Free palm card maker for speeches and oral presentations
Last updated: 5 October 2026
Palm cards are the small cards you hold in your palm while giving a speech or an oral presentation – the Australian and New Zealand name for cue cards. This palm card maker takes your speech, splits it into short cards at natural pauses, highlights names, numbers and dates, and lays the cards out four to a page on A4 so you can print, cut and present. It is free and you don’t need an account.
How to make palm cards in three steps
- Add your speech. Paste the text or upload a Word (.docx), PDF, PowerPoint (.pptx), ODT or TXT file. Google Docs users can paste the text directly or download the document as Word.
- Pick the palm card size. The 3 × 5 inch card (127 × 76 mm) is the classic palm card; A6 (105 × 148 mm) gives a little more room. The text is split into short cards of about 40 words for 3 × 5 and 60 words for A6, always at the end of a sentence.
- Print and cut. Choose “Several cards per sheet”: four palm cards fit on one A4 sheet with dashed cut lines and crop marks. Add your name or class on the back if your teacher asks for it.
Before the day, open Practice to rehearse card by card with a timer, using the arrow keys or swiping on a phone.
What should you write on palm cards?
It depends on the task. For most school oral presentations teachers want dot points, not a full script: a heading, three to five short prompts and any facts you must get exactly right. For a formal speech, a debate rebuttal you have drafted, or a speech in a second language, full sentences on each card can be safer. In both cases:
- Write one idea per card, so you never have to hunt for your place.
- Make names, numbers, dates and quotes stand out – the tool highlights them in crimson automatically.
- Number every card (“3 / 8”) in case you drop them.
- Use large, clear type: at least 12 pt on a 3 × 5 card, more if you can.
- Write on one side only and leave a margin where your thumb sits.
If your teacher sets a word limit per card, set Words per card in the settings before you upload, or edit the cards afterwards: you can split, merge, reorder and retype any card.
Palm card sizes
| Size | Dimensions | Cards per A4 sheet | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 5 in | 127 × 76 mm | 4 | Dot-point palm cards, debates, short orals |
| A6 | 105 × 148 mm | 4 | Slightly longer prompts or short full sentences |
| 4 × 6 in | 152 × 102 mm | 2 | Full-sentence speech cards |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm | 2 | Hosts, MCs and award ceremonies |
Print on thin card (160–250 gsm) if your printer allows it: palm cards on office paper bend and rustle. See the cue card template guide for downloadable Word templates in each size.
Palm cards for oral presentations, debates and speeches
- Oral presentations and assessments: keep each card to a heading and a few prompts. Practise until you only glance at the card between points.
- Debates: one card per argument, with your evidence and the speaker you are rebutting at the top. Leave blank cards for notes during the round.
- Speeches and talks: full sentences for the opening and closing, prompts in between, and every name spelled out.
- Speeches in another language: write the full text and mark pauses; the tool keeps your wording exactly as written.
Rehearse with the cards, not just the script
The cards you print should be the cards you practise with. Practice mode shows one card at a time, full screen, with the estimated time for that card and for the whole speech, so you can check that a three-minute oral really fits in three minutes. To estimate the length before you start, paste your speech into the speech time calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a palm card?
Most palm cards are 3 × 5 inch index cards (127 × 76 mm). A6 (105 × 148 mm) is a common alternative in countries that use A4 paper. Four of either size fit on one A4 sheet.
How many words should be on a palm card?
For dot points, a heading and three to five short prompts. For full sentences, around 40 words on a 3 × 5 inch card and about 60 on an A6 card, so the text stays large enough to read at a glance.
How many palm cards do I need?
For dot-point cards, plan one card per main point – usually five to eight for a three- to five-minute oral. For a full script on 3 × 5 cards, a five-minute speech needs around 15 cards at a normal speaking pace.
Is the palm card maker free?
Yes. You can create, print and download palm cards without an account or payment.
Will it change my words?
No. The text is split and key details are highlighted, but your wording is kept as written. You can edit any card before printing.
More guides
- How to make cue cards for a speech or event
- Turn PowerPoint speaker notes into cue cards
- Convert a PDF speech into cue cards
- How many cue cards do you need for a speech?
- Cue card makers for speeches compared
- How to write an MC script that keeps your event on time
- Run of show template: how to plan an event programme minute by minute
- What is a cue card and when should you use one?
- Free cue card template (Word, PDF): 3×5, 4×6 and A5 sizes
- Moderator cue cards: how to run a panel discussion from your cards
- How to write an award ceremony script and winner reveal cards
- Event planning checklist: what to do and when, from one month out to show day
- How to edit cue cards when the script changes at the last minute
- Opening speech examples and a simple structure for welcome remarks
- MC script examples: ready-to-use host lines from doors to closing
- Cue card examples: three real decks with PDFs