How big is a credit card?

Question

A credit card is about 3.375 inches long and 2.125 inches wide. You won’t find cards that deviate from these internationally accepted standards, so your card should easily fit in any wallet. A credit card has a thickness of 0.03 inches and a weight of about 5 grams if it’s plastic and up to 28 grams if it’s metal.… read full answer

But there are a number of non-literal ways you could answer this question, too. It’s good to know how long a credit card number is, for example, along with how long it takes to get a card, how long billing cycles last and how long a card is valid for. So we’ll do our best to address all the biggies.

Here’s how long a credit card is (in many ways):

How long is a credit card in inches? Approximately 3.375 inches long.

How long is a credit card number? Usually 16 digits but can be as few as 14 and as many as 19.

How long does it take to get approved for a credit card? After you submit your application, you can get a response as soon as instantly, but it might take up to a month in some cases.

How long does it take to get a credit card by mail? Typically 7-10 business days after approval, but many issuers let you pay for expedited delivery.

How long is a credit card billing cycle? Around a month, but usually ranging from 25-31 days. You can see where your cycle starts and ends on your statement.

How long is a credit card valid for?Through the end of the month in the expiration date listed on the card.

Credit cards aren’t too long in a physical sense, but they can take a while for approval, delivery and credit building. If you want advice on the best credit card for you, join WalletHub for free to get personalized credit card recommendations, along with daily updates to your credit report and score.

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Answer 1 · 2020-12-22 05:20:35

Lawrence Stone, Wallethub Credit Card Analyst

@lawrence50 • 12/22/20 This answer was first published on 05/09/18 and it was last updated on 12/22/20.For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.

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A credit card isn’t very big; the standard dimensions are 3.375 inches by 2.125 inches. Credit cards are pretty thin too. They’re only 0.03 inches thick. Debit cards, ATM cards and other types of payment cards also have those same dimensions. You won’t really find any cards that deviate from this because the standards are internationally agreed upon. But you will see cards with varying weights, since credit cards can be made of different materials. For example, most plastic cards weigh around 5 grams, while metal cards can range anywhere from 12 grams (Citi Prestige® Card) to 28 grams (The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card).

Here’s how big credit cards are (by weight):

Standard plastic cards: 5g
Citi Prestige® Card: 12g
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 13g
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 16g
The Platinum Card® from American Express: 18g
J.P. Morgan Reserve Credit Card: 27g
The Ritz-Carlton Credit Card: 28g

But if you think about this question a little less literally, credit cards hold a lot more than their tiny size suggests. They have hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of spending power inside them. Plus, credit cards provide a ton of other benefits too. They’re the best and easiest way to build credit, and a good or excellent credit score can be invaluable. It’ll increase your chances of getting other types of loans like mortgages, and can even improve your employment odds. And on top of all that, credit cards often give you rewards along with supplementary benefits like travel insurance and purchase protection.

In other words, credit cards are tiny enough to fit in a pocket, but they pack a punch that’s way above their weight class.

How big is a credit card?

Lawrence Stone, Wallethub Credit Card Analyst

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