Sub Categories
Choosing an ID Card Printer
Single-Sided Card Printers
Print on one side of the card for straightforward employee ID, membership and visitor credential programs.
Dual-Sided Card Printers
Automatically print both sides of a card for programs requiring additional information, instructions, barcodes or branding.
Direct-to-Card Printers
A popular choice for everyday PVC card printing and professional photo identification.
Retransfer Card Printers
Designed for high-quality printing and applications where image quality, card coverage or technology-card compatibility is important.
Card Printers with Encoding
Available configurations can support magnetic stripe, contact and contactless smart card encoding for compatible credential programs.
ID Printer Supplies & Accessories
Printer Ribbons
Color and monochrome ribbons designed for compatible ID card printer models.
Blank PVC Cards
Printable cards for employee IDs, membership cards, visitor badges and other credentials.
Laminates & Overlaminates
Protective materials for compatible laminating card printer systems.
Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning kits, cards and rollers designed to help maintain compatible printer components.
Parts & Accessories
Printheads and other supplies for supported professional card printer systems.
What Is a Card Printer?
A card printer is designed to print identification, graphics and other information directly onto plastic cards or through a compatible retransfer printing process. Unlike a standard office printer, an ID card printer is built specifically to handle card-sized media and specialized printing supplies.
Organizations use card printers to produce professional photo IDs, employee badges, student cards, membership cards, visitor credentials and access cards on demand. Depending on the model, a printer may also support dual-sided printing, lamination or credential encoding.
Popular Uses for ID Card Printers
- Employee photo ID cards
- Access control credentials
- Student and faculty IDs
- Healthcare identification badges
- Membership cards
- Visitor badges
- Government credentials
- Corporate identification programs
Finding the Right Card Printer for Your Organization
The right card printer depends on your printing volume, card design, security requirements and credential technology. Consider whether you need single- or dual-sided printing, direct-to-card or retransfer technology, lamination, magnetic stripe encoding, smart card encoding or other features before selecting a system.
Printer supplies are also model-specific. Ribbons, laminates, cleaning kits and other consumables should be selected for compatibility with your exact printer model. Choosing compatible supplies helps support consistent print quality and dependable printer operation.
Professional Card Printer Brands
Explore professional ID card printers and supplies from Fargo®, Zebra®, Magicard®, Entrust®, Evolis® and IDP®, with solutions ranging from everyday desktop badge printing to advanced credential issuance.
