How Many Christmas Cards Should You Send?

Figuring out how many Christmas cards to order starts with one simple question: how many households are on your mailing list? While 20 to 50 Christmas cards is a common range for many senders, there is no right number. Your list may be much smaller or larger depending on your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and other people you want to reach during the holidays.

Instead of trying to match an average, build your own Christmas card list, count each household that will receive a card, and order a few extras for last-minute additions. This will give you a much more useful number when it is time to order your Christmas cards.

How Many Christmas Cards Does the Average Person Send?

A typical Christmas card list may include around 20 to 50 recipients, but card-sending habits vary widely. Someone sending cards primarily to immediate family and close friends may only need 15 or 20, while a large family or someone with a broad social circle could easily send 50, 75, or even 100 cards.

The important thing is that you do not need to reach a certain number. Christmas cards are meant to help you stay connected with the people who matter to you, so your mailing list should reflect your own relationships and traditions.

It is also helpful to think in terms of households rather than individual people. A couple or family living at the same address will typically receive one card, so a mailing list with 50 people on it may require far fewer than 50 Christmas cards.

What Factors Influence How Many Christmas Cards You Send?

Your Christmas card list can grow quickly once you start thinking beyond immediate family. Consider the different groups of people you may want to include:

Immediate family: Parents, siblings, grandparents, adult children, and other close relatives are often the first names added to a Christmas card list.
Extended family: Aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and relatives you may not see regularly can expand your list.
Friends: Include close friends as well as longtime friends you may not get to see as often anymore.
Neighbors: Christmas cards are an easy way to share holiday wishes with neighbors and families in your community.
Coworkers and professional contacts: Depending on your relationships, you may also want to send cards to coworkers, clients, teachers, or other professional connections.
Long-distance connections: Friends and family who live far away are especially good additions when you cannot celebrate together in person.

As you build your list, remember to combine people who live together into one household unless you plan to send them separate cards.

How to Decide How Many Christmas Cards to Order

Start by making a complete list of everyone you want to send a Christmas card to this year. Review your address book, last year’s Christmas card list, contacts, and the cards you received to make sure you have not forgotten anyone.

Once you have your list, count the number of mailing addresses rather than the total number of people. If your list includes a family of four at one address, for example, you will typically need one card for that household.

Then add a few extra cards before placing your order. Ordering about 10% more than the number currently on your list gives you room for people you remember later, newly updated addresses, last-minute additions, or a card that gets damaged while you are preparing your mail.

For example:

20 households: order about 22 to 25 cards
30 households: order about 33 to 35 cards
50 households: order about 55 cards
75 households: order about 80 to 85 cards
100 households: order about 110 cards

You do not have to follow these numbers exactly. The goal is simply to have a small buffer so you are not left needing another order because you forgot two or three people.

Tips for Streamlining Your Holiday Card List

If your Christmas card list feels overwhelming, a little organization can make it much easier to decide who to include and how many cards to order.

Start with last year’s list: Use your previous mailing list as a starting point, then add or remove recipients as needed.
Update addresses early: Check for friends or family members who moved during the year so you are not tracking down addresses when you are ready to mail.
Organize recipients by group: Separate your list into family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and other groups to make it easier to spot anyone you missed.
Keep your list from year to year: Maintaining a holiday address list saves time each season and gives you an easy starting point for next year’s cards.
Order a few extras: Even a carefully planned list can change between ordering and mailing, so having extra cards on hand can be helpful.

Remember to Account for Postage and Mailing

The number of cards you order also affects how much time and money you will need for mailing. Remember to account for postage when planning your Christmas card budget, especially if you have a large list or are sending cards internationally.

Shutterfly can also help simplify the addressing process. FREE recipient address printing is available on custom envelopes, so you can have names and addresses printed before your cards arrive. You can save addresses in Shutterfly’s free digital address book and use them again for future cards and invitations. For an extra helping hand during the busy holiday season, Mail for Me® Service can address, stamp, and mail your cards directly to your recipients in plain white envelopes.

If you prefer to address your cards yourself, personalized address labels can make preparing a larger stack of envelopes quicker and easier.

How Many Extra Christmas Cards Should You Order?

A good rule of thumb is to order around 10% more Christmas cards than the number of households on your final list. If you are sending 50 cards, for example, ordering about 55 gives you five extras without leaving you with a large unused stack.

You may want a slightly larger buffer if your mailing list tends to change during the holiday season. Extra cards can also come in handy for neighbors, teachers, hosts, new friends, or anyone who sends you a Christmas card that you had not originally planned to include.

If you like to keep a copy of your family’s Christmas card each year, remember to include one for yourself in your final count.

Create and Send Your Christmas Cards

There is no perfect number of Christmas cards to send. Some people have a small list of close family and friends, while others send dozens of cards to people they have known throughout different stages of their lives. What matters most is creating a list that makes sense for you.

Before ordering, count your recipient households, add a few extras, and make sure your addresses are up to date. With your list ready, you can focus on choosing your favorite Christmas card design, adding your photos and holiday message, and getting your cards ready to send.

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