Free Printable Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck (High-Res PDFs in 3 Sizes!)
Hey there, DIY crafters and vintage art lovers! Kinsey here. 🌙✨
Whether you have a teenager getting into astrology, or you simply appreciate beautiful, historic artwork like I do, there is no denying the timeless appeal of a classic tarot card.
Right now, vintage-inspired paper crafts are incredibly popular. But if you’ve ever shopped for a high-quality Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck, you know they can be quite an investment! Plus, sometimes a standard-sized deck just doesn’t work for what you want to do. Maybe you need giant cards for a mixed-media art piece, or tiny cards for your junk journal.
That is exactly why I put together this massive, value-packed resource for you. We have formatted the complete, original deck into high-resolution, easy-to-print PDFs, completely for free!
🎨 Why the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck?
If you are new to this, you might be wondering why this specific deck is so famous. Originally published in 1909, the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck is the gold standard. The incredibly iconic, story-book style illustrations were drawn by the talented artist Pamela Colman Smith.
Because every single card—from the famous “The Fool” to the intricate minor suits—features a full, detailed scene, it is considered the absolute best deck for beginners to learn with!
Our printable version includes 80 cards total (the traditional 78-card deck, plus 2 extra title/art cards). To make it easy for you, they are perfectly arranged in suit order: Pentacles, Wands, Cups, Swords, and the Major Arcana (Tarot).
🖨️ Choose Your Perfect Size!
To give you the most value possible, we didn’t just make one file. We formatted three different sizes! Every PDF is set to standard A4 paper size at a crystal-clear 300 DPI for professional-level printing. Each card also features a 0.5 cm gap and a solid black border so you can get a perfectly straight cut every time.
I also added the A4 Size PDF where 80 Pages!
1. The “Giant” Edition (Perfect for Wall Art & Crafts) If you want to really showcase Pamela Colman Smith’s beautiful line work, this size is spectacular.
Card Size: 10 cm x 17 cm (approx. 4 x 7 inches).
Layout: 2 giant cards per A4 page.
Total: 40 pages to print the full 80-card set.
2. The “Medium” Edition (The Classic Shuffling Size) This is your standard, comfortable size—perfect for actual readings or study flashcards!
Card Size: 7.5 cm x 12.5 cm (approx. 3 x 5 inches).
Layout: 4 cards per A4 page in a clean 2×2 grid.
Total: 20 pages.
3. The “Small” Edition (Travel & Scrapbooking Size) These mini cards are absolutely adorable and my personal favorite for paper crafting!
Card Size: 6 cm x 10 cm (approx. 2.4 x 4 inches).
Layout: Up to 6 cards per A4 page.
Total: Just 14 pages (13 full pages + 1 page with 2 cards).
✂️ Kinsey’s Pro-Printing & Assembly Tips
To make your DIY tarot card project look like it came straight from a metaphysical boutique, follow these essential crafting rules:
Use Heavy Cardstock: Do not use regular, flimsy printer paper! For a real deck feel, print these on heavy, high-quality white cardstock. It gives them that necessary “snap” and durability.
Check Your Printer Scale: When you go to print, make sure your printer settings are set to “100% Scale” or “Actual Size.” If your printer is set to “Fit to Printable Area,” it will shrink the beautiful borders!
The Cutting Trick: While scissors are okay, a sliding paper trimmer or an X-Acto knife with a metal ruler is the secret to a professional finish. Just slice directly along the black borders we provided.
Laminate for Longevity: If you are making a functional Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck that will be handled a lot, consider running the uncut pages through a home laminator, or apply clear contact paper to the front and back before cutting.
✨ 3 Fun Ways to Use Your DIY Deck
Not sure what to do with 80 printable cards? Here are a few ways we love to use them:
The “Study” Deck: Print the Giant size and let your teenager use highlighters and pens to write the meanings directly on the white borders to learn the symbolism!
Eclectic Room Decor: Clip the Medium or Giant cards to a piece of twine with mini clothespins for an instant, vintage-boho banner in a bedroom.
Journaling Prompts: Keep a stack of the Small cards on your desk. Pull one every morning and use the imagery to inspire a 5-minute creative writing or journaling session!
