Bridge and Poker Playing Cards – Difference in Size
One question that comes up a lot (at least on this website) is: What is the difference between poker playing cards and bridge playing cards?
Let’s start with discussing first what isn’t different. Both poker and bridge decks have 52 cards, plus a joker or two. So you could play poker with bridge cards, or bridge with poker cards. Generally speaking, you could play any card game that requires a standard deck of cards (unlike, say, pinochle) with either a bridge deck or a poker deck.
The difference between bridge cards and poker cards is simply one of size: poker cards are wider than bridge cards. This makes sense, if you think of how many cards you have to hold in your hand to play bridge.
Before we give the standard dimensions, we want to offer a word of caution. Playing card sizes can vary from accepted standards. If you use our dimensions for anything other than reading pleasure, you do so entirely at your own risk. As an example, if you construct a thousand playing card boxes and then find that your favorite playing cards don’t fit in them, we’re not responsible.
With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s see what we’ve got:
Bridge card size: We measured a card from Congress’ “Three Cheers” bridge set. The card is approximately 3.5 inches high and 2.25 inches wide.
Poker card size: We measured a card used in actual play at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The card is approximately 3.5 inches high (same as the bridge card, obviously) and 2.5″ wide.
Conclusion: Poker cards are about .25 inches wider than bridge cards. Now you know, and won’t have to stay up at night wondering.
Incidentally, most licensed cards, such as Pepsi playing cards, are poker-sized.