Why a Printed Card Still Beats a Phone Screen
A printed allergy card works when your phone does not. It survives a dead battery, a cracked screen, and a restaurant with no signal. You can hand it across a counter without unlocking anything, and kitchen staff can carry it back to the chef while you keep eating.
That last detail matters more than people expect. Handing over a phone means someone walks away with your device, so most travelers end up holding it out at arm’s length instead — which is exactly when the person who actually needs to read it, the cook, never sees it.
The practical answer is to carry both. Keep the PNG on your phone for quick reference, and keep a printed copy in your wallet for the moments the phone cannot cover.
What Makes a Card Actually Printable
Print-ready PDF at true size
The PDF is laid out at a fixed physical size rather than scaled to fit a screen, so what comes out of the printer matches what you previewed.
Wallet dimensions by default
Cards are sized close to a standard credit card, so a printed and trimmed copy sits in a wallet without folding.
High contrast that survives cheap printers
Templates use solid blocks and heavy weights rather than thin grey type, so the card stays readable from an office inkjet or a hostel printer.
A poster-sized option for kitchens
Some templates are designed to be printed larger and handed to a kitchen or taped up at a serviced apartment, not just carried in a pocket.
How to Print Your Allergy Card
Build and preview it free
Pick your allergens and the destination language. You see the finished card in both languages before paying anything.
Download the PDF
One $8.99 payment unlocks the print-ready PDF and the phone-ready PNG, in every language and template, with unlimited re-downloads.
Print on card stock
Plain paper works, but 200–300 gsm card stock survives a wallet far better. Print at 100% scale — do not use "fit to page", which shrinks the card.
Trim and laminate
Cut along the guides and laminate if you can. A laminating pouch costs a few cents and turns a paper card into something that lasts a whole trip.
Only need it for restaurants at home? You can make a free allergy card in English and print it on plain paper. Make a free card
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper should I print an allergy card on?
What size are the printed cards?
Can I print at a print shop instead of at home?
Do I need to print a separate card for each country?
Is the printable card free?
Should I still keep a copy on my phone?
Related Allergy Cards
Japanese Allergy Card
Create a bilingual English-Japanese food allergy card in seconds. Preview for free, then download printable PNG/PDF for $8.99 before your trip to Japan.
Korean Food Allergy Card
Create a bilingual English-Korean food allergy card for safe dining in South Korea and Korean restaurants worldwide.
Thai Food Allergy Card
Create a bilingual English-Thai food allergy card for safe dining in Thailand and Thai restaurants worldwide.
Allergy Chef Card
A chef card goes past the server and onto the kitchen pass. Build one that names your allergens, asks for clean pans and fresh oil, and says what you can eat — in English or the kitchen’s own language.
Now on iOS
AllergyCard — Available on the App Store
The AllergyCard iOS app lets you show your allergy card offline, speak your restrictions aloud in the local language, and access an emergency screen — all without Wi-Fi. Free to download, available in 174 countries.
Download on the App StoreCreate your allergy card now
Free to create and preview. Printable PNG/PDF is $8.99 one-time.
Free to create · No signup required · $8.99 covers every language, every template and re-download