There’s a seasonal magic that happens when Christmas cards start arriving in the mail. A feeling of anticipation bubbles up as you open the mailbox to see if any bright red or crisp white envelopes await.
Experts Say
“Even in today’s modern world, with instant communication at the touch of a button, there is still something so special about receiving a holiday card in the mail”, says etiquette expert Jodi Smith. “Knowing that someone took the time to think about you and send greetings from afar…it’s like a little hug in an envelope.”
Whether you prefer classic cards, photo cards, or even funny cards, we found the best options from top brands like Shutterfly, Minted, Zazzle, Papier, Artifact Uprising, Paper Culture, and Rifle Paper Co.
We checked our list twice, and everything is postmarked and ready to deliver — ahead, the best custom Christmas cards of 2024.
Ordering cards from Artifact Uprising proved to be a seamless process from start to finish. Perusing the various categories of cards, I was dazzled with choice but settled on a minimalist, handwritten-style graphic with a single bold photo on the front and two smaller images on the back.
It was so simple to upload my selected photos to the card template, and there were options to choose the card orientation, printing style (with or without foil accents), paper type, and envelope color. I bought my batch of cards with expedited shipping, and it arrived three business days after I hit “place order.”
The quality was immaculate: The cardstock is thick and durable with a gorgeous pearlescent finish. Every card was flawless, and the beige envelopes add such a nice touch of sophistication. Though a little pricey, these cards are well worth the cost.
Paper Type: Thick cardstock with a pearlized sheen | Finish: Matte | # of Cards Ordered: 40 | Shipping: Standard (5–8 business days), Economy (4–6 business days), Expedited (2 business days), and Rush (1 business day); no expedited international shipping
Camera Ready!
For my Christmas card photoshoot, I used small business SHOOTT, which has locations in more than 60 cities across the U.S. The best part? The shoot is completely free — you only pay for the photos you end up choosing once the gallery posts. It was so easy to set up my appointment, my photographer, Ramuel, was a delight (and so patient with my stubborn pup), and the photos were exactly what I’d hoped for. Two of our other editors have also used Shoott (in Hawai’i and Atlanta) and equally enjoyed their experiences and the resulting photos.
Known for its chic paper goods — I rely on their yearly planners — Papier delivers the same high quality in its Christmas cards. With options for both photo cards and artistic cards, there’s something for everyone. I opted for the creative card template that’s laid out like a “Year in Review” snapshot. This fun template let me put so much information in one card in a truly unique way.
You can choose flat or folded cards, with package bundles ranging from 10 to 1,000 cards. The personalization process was user-friendly (even tech-challenged folks can figure it out). I ordered these cards with standard shipping, and they arrived just six days later. The card quality was stellar: thick cardstock, a sleek matte finish, and crisp, clear picture. And the value is unmatched — I was able to order 30 cards for just $50 compared to other brands that offered fewer cards at higher prices.
Paper Type: Thick cardstock | Finish: Matte | # of Cards Ordered: 30 | Shipping: Economy shipping (7 business days after dispatch), Standard (3 business days after dispatch), Priority (2 business days after dispatch), Overnight (1 business day after dispatch)
Experts Say
“Some best practices with selecting the type of card is to allow the card to reflect your personality or your family’s personality. If you look at it from that perspective, you can have a lot of fun picking out different types of cards, and sharing the same holiday cheer.”—Elaine Swann, etiquette expert
Minted has a wide array of elegant cards trimmed and accented with foil (available in eight hues including bronze, glittery gold, and rose gold). Similar to Zazzle, there are lots of subcategories to browse such as minimalist, iconic Christmas, classic and elegant, bold and typographic, funny, and more. The designs are varied enough that there’s a style that matches every preference and aesthetic.
The personalization and ordering processes were easy, and the cards arrived two days earlier than estimated. I loved that they come with a note from the artist that designs the card so you can learn more about them. The quality was consistent across all cards, the font looked sleek, and the photos (all six of them in the template I chose) looked perfect. Plus, the bronze foil casts a subtle light that really captures the eye. Though the most expensive cards on our list, the cards are stunning and absolutely worth it.
Paper Type: Smooth signature cardstock | Finish: Matte | # of Cards Ordered: 25 | Shipping: Standard (5 business days), Priority (3 business days), Expedited (2 business days), and Rush (1 business day)
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Cute design categories, including a category dedicated to “funny” cards
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User-friendly system for personalization
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Good value considering quantity to cost ratio
Another festive option for your holiday cards is Zazzle. This personalization platform has a range of cool products to personalize (I’ve ordered mugs, puzzles, and jewelry), and the categories for cards are just as diverse. Choose from flat, folded, postcard, foil, or non-photo cards — as well as funny cards, which I opted for. Within each category, you’ll find subcategories such as rustic, modern, watercolor, botanical, elegant, trendy, vintage, script, minimalist, pets, kids, and more.
Once I selected my card of choice, it was easy to upload my photo to the template. It also had options for theme color, edges, size, paper type, and more. The cards arrived quickly and seeing my dog in the design made me giggle. The cards were high quality, and the image was crisp and clear — only the red bottom section wasn’t quite as vibrant as it looked online.
Paper Type: Standard cardstock with rounded edges | Finish: Matte | # of Cards Ordered: 25 | Shipping: Standard, Zip (2 business days), Zip Plus (1 business day), and Zazzle Plus (free shipping membership, similar to Amazon Prime, but for Zazzle)
In general, Shutterly is a widely popular service for all the best personalized goods — including Christmas and holiday cards. I was floored by the sheer amount of personalization options available. You can choose from themes like minimalist, foil and glitter, joy and peace, and even botanical, as well as filtering by photo orientation, the number of photos you’d like, and so much more.
The order process was so simple, and I was able to upload the photo I wanted to use and fill in my custom text for the front of the card, with ease. I opted for expedited shipping, and the cards came on the exact day estimated (eight days after my order). The cards had the same sleek, glossy look that I’d seen online, and the picture quality was excellent.
The only hiccup was with the print quality, as it wasn’t consistent across all cards: Some of the gold foil “C”s in “Christmas” were faded, there was a white border along the side of some of the cards that looked like a misprint, and some cards had little white flecks in the black background. The card-to-cost ratio also wasn’t as economical as some other options we tried.
Paper Type: Cardstock | Finish: Glossy | # of Cards Ordered: 20 | Shipping: Basic Economy (6–10 business days), Standard (5–7 business days), Expedited (4–5 business days), Rush (3–4 business days), Super Rush (1–2 business days, though limited availability)
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Thick cardstock that feels durable and high quality
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Lots of design options available
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Dedicates and plants a tree with every order
If you want to celebrate this time-old tradition without creating too much waste, consider a recycled card from Paper Culture. Every card is made from premium recycled paper, but with the customization of your own design and photos. I opted for a postcard style for an even more sustainable option — no envelopes needed!
The price is competitive with our best value pick, at just over $1 per card, with discounted rates for larger batch orders. Once my order was placed, the cards arrived just three days later, sans plastic wrapping (which boosted the sustainability aspect but also led to a scuff mark on the card placed in front of the stack). Overall, the cards were high quality with the added bonus of being an eco-friendly option you can feel good about.
Paper Type: Premium recycled paper | Finish: Matte | # Cards: 30 | Shipping: Ground (1–5 days), Expedited (2 day), and Overnight
Holiday Bundle
As an added bonus, Paper Culture has a partnership with the photo service SHOOTT, so you can get a 30-minute session, a gallery of 40+ photos, $40 worth of retouching credits, and the option of selecting photo cards, printed photos, a photo book, or stickers for under $350.
Others We Tried
Rifle Paper Co.: Though technically not custom, I’d be remiss not to mention Rifle Paper Co. as an option for your holiday card needs. I received an assortment of their gorgeous holiday cards with the most artistic and festive designs. You can also buy one of several holiday card sets as a bundle. The cards are so high quality and will bring a smile to anyone’s face, so if you’re willing to forgo a photo card this year, this brand is a solid option.
What to Know About Ordering Custom Christmas Cards
Design
Take your time looking through the various templates because most of these brands — such as Shutterfly — have countless designs. There are so many ways to customize your cards including the physical material, finish, envelopes, photo template, and design accents, like foil. Whether you opt for glossy, matte cards, or pearlized cards, or if you prefer a single photo with a bold graphic or multiple photos with minimalist text, you’re sure to find a card that speaks to you.
Quantity
Deferring to the ghosts of Christmas cards past, let me suggest ordering a few extra cards. While all of these services offer excellent quality, should you handwrite notes on your cards (mistakes happen!), it’s advisable to add five to 10 more cards to whatever total you think you’ll need.
Shipping
Most companies offer a variety of shipping options including standard, expedited, and rush. These will come with correlated pricing, so keep your timeline in mind when ordering cards so you don’t experience delays or costs you weren’t planning on.
Price
Having tried a range of Christmas card services, I can say that prices do vary — for instance, Papier proved one of the best values given the card quantity to cost ratio. Others, like Minted, proved to be a little more expensive, but still worth it!
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Madison Yauger is a shopping editor for PEOPLE who’s tested hundreds of festive lifestyle products including Christmas cards, advent calendars, and artificial Christmas trees. Madison has always been a Christmas card enthusiast. She helped her mother with their cards throughout her childhood, and recently started sending out her own in adulthood. For this story, she spoke to etiquette experts Elaine Swann and Jodi Smith and actually tried each brand to test the cards firsthand.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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