How Many Christmas Cards Do I Need?

We draw and print our own Christmas cards in the UK and post them ourselves, so the timings and sizes below are the ones we work to every December.

Buy too few and you're back out on 15 December paying full price. Buy too many and you'll find them in a drawer next November - which is fine, actually.

Here's how to land on the number.

Counting properly

• Count households, not people.
• Split the list into three: family, friends, everyone else. Total the three.
• Add the ones you always forget: neighbours, the teacher, the person who gives you one first.
• Add five spares. Spares roll over to next year, so they're never wasted.
• Most UK senders land somewhere between 15 and 40 cards.

What it costs

• The stamps usually cost more than the cards. Price both before you decide.
• Standard letter rates apply to most cards; square or thick ones cost more.
• A badge or keyring inside makes it a large letter, not a letter.
• Buying in November is cheaper than buying in December, every year.

Multipacks or singles

• Multipacks for the long tail - neighbours, colleagues, wider family.
• Singles for the five or six people who'd actually notice the card.
• Mixed designs if your recipients know each other.
• Check the envelope size in a multipack before you commit to forty of them.

Shop Christmas cards

Prints that post flat

A5, A4 and A3 art prints, drawn in house and printed in the UK.

How to write it so it lands

• Count households, add the forgotten ones, add five spares.
• Stamps often cost more than the cards.
• Buy in November, write in early December.

Where to shop next

• Christmas card etiquette
• Who to send Christmas cards to
• Charity Christmas cards explained
• First Christmas cards: baby, home and marriage
• Christmas hub
• Christmas card messages
• Buy Christmas cards
• Card hub
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas

Frequently asked questions

How many Christmas cards does the average person send?

Most UK households send somewhere between 15 and 40, counting one card per household rather than one per person.

How many spare Christmas cards should I buy?

Five. There are always names you forgot and cards that arrive unexpectedly, and spares keep perfectly until next year.

Is it cheaper to buy Christmas cards in a multipack?

Per card, usually yes - but only if you'd genuinely send every design. Buy a multipack for the long list and singles for the people who matter.