at. Index cards traditionally are made from card stock, which is thicker than typical printer paper, but could still be prone to ink bleed-through. Index cards with a ¼ inch thickness are also available and are made of a sturdier tagboard card. This thickness makes them more resistant to bending and bleed-through.
What Types of Index Cards Are Available?
There are a few different types of index cards to choose from. See the most common below.
Colored Index Cards
Index cards come in just about every standard color you can think of, making it easy to coordinate projects and activities effectively. Parents and teachers can color-code note cards by subject or difficulty to help students glide along the learning path. Offices can categorize client and vendor contact information easily for quick reference in the future. At home, colored index cards make it easy to assign chore lists for everyone so that there's no more hassle of remembering who has to do what.
Ruled vs. Unruled Index Cards
Ruled note cards help keep information neat and legible. These cards feature light blue lines that help guide writing, so they’re great for young students or those who struggle with handwriting. Unruled cards on the other hand have no lines and are ideal for flashcards, doodling or making diagrams.
Bulk Packs of Index Cards
The number of cards needed varies from project to project. Small packs of up to 50 cards are generally suitable for home use, while bulk packs of 500 to more than 1,000 cards are handy to have in the classroom or office supply closet. Keep a variety of note cards on hand so students and staff always have what they need.
Eco-Conscious Index Cards
Staples carries a variety of environmentally friendly index card options that are made from recycled materials. After use, your index cards can once again be recycled, making less of an impact on environmental resources.
What Can Index Cards Be Used For?
Index cards have a wide range of uses, and there’s no rule for how to use them. They’re most commonly used to document and organize notes in a succinct manner, but their uses are truly endless. At home, index cards can be used to jot down recipes, phone messages, reminders, shopping lists, notes and more. Index cards are most often used in schools and offices, however.
How Can Index Cards Aid Teachers and Students in the Classroom?
Index cards are an effective way to help students learn. For younger students, teachers can print letters to be copied or help create flashcards so students can practice material. Older students can use the cards for note-taking and to prepare for tests on their own or with classmates.
Index Cards for Organization and Filing
Businesses who want to store notes or contact information on index cards may want to consider purchasing index card holders and dividers. Index card holders, cases and plastic containers with hinged lids can easily store index cards in a secure location. Lockable security boxes provide added security to safeguard important information, or consider index card dividers to easily organize all of your index cards.
Other Creative Uses for Index Cards
- Laminate them to make mini, reusable white boards
- Use them to set the white balance for your camera
- Create small drawings or paintings
- Use them as stationery to write letters
The 5 Best Assorted Index Cards Online
At Staples, we determined the best Assorted Index Cards online. With a 4.2 average star rating on 156 Assorted Index Cards, it’s difficult to choose the right one for your needs. Staples Assorted Index Cards range in price from $1.79 to $165.99. Our most affordable Assorted Index Card is the Staples® Ruled 3" x 5" White Index Cards, 100/Pack. Consider buying one of our Assorted Index Cards that range in size and popularity. Here are the top 5 highest rated Assorted Index Cards:
- Staples Heavyweight Ruled 4" x 6" Index Cards, White, 100/Pack (50985) 4.9 star rating
- Smead® Recycled Self-Tab Alphabetical Card Guides, Blank, Manila, 3"H x 5"W, 25/St 4.9 star rating
- Oxford Index Card File Box, Black, 300 Card Capacity (OXF 01351) 4.8 star rating
- Oxford Color Coded Ruled Index Cards, 3 x 5, Assorted Colors, 100/Pack 4.8 star rating
- Esselte® 40280 Rainbow Pack Index Card, Assorted 4.8 star rating
Compare Discount Assorted Index Cards Online
Here at Staples you can find the best deals on Assorted Index Cards online. Compare discount Assorted Index Cards with prices ranging from $1.79 to $165.99. Find the lowest prices out of 156 total Assorted Index Cards:
- Staples® Ruled 3" x 5" White Index Cards, 100/Pack - from $1.79 with 4.5 stars
- Oxford Mini Ruled 2.5" x 3" Index Cards, White, 200/Pack (OXF 10009) - from $1.79 with 4.7 stars
- Oxford Color Coded Ruled Index Cards, 3 x 5, Assorted Colors, 100/Pack - from $1.89 with 4.8 stars
- Oxford Spiral Index Cards, 3 x 5, 50 Cards, White (40282) - from $1.99 with 4.5 stars
- Oxford® Printable Ruled Index Card, 3" x 5", Ruled, White (7351) - from $2.19 with 4.5 stars
What Are The Best Assorted Index Card Brands Online?
Here at Staples we carry 22 Assorted Index Card brands and 156 total Assorted Index Card products to choose from. We’ll help you find the best Assorted Index Card brand you can buy based on 16,348 customer reviews. Compare the top Assorted Index Card brands in our inventory with the highest customer ratings:
- Esselte - 1 available products
- Smead - 6 available products
- Find It - 3 available products
- Top Notch Teacher Products - 11 available products
- TOPS - 1 available products