Why are all credit/debit cards 5mm X 8mm?

Question

And all other "wallet" sized cards. 8/5 = 1.6. It appraoches PHI, but why is that the standard? Thx! Not sure what category this would be.

Yes! CM!!! Sorry.

Answer 1

There is a governing standard which makes it so.

ISO 7810 is an international standard that defines three formats for identity or identification cards, ID-1, ID-2, and ID-3.


ID-1

The ID-1 format specifies a size of 85.60 × 53.98 mm, equal to 3.370 × 2.125 in. It is commonly used for banking cards (ATM cards, credit cards, debit cards, etc.). It is today also used for driving licences in many countries (including the United States and European Union), retail loyalty cards, and it is one fairly common format for business cards.

* ISO 7813 defines additional characteristics of ID-1 plastic banking cards, for example a thickness of 0.76 mm and corners rounded with a radius of 3.18 mm.
* ISO 7811 defines traditional techniques for recording data on ID-1 identification cards, namely embossed characters and several different magnetic recording formats.
* ISO 7816 defines ID-1 identification cards with an embedded chip (smartcard) and contact surfaces for power, clock, reset and serial-data signals.
* ISO 14443 defines identification cards with an embedded chip (proximity card) and a magnetic loop antenna that operates at 13.56 MHz (RFID). More recent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for machine-readable travel documents specify a cryptographically signed file format and authentication protocol for storing biometric features (photos of face, fingerprint and/or iris) in ISO 14443 RFID chips.

Answer 2

Well, not all credit cards are the same size. Most are tho'.

The ones I'm thinking of are actually "key chain" cards and are maybe 1/3 -> 1/4 the size. They're still wide enough to get the plastic strip in the machine, tho'. But not the right size for use in ATM's

I'd assume there's a standard size similar to business card size, since that's about what fits in the pouch/pocket of a wallet, which I'm guessing is the main thing constraining their size.

And I'm sure they're all about the same size by standards so they're interchangeable in card swipe machines and ATM machines or whatever. Otherwise you'd have to have like 10 different machines. One for each "brand" of card... (Master Card, AmEx, Visa, Discover, etc.)

Answer 3

Exactly That Easier To Fit In Wallet,All You Need Is The Magnetic Strip For It To Work,So You Can Trim Em Down Yourself Just Don't Damage The Strip

Answer 4

Dunno,but can I have your measurements?(-;

Actually,the debit/credit machines are all basically the same size,thus the cards size.

*KISSES*(-;

Answer 5

They are not , perhaps you are thinking of cm instead of mm ,