PVC ID Cards & Blank Plastic Cards
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is one of the most widely used materials for professional ID card printing. PVC cards provide a smooth, printable surface for employee IDs, student badges, membership cards, visitor credentials, access cards, loyalty cards and other personalized identification applications.
ID Enhancements offers blank PVC cards in a wide variety of colors, sizes, thicknesses and constructions. Options include standard 30mil white PVC cards, colored cards, cards of varying thicknesses, poly-composite cards, custom-printed cards, adhesive-backed cards, rewritable cards, protective overlays and FOTODEK PVC cards. Whether you need a plain white card for everyday ID printing or a specialized card for a particular application, the sections below can help you choose the right option.
Common PVC Card Options
30mil White PVC Cards
Industry-standard blank white cards for everyday photo ID and credential printing.
Colored PVC Cards
Colored card stock for visitor management, membership programs, color coding and branded identification.
Cards of Varying Thicknesses
Choose thinner or thicker PVC cards when your application or printer requires something other than standard 30mil card stock.
Poly-Composite Cards
PVC/polyester construction designed to provide additional strength and heat resistance for demanding card-printing applications.
Specialty PVC Cards
Explore custom-printed, adhesive-backed, rewritable, FOTODEK and other specialized card options.
PVC Card Quick Reference
| Most Common Size | CR80 |
| CR80 Dimensions | Approx. 3.375" × 2.125" |
| Metric Size | Approx. 85.6 × 54 mm |
| Standard Thickness | 30mil |
| Common Material | PVC |
| Common Applications | Photo ID & Credential Printing |
Blank ID Cards, Plain White Cards & 30mil PVC Cards
A blank ID card provides the starting point for professional photo identification and credential printing. Standard 30mil white PVC cards are the most common choice for everyday card-printing programs, providing a clean plain white card surface for printing photographs, names, logos, text, barcodes and other personalized information.
For most everyday ID card programs, the familiar CR80 30mil format provides approximately the same dimensions and thickness associated with a standard credit card. It is widely used for employee IDs, membership cards, student credentials, visitor identification and many other card-printing applications.
Shop 30mil Plain White PVC CardsColored PVC Cards
Colored PVC cards provide a simple way to visually distinguish departments, visitor classifications, membership levels, access groups or branded credential programs. Multiple colors are available for organizations that want an alternative to standard white card stock.
Explore Colored PVC Cards »PVC Cards of Varying Thicknesses
Although 30mil is the most common ID card thickness, some applications require thinner or thicker media. PVC cards are available in multiple thicknesses for temporary badges, specialty inserts, access credentials and other applications where standard 30mil construction may not be ideal. Always verify the card-thickness range supported by your ID card printer before ordering.
Browse PVC Cards by Thickness »Adhesive-Backed PVC Cards
Adhesive-backed PVC cards are printed on the front like a traditional ID card and feature a removable liner over an adhesive backing. After printing, the liner is removed and the card can be applied to another credential or suitable surface.
They are particularly useful for adding professional photo identification to certain thicker proximity credentials, such as clamshell-style proximity cards that cannot be fed directly through a standard ID card printer. Different sizes, thicknesses and adhesive constructions are available, so always confirm your ID card printer's supported media specifications before ordering.
Shop Adhesive-Backed PVC Cards »Poly-Composite PVC Cards
Poly-composite cards combine PVC with polyester to provide greater strength and heat resistance than standard PVC construction. They are commonly selected for retransfer printing, lamination and other applications where the card may be exposed to greater heat during the printing or finishing process. Poly-composite construction can also provide additional durability for demanding credential programs.
Shop Poly-Composite PVC Cards »Custom-Printed PVC Cards
Custom-printed PVC cards are an option for organizations that want cards produced with company graphics, branding or other preprinted elements rather than printing every design element in-house.
Explore Custom-Printed PVC Cards »Re-Writable PVC Cards
Re-writable PVC cards feature a specialized thermal surface that allows compatible information to be erased and printed again using supported rewritable card-printing equipment. They can be useful for visitor credentials, temporary IDs and applications where printed card information changes frequently.
Explore Re-Writable PVC Cards »Protective Overlays for PVC Cards
Protective card overlays provide an additional layer over a printed credential to help protect the card surface from everyday handling, abrasion and wear. Review the individual overlay specifications to select the appropriate size and construction for your card application.
Shop Protective Overlays »FOTODEK PVC Cards
FOTODEK offers a broad selection of card constructions for professional ID badging and credential printing, including standard, premium, colored, eco-friendly and adhesive-backed options.
Explore FOTODEK PVC Cards »ID Card Thicknesses
PVC ID cards are available in several thicknesses depending on the application and printer requirements. Common card stock may range from thin specialty cards to heavier credentials, with the exact media range depending on the printer and card construction.
30mil means approximately 0.030 inch thick and is the most widely used thickness for standard CR80 identification cards. It provides the familiar feel associated with a typical credit or identification card.
Always verify both the supported card size and thickness for your ID card printer before ordering specialty media.
Common ID Card Sizes
CR80: approximately 3.375" × 2.125" (85.6 × 54 mm) — the standard credit-card-size format and by far the most common size for employee IDs, membership cards and other printed credentials.
CR79: approximately 3.303" × 2.051" (83.9 × 52.1 mm) — slightly smaller than CR80. CR79 cards are commonly available with adhesive backing and may be applied to compatible clamshell-style proximity cards.
CR90: approximately 3.63" × 2.37" (92 × 60 mm) — a larger card format that provides additional printable surface area compared with CR80.
CR100: approximately 3.88" × 2.63" (98.5 × 67 mm) — an oversized card format used when greater credential visibility or additional printable space is required.
How to Choose the Right PVC ID Card
Start with your ID card printer specifications and the requirements of your credential program. Card size, thickness, material, magnetic stripe requirements, smart-card or proximity technology, printing process and lamination can all affect which blank card is appropriate.
For standard photo identification, a plain white 30mil CR80 PVC card is the most common starting point. Applications involving lamination, retransfer printing, reusable badges, clamshell proximity credentials, visual color coding or specialized printing may require a poly-composite, adhesive-backed, rewritable, colored or other specialty card instead.
Explore Our PVC Card Collection
Browse PVC cards by color, thickness, construction and application to find the right card for your ID printer and credential program.
