What is the difference between a jewel case and a slim jewel case?

The difference between the two comes down to thickness. A standard jewel case is about 10 mm thick and has space for a thicker booklet, whereas a slimline case is about 5 mm thick and usually does not include a back tray card.

What resolution should I use for printing CD art?

For high-quality printing, your design files should be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch).

How many pages can a standard CD booklet contain?

A basic CD booklet starts with a single folded sheet (4 pages), but it can be expanded to multiple pages depending on the design and spine capacity.

What is the standard size for a CD back tray card (inlay)?

A CD back tray card measures approximately 150 mm x 118 mm (5.94 x 4.65 inches), including the spine folds on both sides.

A Simple Guide to Standard CD Case Dimensions for Packaging

The music industry has gone digital, but the soul of the album still lives in the jewel case. Yes, we are talking about ‘Compact Discs’. A CD isn’t just a storage device, it’s a piece of signed memorabilia, a high-quality art book, and the most accessible way to experience studio-grade sound without a laggy connection. However, placing it in a poorly designed jewel case can lead to scratches, disc rot, and data loss due to circular cracks. Thus, you need to know the compact disc case dimensions to design a properly-sized jewel case that keeps the disc safe. Moreover, a well-designed case creates a professional look on a retail shelf and increases the likelihood of an impulse purchase.
Read this blog to learn the exact standard compact disc case dimensions and design, print, and package your discs with total confidence.

What is a CD Booklet?

Before we jump to a CD booklet and its dimensions, let’s learn the basics about the jewel case. When designing, keep in mind that a CD jewel case is a hinged, multi-section plastic container made up of

The Front Cover: The front cover known as “The lid” and is the face of the package. Its purpose is to hold the CD Booklet.
The Tray: The tray is a piece of plastic that actually grips the CD. Its job is to lock the CD in place so it doesn’t touch the outer walls of the case. Its function is quite similar to that of the insert of a packaging.
The Back Plate: This the bottom part of a jewel case where the (Tray Card) back cover art is placed.
The Paper Insert: These are the papers designed with musical artwork and branding features.

The CD Booklet is actually a printed paper insert that slides into the front of a standard jewel case. While its primary job is to serve as the “cover art” for the album however, it often unfolds or contains multiple pages that act as a gateway to the artist’s world. Thus, helping bands and artists to build recognition. As the main branding tool, you can personalize it with exclusive, high-definition visuals, liner notes, credits, and lyrics.

The Standard Compact Disc Case Dimensions

Since 1982, the CD jewel case has been the literal ‘gold standard’ for physical audio storage because it offers 360-degree visibility. It allows the audience to see the front cover, the back track list, and even the “spine” for shelf browsing without opening the case. Moreover, its dimensions are so perfect that they keep the CD in place and prevent damage. Therefore, if your cd jewel case cover dimensions are off by even a fraction, the case won’t fit into a retail rack or a storage tower. So, while designing a jewel case adhere to the following compact disc case dimensions.

Jewel case dimensions in mm: 142 mm x 125 mm x 10 mm
Jewel case dimensions in inches: 5.59″ x 4.92″ x 0.39″

Breaking the Paper Inserts and Their Dimensions

As mentioned earlier, inside the jewel case goes the front cover or CD booklet and the Tray Card. These interior paper components require surgical precision to ensure they slide into the case without buckling or tearing. So the right tray card and cd booklet dimensions are:

Cd booklet dimensions: 120 mm x 120 mm or 4.724″ x 4.724″
Tray card dimensions: 150 mm x 118 mm or 5.906″ x 4.64″

For multi-page booklets such as 4, 8, or 12, the same dimensions are used for the front cover and tray card. Also, here is a tip, when you are setting up your document for CD booklet or Tray card, always add a 3 mm bleed to these dimensions. This ensures that while trimming your paper, there are no unsightly white slivers at the edges of your artwork.

Alternative Case Styles and Their Sizes

Now that you know what size is a cd booklet and what the standard dimensions of a jewel case are, let’s move to other CD packaging styles. Sometimes you may encounter budget constraints or storage issues that you might have to opt for different packaging styles. In that case you can choose the following three alternatives.

Slimline Cases

There are single CD cases that are half the thickness of standard jewel cases with no tray card. Your only branding tool is the front cover where you print your artwork. The slimline compact disc case dimensions are 142 mm x 1`25 mm x 5 mm.

Digipaks

Instead of plastic, digipaks are cardboard shell cases. In these cases you can directly print your artwork on the cardstock, you do not need a booklet or tray card. Their dimensions are; 140 mm x 125 mm x 7 mm.

Multi-Disc Jewel Cases

These cases are specifically designed to hold 2 to 6 discs. Their dimensions are 142 mm x 125 mm x 24 mm and offer a huge space for branding.

Pro Tips for Packaging Design of CB Booklet and Tray Card

Designing a CD booklet on a digital document and turning it into a physical product are two different things. Even the flawless jewel case structure cannot save your project if the artwork looks sloppy. Thus, comply with the following guidelines to ensure the final printed piece perfectly matches your file.

If you design exactly to 120mm, a tiny slip during trimming will create an unattractive white border. To avoid this unprofessional look add a 3 mm bleed beyond your final trim line.
Set your document to 300 DPI for high-definition visual results and to avoid pixilation.
Set color mode to CMYK rather than RGB to avoid color shifts after printing.
Paper can shift slightly during the folding process. So, keep all the critical text (artist names, track lists, barcodes) at least 2 mm away from any fold lines or edges.

Finally choose the right paper finish for your CD booklet and tray card because the finish paper inserts set the tone for the entire release. If you want a high-definition look with vibrant colors go for glossy stock finish. For a modern premium aesthetic touch, matte finish is the best. Also, choose a cardstock that measures 100 GSM to 170 GSM. A stock with a thick more than 170 GSM will not fit into the jewel case and your lid will not close. For durable, high-end cardstocks and premium finishes, you can consult Boxit Packages. We have a variety of packaging options for CD cases. Contact us for more information.

Conclusion

The best jewel case is not the one that looks good but the one designed with right compact disc case dimensions. By complying with the standard 142 mm x 125 mm x 10 mm jewel case size, you can protect your CDs and ensure that the booklet fits perfectly inside the front cover. Just follow the bleed, resolution, color accuracy, and paper thickness guidelines and create a jewel case that can rule the retail shelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

The difference between the two comes down to 5 mm. A standard jewel case is about 10mm thick and has space for a thick booklet. Whereas a slimline case is about 5mm thick and does not have a back tray card.

If you want high-resolution visual results, your design files should be 300 DPI (dots per inch) or higher.

A standard CD booklet contains F a single panel that has space for 2 pages.

A back tray card is a paper insert which goes under the plastic tray. It measures 150 mm x 118 mm or 5.94 x 4.65 inches. This measurement includes the two spines on either side.