How to Print Anki Cards as Vocabulary Sheet: Complete Guide

Anki is one of the most powerful spaced repetition tools available, and millions of language learners use it every day. But sometimes you want to take your Anki cards offline — maybe you want to study without your phone, practice handwriting, or have a physical sheet to review on the go.

In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to print Anki cards as a vocabulary sheet, including step-by-step instructions for exporting your Anki deck, converting it to a printable format, and creating clean, professional vocabulary worksheets.

Why Print Anki Cards?

Before we get into the how-to, let's explore why you might want to print your Anki cards in the first place:

1. Handwriting Improves Memory

As we discussed in our article on handwriting vocabulary practice, writing words by hand engages more brain regions and leads to better retention. Printing your Anki cards and writing the answers by hand combines the power of spaced repetition with the memory-boosting benefits of handwriting.

2. Study Without Distractions

Your phone is full of distractions — notifications, social media, games. With a printed vocabulary sheet, you can study anywhere without the temptation to switch apps.

3. Study Anywhere

No battery, no Wi-Fi, no screen required. You can review your vocabulary on the bus, in a café, during a lunch break, or anywhere else you have a few minutes.

4. Better for Visual Learners

Seeing all your words on a single page, with progress visible at a glance, can be more motivating than flipping through digital flashcards one at a time.

5. Share with Others

If you're a teacher or study group member, printed vocabulary sheets are easy to share with others. Just print and hand out.

Method 1: Export Anki Cards and Use an Online Generator (Recommended)

The easiest and most flexible way to print your Anki cards as a vocabulary sheet is to export your Anki deck and use an online generator like Ebbinghaus Sheet. This method gives you clean, professional results with minimal effort.

不需要手动绘制表格，点击使用我们的 Ebbinghaus Sheet 1 秒自动生成 A4 PDF。

Step 1: Export Your Anki Deck

Open Anki on your computer

Select the deck you want to print

Click "File" → "Export"

In the export dialog:

- Export format: Choose "Notes in Plain Text (.txt)" or "Cards in Plain Text (.txt)" - Include: Make sure all fields are selected - Include tags: Optional - Include HTML: Uncheck (we want clean text)

Click "Export" and save the file to your computer

Step 2: Clean Up the Exported File

Open the exported text file in a text editor (TextEdit, Notepad, VS Code, etc.). You'll see your cards in a format like this:

``` word definition example abandon to give up completely He abandoned his car in the snow. ```

We need to convert this to the format used by Ebbinghaus Sheet:

``` word | /phonetic/ | definition abandon | /əˈbændən/ | to give up completely ```

How to convert:

If your Anki cards have phonetics, great — include them

If not, you can leave the phonetic field empty: `word | | definition`

Replace tabs or other separators with ` | `

Remove any HTML tags or extra formatting

Save the cleaned file

Tip: If you have a large deck, you can use find-and-replace to quickly convert tabs to ` | `. In most text editors, you can insert a tab character in the find field by pressing Ctrl+Tab or Cmd+Tab.

Step 3: Generate Your Vocabulary Sheet

Go to https://www.ebbinghaussheet.com/ebbinghaus

Paste your cleaned word list into the text area, or click the upload button to import your TXT/CSV file

Choose your options:

- Orientation: Portrait or landscape - Columns: Toggle word, phonetic, and meaning on/off - Colors: Customize divider lines and checkboxes

Click the print button

In your browser's print dialog, choose "Save as PDF" or send directly to your printer

Step 4: Print and Study

Your Anki cards are now a clean, printable vocabulary sheet with:

• Word, phonetic, and definition columns

• 6 spaced repetition review columns (Day 1, 2, 4, 7, 15, 30)

• Auto-pagination at 20 words per page

• Clean, professional design

Print it out and start studying by hand!

Method 2: Print Directly from Anki

Anki has a built-in printing feature, though it's somewhat limited. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Open the Card Browser

Open Anki

Select your deck

Click "Browse" to open the card browser

Step 2: Select Cards

In the card browser, select the cards you want to print (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A to select all)

You can filter by deck, tag, or search terms if you only want to print specific cards

Step 3: Print

Right-click on the selected cards

Choose "Print" (or go to File → Print)

In the print dialog, you'll see a preview of your cards

Adjust settings as needed

Click Print

Limitations of Direct Anki Printing:

• Cards are printed as individual flashcards, not as a vocabulary list/table

• Limited formatting options

• No spaced repetition review columns

• Can be hard to fit many cards on a page

• Design may not be as clean as a dedicated generator

Method 3: Use Anki Add-ons

There are several Anki add-ons that enhance printing functionality:

Popular Printing Add-ons:

"Print" by various authors — Adds more printing options

"Export to PDF" — Exports decks as PDF files

"Card Printer" — Enhanced card printing with customization

How to Install Add-ons:

Open Anki

Go to "Tools" → "Add-ons" → "Get Add-ons"

Search for "print" or "PDF"

Select an add-on and click "Install"

Restart Anki

Note: Add-ons vary in quality and compatibility. Read reviews before installing, and make sure they're compatible with your version of Anki.

Method 4: Export to Excel/Google Sheets and Format

If you want maximum control over the formatting, you can export your Anki cards to a spreadsheet and format it yourself:

Step 1: Export from Anki

• Export your deck as "Notes in Plain Text (.txt)" with tab separation

Step 2: Import to Spreadsheet

Open Excel or Google Sheets

Import the text file (Data → Import)

Choose tab as the delimiter

Your cards will now be in columns

Step 3: Format

Add headers (Word, Definition, Example, etc.)

Adjust column widths

Add borders to create a table

Add review columns if desired (Day 1, 2, 4, 7, 15, 30)

Set print area to A4

Adjust scaling to fit the page

Step 4: Print or Save as PDF

• File → Print, or File → Download → PDF

Pros and Cons:

• Pros: Complete control over formatting, can add any columns you want

• Cons: Time-consuming, requires spreadsheet skills, printing can be finicky

Tips for Printing Anki Cards Effectively

1. Clean Your Data First

Before printing, take a few minutes to clean up your Anki cards:

• Remove duplicate cards

• Fix typos

• Ensure consistent formatting

• Remove any cards you don't need

2. Don't Print Too Many at Once

20-30 cards per sheet is ideal. If you have hundreds of cards, split them across multiple sheets or focus on the most important ones.

3. Use the Right Paper

A4 plain paper works fine, but if you want a nicer feel, consider:

• Thicker paper (90-120 gsm)

• Dot grid or lined paper

• Recycled paper (eco-friendly)

4. Write by Hand

The whole point of printing is to study offline — so actually write on the sheet! Cover the definitions and quiz yourself, write example sentences, and check off review boxes.

5. Use Spaced Repetition

If your printed sheet has review columns, use them! Review on Day 1, 2, 4, 7, 15, and 30 for maximum retention. This combines the best of Anki's spaced repetition with handwriting practice.

6. Keep Your Sheets Organized

Use a binder or folder to keep your printed vocabulary sheets. Being able to look back at your progress is motivating and helps with review.

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: Exported File Has HTML Tags

Solution: When exporting from Anki, make sure to uncheck "Include HTML". If you still see HTML tags, use find-and-replace to remove them, or use an online HTML stripper tool.

Issue 2: Phonetics Don't Export Properly

Solution: Some Anki decks use special fonts or HTML for phonetics. If phonetics don't export cleanly, you can:

• Add them manually after export

• Use a different deck with plain text phonetics

• Leave the phonetic field empty and just print word + definition

Issue 3: Printing Is Too Small or Too Large

Solution: Adjust the scaling in your printer settings. In most browsers, you can set scaling to "Default" or a specific percentage. Aim for a font size of 11-14pt for comfortable reading.

Issue 4: Cards Are Cut Off at the Bottom

Solution: This usually happens when content exceeds the page. Try:

• Reducing the number of words per page

• Adjusting margins

• Using landscape orientation

• Reducing font size slightly

Issue 5: Anki Add-on Doesn't Work

Solution: Make sure the add-on is compatible with your Anki version. Check the add-on's page for updates or alternatives. If all else fails, use the export + online generator method instead.

Who Should Print Their Anki Cards?

Printing Anki cards as vocabulary sheets is especially useful for:

• Anki users who want to supplement digital study with handwriting

• People who get distracted by their phones

• Language learners who prefer physical study materials

• Students who want to review on the go without devices

• Teachers who want to create handouts from Anki decks

• Anyone who remembers better when writing by hand

Conclusion

Printing your Anki cards as a vocabulary sheet is a great way to combine the power of Anki's spaced repetition with the memory-boosting benefits of handwriting and offline study. While Anki's built-in printing is somewhat limited, exporting your deck and using an online generator like Ebbinghaus Sheet gives you clean, professional results in minutes.

The key steps are:

Export your Anki deck as plain text

Clean up the format (word | phonetic | definition)

Paste into Ebbinghaus Sheet or another generator

Customize your layout

Print and study by hand

Whether you're looking to reduce screen time, practice handwriting, or just have a physical sheet to review on the go, printing your Anki cards is a simple but effective way to boost your vocabulary learning.

Ready to try it? Export your Anki deck and head to https://www.ebbinghaussheet.com/ebbinghaus to generate your free printable vocabulary sheet.