4.25 x 11 Cards for Drink Menus, Dessert Menus, and Specials
A 4.25 x 11 card is a tall, slim card, 4.25 inches wide and 11 inches tall. It is a great size for dessert menus, bar menus, and nightly specials. It stands out next to the main menu, fits in one hand, and sits beside a plate without crowding the table.
This guide covers what the size is, how restaurants use it, how to print it on your own printer, and which of our papers come in 4.25 x 11.
What a 4.25 x 11 card is
It has the same 11 inch height as a standard letter page, in a slim 4.25 inch width. That shape reads like a list: top to bottom, one item after another, with nothing to unfold or flip.
A guest can hold it in one hand, read it without turning it, and set it down without covering the plate. It also fits a slot in a menu cover or a small stand on the bar.
For a card guests hold, pick a cover weight. Our 80 lb smooth cardstock is 216 gsm and .0118" thick, about twice as thick as standard printer paper, so a slim card stays straight in the hand instead of drooping at the top.
Why restaurants love the 4.25 x 11 card
The slim card does the jobs your main menu is too big for. Here are the ones we see most from restaurant and bar customers.
- Bar menus and wine lists. A tall card holds 8 to 12 drinks with a one-line note under each. Keep a stack at the bar and one on every table.
- Dessert menus. Bring the card out with the coffee. A separate card puts dessert in front of the guest at the moment they decide.
- Nightly specials. Print a few cards in the afternoon, tuck one into each menu cover, and toss them at close. Fresh specials every night, with no reprint of the full menu.
- Place-setting menus. For a wine dinner, a holiday prix fixe, or a private party, set one card on each plate with the courses listed in order.
Planning a holiday dinner? Our holiday menu paper guide covers prix fixe inserts and order timing for Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve.
Bar menus and wine lists on a slim card
Bar menus change more than food menus. On a slim card, you edit one small file and print a fresh stack in a few minutes.
Put the drink name in bold, then the spirit and two or three ingredients on the line under it. Group by type: cocktails, beer, wine by the glass. Leave space between groups so a guest in a dim bar can find their section fast.
White Smooth gives the sharpest contrast for small type in low light. Natural Smooth has a soft cream tone that looks warm under candles and Edison bulbs.
Other uses beyond the restaurant
The same card works anywhere people pick up a sturdy card and read it.
- Event programs. Weddings, memorials, recitals, and church services. One card lists the order of the day.
- Wedding menus. One card on each plate, with the guest's name at the top if you want it to double as a place card.
- Shop signs. A "today's flavors" card at a coffee bar or product notes in a boutique.
- Bookmarks and rack cards. Reading lists, class schedules, or a short price list by the register.
How to print 4.25 x 11 cards on your printer
Most home and office printers can print a 4.25 x 11 card. Every sheet we sell is uncoated, which is what inkjet and laser printers are built for. A few settings make the difference between an okay print and a great one.
- Make the document 4.25 x 11. Set the page size before you start designing, so the screen matches the card.
- Set a custom paper size in the print window. Enter 4.25 inches wide and 11 inches tall, save it, and turn off Fit to Page so nothing shifts or scales.
- Set the paper type to Cardstock or Heavy. This one setting controls ink, speed, and feeding. Set quality to Best for color.
- Use the rear, manual, or bypass tray. Load a few cards at a time, short edge first, and slide the paper guides in until they touch the edges lightly without pinching.
- Print one test card. Check that the text is centered and nothing is cut off, then run the stack.
A few printer notes:
- Inkjet: give each card a minute to dry before stacking.
- Laser: if the toner looks dull or rubs off, the paper type is set too light. Step it up to Cardstock, Thick, or Heavy.
- Two-sided cards: turn off automatic two-sided printing. Print the fronts, flip the stack by hand, then print the backs.
- Check your printer's weight limit. 80 lb cover is 216 gsm. Some entry level laser printers are rated only to 163 to 176 gsm, so check the manual before a big job.
M. Anderson prints the menus for their own restaurant:
"I print my own menus for my restaurant, and often struggle with paper getting caught in my printer, or not holding up well. This paper is durable, runs through my printer without issue and looks beautiful."
M. Anderson, White Linen 80 lb
For every setting by paper weight, plus fixes for jams, smudges, and curl, see our Simple Print Guide.
Layout tips for a tall, slim menu
A slim card reads top to bottom, like a list. Design it that way.
- One column only. Two columns on a 4.25 inch card squeeze the text and make guests squint.
- Margins of at least a quarter inch. Laser printers cannot print to the edge, and a bit of white space makes the card look planned.
- Type you can read in dim light. Item names around 12 to 14 point, descriptions no smaller than 9 or 10 point.
- Logo at the top, specials in the middle. Guests read from the top down, so put what you most want sold in the first third of the card.
Papers we stock in 4.25 x 11
Two of our menu papers come ready in 4.25 x 11, in packs from 25 to 500 cards:
| Paper | Weight and thickness | Look | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Smooth Cardstock | 80 lb cover, 216 gsm, .0118" | Crisp white, no texture | Bar menus, specials, small type in dim light |
| Natural Smooth Cardstock | 80 lb cover, 216 gsm, .0118" | Soft cream, no texture | Dessert menus, wine dinners, warm rooms |
Both are acid-free and made with 30% recycled content, and both print in inkjet and laser printers on the Cardstock or Heavy setting.
Want 4.25 x 11 cards in a different paper, like Aged Parchment 65 lb for a steakhouse or White Linen 80 lb for a wine bar? Send us a note and we will make them for you.
Still deciding between slim cards and a full menu sheet? Our restaurant menu sizes guide compares 8.5 x 11, 8.5 x 14, 11 x 17, and the slim sizes side by side. For weight and finish, see the best paper for restaurant menus.
4.25 x 11 card FAQ
What is a 4.25 x 11 card used for?
In restaurants, mostly dessert menus, bar menus, wine lists, and nightly specials. Outside restaurants, event programs, wedding menus, and rack cards.
Can my printer print 4.25 x 11 cardstock?
Most can. Set a custom 4.25 x 11 paper size, choose Cardstock or Heavy, and feed a few cards through the rear or manual tray. Our Simple Print Guide has the full settings.
Can I print on both sides?
Yes. Turn off automatic two-sided printing, print the fronts, flip the stack by hand, and print the backs.
What weight should a bar or dessert menu card be?
80 lb cover is a good fit. It is about twice as thick as printer paper, so a slim card stays straight when a guest picks it up.
Can I get 4.25 x 11 in other papers?
Yes. White Smooth and Natural Smooth are ready to order in 4.25 x 11. For our other menu papers, send us a note and we will make them for you.
Shop 4.25 x 11 menu cards
Shop White Smooth 80 lb
4.25 x 11 cards for bar menus and specials.
Shop Natural Smooth 80 lb
The warm cream version for dessert menus, in the same size.
Shop All Restaurant Paper
Every menu stock in one place, for the main menu that goes with your cards.
Feel the paper first
Not sure which stock fits your bar or dessert card? Our free Paper Sample Pack has ten of our most popular papers as 3 x 5 cards: linen, parchment cardstock, parchment paper, and smooth cardstock in white and natural. Hold them under your own bar lights and pick the one you like. Every pack includes a 10% off code for your order.
ThunderBolt Paper Team
thunderboltpaper.com
