Strut Card Printing

Display That Stands Up On the Counter

A strut card puts your message at eye level on a counter without a stand, a frame or a holder. A rigid printed board with a glued strut on the back — fold it out and it stands, on its own, wherever you put it.

Printed on 450gsm silk in A4 or A5, from just 10 cards, with free UK delivery.

Sizes

• A4 (210 x 297mm) — the larger option. Reads across a shop floor or a reception area, and has room for detail, pricing or a full promotion.
• A5 (148 x 210mm) — more compact, and better where counter space is tight or you want several cards along a run without crowding.

How the Strut Works

The strut is a separate piece of board glued to the back of the card. Fold it out, stand the card up, and it holds itself at an angle.

Cards are supplied flat with the strut attached, so there's nothing to assemble beyond folding it out. Flat packing also means they arrive without bent corners and store flat until you need them.

450gsm Silk

Heavy board rather than card, and that matters for a freestanding display. A lighter stock bows under its own weight at A4, and a bowed card looks like an afterthought on a counter.

Silk gives a smooth, low-sheen surface with strong colour density — good for photography and product imagery. Unlaminated silk is also writable with a ballpoint, which is worth knowing if you want to add a price by hand.

Lamination

Applied to both sides, in three finishes:

• Gloss — 25 micron film. The highest shine and the deepest colour. Best for food, product photography and anything image-led.
• Matt — 27 micron film. Low sheen, resists fingerprints, and cuts glare under retail downlights.
• Soft touch — 32 micron velvet film. The most premium and the most noticeable to handle. Worth it where the card is part of a considered brand presentation.

All three add durability, which matters on a counter card that gets knocked, handled and moved daily. Bear in mind a laminated surface won't take pen — choose unlaminated if you want to write on it.

Spot UV

Available as an embellishment on laminated cards. A UV-cured varnish applied to selected areas of your artwork, giving a raised gloss against the surrounding finish.

It works best against matt or soft touch lamination, where the contrast between the varnished and unvarnished areas is most visible. On gloss the effect is subtler.

Spot UV can only be applied over lamination — it isn't available on unlaminated cards.

Strut Card or Tent Card?

Both sit on a counter, and it comes down to how they're seen.

A strut card stands upright and faces one way. It's rigid, taller, and better where the card sits against a wall, a till or a shelf edge and everyone approaches from the front.

A tent card folds into a triangle and reads from both sides. Better on a table where people sit around it.

Strut cards also come in A4, which tent cards don't — so for anything that needs to be read from more than a couple of feet away, this is the one.

Where They Go

• Retail counters — offers, new lines, loyalty schemes, payment notices.
• Cafés and bars — specials, drinks promotions, opening times.
• Salons and clinics — treatment prices, product promotion, booking prompts.
• Showrooms — product specifications and pricing alongside the item.
• Reception desks — visitor instructions, sign-in prompts, service information.
• Exhibition stands — product cards on a table without needing extra display kit.

Artwork Requirements

• Bleed: 3mm all round
• Safe zone: 3mm
• Resolution: 300 dpi minimum
• Format: PDF
• Colour: CMYK
• Fonts: outlined or embedded
• Artwork: one design per order

Free templates are available for both sizes. Cards are printed single sided — the reverse carries the strut.

Every file is checked by a real person before printing, so obvious problems get flagged. We don't make changes or fixes to artwork — files should be supplied print-ready.

Sustainability

All our paper stocks are FSC certified. Strut cards can be recycled, though lamination and Spot UV affect recyclability — worth checking with your local facility if that matters to you.

Turnaround & Delivery

Production takes 3–4 working days from receipt of artwork. Turnaround covers production only — delivery is on top of that.

Standard UK delivery is free on all strut card orders, whatever the size or quantity. Collection from our Burnley production facility is also available.

Also worth a look: tent cards for double-sided table display, and table talkers for a taller format.

FAQs

What sizes are available?
A4 (210 x 297mm) and A5 (148 x 210mm).

What's the minimum order?
10 cards.

How does the strut work?
It's a separate piece of board glued to the back. Fold it out and the card stands on its own.

Do they arrive assembled?
They're supplied flat with the strut already attached — just fold it out to stand the card up.

What are they printed on?
450gsm silk, heavy enough to stand without bowing at A4.

Are they printed on both sides?
No, single sided. The reverse carries the strut.

Which lamination should I choose?
Gloss for the richest colour on image-led designs. Matt to cut glare under retail lighting. Soft touch for the most premium feel.

Can I have Spot UV?
Yes, on laminated cards. It's a UV varnish applied to selected areas of your artwork, and shows best against matt or soft touch.

Can I write on them?
Only if unlaminated. Silk takes a ballpoint, but a laminated surface won't.

Should I choose a strut card or a tent card?
Strut cards stand upright and face one way, and come in A4. Tent cards fold and read from both sides, which suits a table people sit around.

How long does it take?
3–4 working days production from receipt of artwork, with delivery on top.

Is delivery really free?
Yes. Standard UK delivery is included on all strut card orders, with no minimum spend.