A deck of cards is one of the simplest physical products you can create — and one of the most powerful. Custom card games in Ireland are used by businesses as promotional tools, by educators as classroom resources, by entrepreneurs as retail products, and by community groups as fundraisers. The barrier to entry is lower than most people expect, the finished product looks genuinely impressive, and the margin potential — particularly when you sell online — is substantial.
This guide covers everything from paper choices and card sizes through to box types, rulebooks, barcodes, and how to turn a custom card game into a product you can sell from your own website. If you have considered creating a card game and were not sure where to start, this is the place.
Why custom card games make sense for Irish businesses
Compared to a full board game — which involves a game board, multiple component types, and significantly higher production costs — a custom card game is lean. The core product is a printed deck in a box. That simplicity keeps costs manageable, makes shipping straightforward, and allows production in smaller quantities without the economics falling apart.
For businesses, a branded custom card game is a promotional item with genuine shelf life. Unlike a brochure or a pen, it gets used repeatedly and seen by multiple people. For entrepreneurs, it is a viable retail product that sells online, stocks in gift shops, and distributes at events. For educators, a custom card game is an engaging teaching tool that works across age groups and subjects.
The key is getting the design and production right from the start. That is exactly what this guide covers.
Custom card game sizes — standard and bespoke
One of the first decisions in any custom card game project is size. Most people default to standard poker size because it is familiar. However, the range of available options is much broader, and the right size depends entirely on how the cards will be used.
Standard poker size (63mm x 88mm) is the most common format and the one most players are comfortable handling. It suits most custom card game types and is the size used in the majority of commercially produced games.
Bridge size (57mm x 89mm) is slightly narrower. It is easier to hold a large hand and suits games where players hold many cards at once.
Mini cards (44mm x 67mm) are compact and ideal for travel games, token-style cards, or games designed for young children with smaller hands.
Tarot and large format cards work well when card faces need to display detailed illustration or large text visible across a table.
Square cards are increasingly popular for modern custom card games and create a distinctive look that stands out immediately.
Fully custom shapes are also possible. Hexagonal, circular, and die-cut shapes can all be produced commercially. Custom shapes cost more than standard formats, but they create a uniquely distinctive product. For a business using a custom card game as a premium promotional item, a custom shape is worth serious consideration.
The most important practical point on size is consistency — every card in a deck must be identical in dimensions for the game to function properly and feel professional in the hand.
Paper and card stock options for custom card games
This is where most first-time card game creators are surprised by how much choice is available. The paper and finish you choose determines how the cards feel, how durable they are, and how premium the finished product appears.
Standard card stock
Standard card stock offers a good balance of quality and cost. It is the weight and feel familiar from most commercially produced card games. Cards have slight flexibility, shuffle well, and hold up to regular use. This is the right choice for most projects where budget is a consideration and the game will be played regularly.
Linen finish card stock
Linen finish card stock has a subtle texture palpable to the touch. It gives cards a distinctive, premium feel that makes the deck stand out immediately. This paper suits projects where aesthetics matter — a premium gift product, a collector’s edition, or a branded item intended to impress.
Heavy card stock
Heavy card stock produces noticeably thicker, stiffer cards. This is the right choice for games handled intensively over a long period. The additional rigidity makes cards more resistant to bending and wear. It is also the right choice for games aimed at young children where durability is a priority.
Lamination and foil finishes
Double-sided lamination is strongly recommended for all custom card games. Laminating only one side creates an imbalance in how the card responds to temperature and humidity, causing permanent curling — known in the industry as the boat effect. It makes cards unpleasant to handle and difficult to shuffle, so always laminate both sides.
Foil finishes add significant visual quality. Matte foil gives a velvety, elegant look that works well with bright colours. Glossy foil makes colours more vibrant and allows writing on card surfaces with dry-erase markers — a practical choice for educational games. Holographic foil creates a striking rainbow effect for collectible or premium products.
Rounded corners are the industry standard. A 5mm radius rounded corner is what players expect from a professionally produced deck. Sharp corners are possible but feel less polished and damage more easily at the edges.
Box types for custom card games — from tuck boxes to premium packaging
The box is not just packaging — it is the first thing a customer sees. A well-designed box makes the product feel like a genuine retail item. A poor box undermines everything inside it. Here are the main options for custom card games in Ireland.
Tuck box
A tuck box is the simplest and most cost-effective packaging for a custom card game. It is a single piece of card folded and glued into a slim box with a flap at one or both ends that tucks in to close. Standard playing card decks almost always use tuck boxes. They are compact, lightweight, and inexpensive to produce. For a straightforward custom card game with a modest budget, a tuck box is entirely appropriate. Window tuck boxes — with a die-cut window showing the top card — are a popular variation that adds immediate visual interest.
Two-part rigid box
A two-part box has a separate lid and base. The lid lifts off to reveal the contents, creating a more premium unboxing experience. Two-part boxes are significantly more robust and give the product a high-end feel. They suit products intended as gifts, premium retail price points, or games that include multiple components alongside the cards. The additional cost over a tuck box is worthwhile when presentation matters.
Magnetic closure box
A magnetic closure box has a lid held shut by a concealed magnet. The satisfying click on opening makes a strong impression. These boxes suit luxury products and high-end corporate gifts. If you are producing a custom card game as a premium branded gift, a magnetic closure box positions it immediately as something of value.
What goes inside the box
The box is not limited to cards. A rulebook or instruction sheet can be included alongside the deck. Rulebooks can be a simple folded leaflet for cost-effectiveness, or a small booklet with a soft cover for a more polished result. A rigid card insert works well as a quick-reference rules summary — printed on heavy stock, it sits on top of the deck and is the first thing a player picks up when opening the box.
For a product intended for retail sale, a barcode is essential. We print the EAN barcode directly onto the box so the product can be scanned at a till and sold through bookshops, gift shops, or any retail outlet. This small addition transforms a custom card game from a promotional item into a proper retail product. Furthermore, adding a short printed “how to play” summary on the inside of the box lid is a neat detail that removes the need for a separate instruction sheet entirely.
Who should consider custom card games in Ireland?
The range of applications for a well-designed custom card game is broader than most people initially consider.
Promotional business gifts. A branded custom card game given to clients or distributed at trade shows creates a lasting impression. Unlike most promotional merchandise, it gets used repeatedly and seen by multiple people. Estate agents, financial advisers, hospitality businesses, and professional services firms have all found branded card games effective as client gifts.
Educational tools for schools and training. Custom card games are highly effective as educational resources. A quiz game covering a specific subject, a vocabulary or language learning game, a financial literacy game for transition year students, or a health and wellbeing game for SPHE — all can be produced as custom card games used repeatedly across classes and year groups. Schools, training companies, and HR departments are strong potential markets for educational custom card games in Ireland.
Retail products and gift shop items. A well-designed custom card game with a compelling theme — Irish history, local landmarks, GAA trivia, Irish wildlife, pub quiz questions — is a genuinely sellable retail product. Gift shops, tourist attractions, museum shops, and bookshops all stock this type of product regularly.
Fundraising for charities and community groups. A custom card game can be produced and sold as a fundraising product. The margin between production cost and retail price, particularly at higher quantities, makes it a viable tool for sports clubs, schools, and charities.
Original game concepts and indie publishing. If you have an original card game concept, commercial production is the only way to create a product that competes with what is already on the market. A self-published custom card game produced to commercial standards can sell online, reach retailers, or form the basis of a crowdfunding campaign.
Selling your custom card game online — why ecommerce changes everything
This is where a card game project transforms from a one-off print run into a sustainable business. If you are producing a custom card game to sell, having your own ecommerce website is the single most important thing you can do to maximise your return.
Consider the margin difference directly. If you sell through a retailer, they take a trade discount of 35% to 45% off the retail price. Amazon takes referral fees and closing fees on top. In contrast, selling directly through your own WooCommerce website means you keep the full retail price, minus only a small card processing fee of around 1.5% for Irish transactions.
On a custom card game retailing at €18, selling through a retailer nets roughly €10 to €11. Selling directly through your own website nets €17.73. At any meaningful volume, that difference is enormous.
Beyond the margin, direct sales give you something retailers and Amazon will never provide — your customer’s contact details. Every person who buys directly from your website joins your mailing list. When you release an expansion, a new game, or a second edition, you reach them directly. That audience is one of the most valuable assets a small game publisher can build.
At Simply Design, we build WooCommerce creator websites designed to sell physical products directly. If you are producing a custom card game and want a professional online shop, we can combine both projects so everything launches together with consistent branding from box to website.
How Simply Design handles custom card game projects
At Simply Design, we manage the complete process from initial concept through to finished product delivered to your door. We handle artwork for every card face, the box design, rulebook and insert materials, and barcode setup for retail-ready products. Production runs at approximately four to six weeks from final artwork approval.
Every project starts with a conversation about your goals, your audience, and your budget. We make sure the format, paper choice, and box type are right for your specific project before any artwork begins. If you are also interested in selling your game online, we can discuss combining the custom card game project with an ecommerce website build.
To discuss your project, get in touch with Simply Design and we will talk through the options. You can also read more about our card game design service.