The Best Notecards: What to Look For
A notecard sits in an odd, useful gap. Too small and simple for a full greeting card occasion, too considered to just tear a page from a notepad. It's the format for a short thank you, a quick note tucked into a gift, or a message that doesn't need an occasion to justify itself.
This guide covers what makes a notecard worth having on hand, and how to choose between the formats available.
What to Look For
Card weight matters more than people expect. A notecard printed on thin stock feels disposable before you've written a word on it. Heavyweight card - upwards of 300gsm - has presence in the hand and takes ink cleanly, whether you're writing with a fountain pen or a ballpoint.
A matching envelope. A beautiful notecard let down by a flimsy or ill-fitting envelope loses most of its impact before it's even opened. Look for envelopes chosen to complement the card itself, not just a generic size that happens to fit.
Single design or assorted pack. A single-design pack suits someone who wants consistency - the same card for every note they send over the coming months. An assorted pack, with one of each of several designs, suits someone who likes variety, or who's buying as a gift and wants the recipient to have options.
Blank or With a Printed Greeting
This is worth deciding before you buy, since it changes how the card gets used.
Blank notecards with a fully printed design on the front give you the whole reverse to write - the most flexible option, suited to any message from a one-line thank you to a longer note.
Cards with a printed greeting - a "With Thanks," "For You," or "Just Because" printed on the reverse alongside space for your own message - do some of the work for you. These suit people who want the sentiment started before they pick up the pen, or who are sending a quick note and want the card itself to carry some of the meaning.
When to Reach for a Notecard Instead of a Card
A gift needs a note, not a card. Tucking a notecard into a wrapped gift says something a card doesn't - it reads as a personal aside rather than the main event.
The occasion doesn't need a greeting card format. Not every thank you needs a full card. A supplier, a service you were pleased with, a small kindness from a neighbour - these often suit a short notecard better than a card built for a specific occasion.
You want to send something quickly. A notecard's smaller size and open format makes it easy to dash off a genuine note without the pressure a blank greeting card interior can sometimes create.
Personalised Notecards
A personalised set - printed with a name, initials, or a full name and address - turns a notecard into something that feels distinctly the recipient's own, rather than a card anyone could have sent. These work particularly well as a gift, since they're not something most people think to buy for themselves.
Personalised sets are usually made to order, so it's worth allowing a few extra days for delivery if you're buying for a specific date.
As a Gift
A box of notecards is one of the most versatile stationery gifts available. It suits almost anyone who writes - which is to say, almost anyone - and doesn't require guessing at an occasion, since notecards don't belong to one.
For someone who already writes thank you notes regularly: a generous box they'll actually use through.
For someone who'd like to write more but hasn't got round to it: a beautiful set is often the nudge that gets the habit started.
For a personalised touch: a set printed with their name or initials feels distinctly considered, rather than a gift that could have gone to anyone.
The Most Important Thing
Notecards work because they lower the bar for sending something. No occasion required, no lengthy message expected - just a genuine note, sent because you thought to send it. Keep a set somewhere visible, and you'll find far more reasons to use them than you'd expect.
Shop our notecard sets - designed in our North London studio, printed on heavyweight card and blank or greeting-printed depending on the range. Katie Leamon is stocked at Liberty, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. Free UK delivery on orders over £50.