What is a cue card and when should you use one?

Last updated: 3 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals

A cue card is a small, stiff card that carries the key words or full text a presenter needs to say, held in the hand or placed on a lectern. This guide explains what cue cards are used for, how they differ from other prompting methods and how to make good ones.

Cue card meaning

The term comes from television, where large hand-held boards were held up next to the camera to prompt presenters with their lines. In events and public speaking today, a cue card usually means a card held by the speaker: commonly A5 or index-card size, printed on one side with the text and sometimes branded on the back.

Cue cards go by several names: speech note cards, presentation note cards, host cards, prompt cards. The idea is the same. They give the speaker a reliable reference without forcing them to read from a full page or a screen.

What cue cards are used for

Cue cards are useful whenever the words matter but the speaker still needs to look at the audience. Common uses include:

Hosting and MCing: welcomes, introductions, transitions and sponsor mentions, written as an MC script.
Award ceremonies: category names, nominees and winner reveals.
Panel moderation: speaker introductions and one question per card.
Speeches and toasts: weddings, retirements, company milestones.
Presentations: key points and figures when slides alone are not enough.
Protocol events: official titles and names that must be read exactly.

What goes on a good cue card

A cue card is not a page of the script squeezed into a smaller space. Good cards are designed for glancing: large sans-serif type, generous line spacing and wide margins so a thumb does not cover the text. Each card holds roughly 80 to 120 words, about 45 to 60 seconds of speech, and ends at a natural pause.

The details that must not go wrong (names, titles, numbers, dates, times and stage cues) are made larger and printed in a strong colour such as crimson. Cards are numbered so they can be put back in order if they are dropped. Our full guide on how to make cue cards covers each of these choices.

Cue cards vs teleprompter vs speaker notes

Method	Strengths	Limitations
Cue cards	Work anywhere, no power or operator, easy to hold and move with, quick to reprint	Need preparation and printing, limited text per card
Teleprompter	Full script at eye level, good for camera work and long speeches	Needs equipment, an operator and rehearsal; fixed position on stage
Speaker notes on a laptop or tablet	Easy to edit, synced with slides	Screens can sleep, glare under lights or fail; the speaker is tied to the lectern
Printed A4 script	Simple to produce	Too large to hold comfortably, noisy on a microphone, easy to lose your place

Many productions use cue cards as a backup even when a teleprompter is in place, because a card still works when the power or the playback machine does not.

Who uses cue cards

Professional hosts and moderators use them at almost every corporate event. So do event agencies and production teams, who often prepare cards on behalf of a client's chief executive. Conference organisers, protocol teams, corporate communications staff and freelance event coordinators all rely on them, as do people giving a single speech who simply want to avoid reading from their phone.

In a typical production, the cards are not written by the person who reads them. A content producer or event coordinator turns the approved script into cards, the host reviews them at rehearsal, and the production desk keeps a matching copy so that both sides can refer to the same card number if something changes during the show. That shared reference is one of the main reasons cue cards remain standard at professional events.

Common mistakes with cue cards

Writing too much text on each card so the speaker reads rather than speaks.
Splitting a sentence across two cards, which causes a pause in the middle of a thought.
Using a decorative or condensed font that is hard to read under stage lights.
Pale highlight colours, such as light pink or yellow, that disappear under warm lighting.
Not numbering cards, or printing on thin paper that bends and rustles.
Printing early and not updating after the script changes. See the guide on last-minute cue card edits.

Choosing a size and format

The most common event size is A5, which is comfortable in one hand and fits a lectern. For smaller speeches, 4 x 6 inch index cards are popular. Printing two A5 cards on a single A4 sheet with a cut line in the middle is a practical way to use an ordinary office printer. The cue card template guide covers sizes, margins and paper weight.

Make your first cue cards now

If your speech or host script is already in Word, you are one step away. The free cue card converter reads a DOCX file or pasted text, splits it into cards at natural pauses, highlights names, numbers and cues in deep red, and lets you edit before printing or exporting to PDF, PPTX or DOCX. It works in the browser with no account.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cue card used for?

A cue card prompts a speaker, host or presenter with their lines or key points so they can speak confidently while still looking at the audience.

What is the difference between a cue card and a note card?

In practice the terms overlap. Cue card is more common in events and broadcasting, while note card is often used for school or business presentations. Both are small cards carrying the speaker's text.

How many words should be on a cue card?

A useful target is around 80 to 120 words per card, which is roughly 45 to 60 seconds of speech, with each card ending at a natural pause.

Are cue cards better than a teleprompter?

They suit different situations. A teleprompter is ideal for camera work and long scripted speeches, while cue cards are portable, need no equipment and work as a reliable backup.

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