Tools
Free CD case template
Type your title and songs, pick colours and a typeface, and print a jewel case insert and back tray card at true size.
Short answer
This free CD case template builds a printable front insert (120 × 120 mm) and back tray card (150 × 118 mm with both spines) from your title and tracklist. Print at 100% on US Letter, cut on the crop marks, fold the spines, and it fits a standard jewel case.
Prints on US Letter at true size with crop marks. In the print dialog choose 100% or Actual size.
For Sam, from Alex
Songs for the Long Way Home
For Sam, from Alex
- 01Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
- 02September - Earth, Wind & Fire
- 03Dancing Queen - ABBA
- 04Electric Feel - MGMT
- 05Lovely Day - Bill Withers
- 06Kiss Me - Sixpence None the Richer
- 07Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
- 08Just Like Heaven - The Cure
- 09Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
- 10Linger - The Cranberries
- 11Harvest Moon - Neil Young
- 12Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac
Most CD case templates are a blank PDF or a design file you have to open in another program. This one is a working tracklist maker: the CD case template above numbers your songs, sizes the type to fit, puts the title on both spines, and prints only the pieces, at their real size, with crop marks. Choose the fold-out booklet if you want a cover that opens, with a blank inside for a handwritten note.
CD case template sizes
A standard jewel case takes two printed pieces. These are the sizes the template prints; the CD cover size guide has the same numbers in pixels, plus bleed, slim cases and disc labels.
| Piece | Millimetres | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Front insert | 120 × 120 mm | 4.72 in square |
| Fold-out booklet (flat) | 242 × 120 mm | 9.53 in × 4.72 in |
| Back tray card, with spines | 150 × 118 mm | 5.91 in × 4.65 in |
| Each spine | 6.25 mm | 0.25 in |
| Tray card back panel | 137.5 × 118 mm | 5.41 in × 4.65 in |
The background runs 1.5 mm past each cut line, so a cut that wanders a little still shows colour, not a white edge.
How to print, cut and fold a jewel case insert
- 01Fill in the templateType a title, a subtitle or a “for” line, and paste your tracklist. Add a front photo if you want one; it stays on your device.
- 02Press Print and check the settingsChoose Letter paper, Scale 100% or Actual size, and switch on Background graphics so the colours print.
- 03Measure the check barThe note beside the front insert has a 50 mm bar. If it measures short, the printer shrank the page; print again with scaling off.
- 04Cut on the crop marksLine a metal ruler up with the two marks at each edge and cut with a craft knife, or use a paper trimmer. Cut all four sides of each piece.
- 05Fold the spines and fit the caseScore the tray card at the dashed fold marks, fold both spines up, and seat it under the disc tray. Slide the front insert under the tabs in the lid.
Which paper to print a CD cover on
Plain copy paper works, but it looks thin behind the clear lid and can show the disc tray through it. A bright white 28 to 32 lb (105 to 120 gsm) paper prints sharper and holds a fold. Matte photo paper or light cardstock looks best for a photo cover, as long as your printer will feed it; check its manual for the heaviest weight it takes.
Dark palettes use a lot of ink. If you are printing several copies, try the Paper palette or a light photo. Let inkjet prints dry for a few minutes before cutting so the ink does not smear on the ruler.
Writing an album tracklist that fits
Paste one song per line in any format, such as “Song - Artist”. The template strips old numbering and adds its own. Add a length like 3:45 at the end of every line and it prints the lengths plus the total running time. Up to 13 songs print in one column; longer lists move to two or three columns with smaller type.
Not sure the songs fit on one disc? Run the list through the playlist length calculator first. It finds each song’s length, splits long lists across discs, and gives you a clean numbered list to paste back here. For the front, make a square cover in our CD cover maker and load it as the front image, or browse mixtape name ideas if the title is the hard part.
Using a paper sleeve instead of a case? The CD sleeve template prints a sleeve that folds together without glue.
Rather not cut and fold? Our Case + tracklist and Case + Custom Art packages come with the insert printed for you. Order a custom CD mixtape and we burn, print and post it.
Questions people ask
What size is a CD case insert?
The front insert of a standard jewel case is 120 × 120 mm (4.72 in square). The back tray card is 150 × 118 mm (5.91 × 4.65 in), which includes a 6.25 mm spine at each end.
How do I print a CD cover at the right size?
Print at 100% or Actual size, with Fit to page turned off. Our template prints a 50 mm check bar on the sheet; measure it with a ruler before you cut, and if it is shorter, the printer scaled the page.
Is there a free CD case template with a tracklist?
Yes. The template on this page numbers your songs for you and prints them on the back tray card, with your title on both spines. It is free, needs no sign-up, and works in any modern browser.
What paper should I use for a jewel case insert?
Use bright white paper around 28 to 32 lb (105 to 120 gsm), or a light cardstock if your printer takes it. Heavier paper looks better behind the clear case but needs a firm crease at the spine folds.
Where does the back cover go in a CD case?
The back tray card sits under the clear disc tray. Lift the tray out of the case, lay the card in the base with the spines folded up against the sides, and press the tray back in on top.
Does this template fit a slim CD case?
The front insert fits a slim case. Slim cases have no room for a tray card or spines, so print only the front and write or print a short tracklist on its back.