Five best ID card printers in 2024
In today's fast-paced world, efficient identification systems are important, and having a reliable ID card printer is essential for many organisations – whether it's for employee badges, student IDs, membership cards or event passes. With a multitude of options available in the market, selecting the right printer can be a daunting task, so in this blog post we present our expert’s top picks for the best ID card printers in 2024 – their features, benefits, and considerations that will help you make an informed decision for your identification needs.
Read on to learn more about:
- What type of printer is used for ID?
- What is the best ID card printer for your business?
- Top 5 ID card printers
- How to increase the return on your ID printer investment?
What type of printer is used for ID?
Unlike traditional printers designed for paper documents and images, ID card printers are devices tailored specifically to produce identification cards. This specialisation enables ID card printers to meet the unique requirements of ID card production, including durability, security features, and customization options.
ID card printers are equipped to handle plastic cards, such as PVC or composite cards, instead of paper. Their features are designed for ID card production, such as encoding capabilities for adding magnetic stripes, smart chips, or barcodes to the cards. Additionally, many ID card printers offer options for secure printing, including holographic overlays, UV printing, and watermarking, to prevent counterfeiting and enhance card security.
What is the best ID card printer for your business?
From corporate offices and educational institutions to healthcare facilities and government agencies, the demand for ID card printers spans a wide spectrum. In corporate settings, ID cards serve as access control tools, enabling seamless entry to restricted areas and enhancing security measures (see our guide on the benefits of access control technologies to learn more). Educational institutions rely on ID cards to identify students, faculty, and staff, streamlining administrative processes and ensuring campus safety.
So what is the best ID card maker for your business? Different types of badge printers address different needs. Entry-level ID card printers are typically more affordable but print at lower speeds and have fewer customisation options, compared to high-performance models. While entry-level printers can produce decent quality ID cards, they may not offer the same level of print resolution or colour accuracy as a high-performance card printer. Direct-to-Card printers are ideal for producing standard PVC cards quickly and economically, making them popular choices for entry-level applications. Retransfer printers, on the other hand, utilise a two-step printing process that transfers images onto a separate film before applying them to the card surface, resulting in superior print quality and durability.
Top 5 ID card printers
Whether you're a small business, educational institution, or government agency, there's an ideal ID card maker to meet your unique requirements. Let’s take a closer look at our best-in-class solutions for ID card printing.
Our Most Popular: Zebra ZC300
The Zebra ZC300 Card Printer has been engineered for simplicity and efficiency, with its plug-and-play deployment and intuitive user interface. The ZC300 Series offers great flexibility in card design: you can print single or dual-sided edge-to-edge monochrome or colour cards and take advantage of new ribbons offering specialty colours and special effects, allowing for visually striking designs. Although the ZC300 Series will be optimal in most settings, whether corporate office, university, or retail store, its lack of some advanced security features might restrict its suitability for certain applications.
Key features:
- Direct-to-card printer
- Single- and double-sided printing options
- Monochrome or colour cards
- Choice of connectivity options: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
- Options for printing contact and contactless cards, as well as magnetic stripe
Learn more and buy from our Zebra ZC300 page.
Best Entry-Level ID Card Printer: IDP SMART-21S
The IDP SMART-21S Single Sided Card Printer is compact, easy to use, and versatile, and comes at an affordable price. With its simple hand-fed card feeder and lightweight design the IDP SMART-21S is ideal for printing staff IDs, access badges, membership cards, and more. While the SMART-21S may not be suitable for high-volume printing demands, its cost-effective nature makes it an excellent choice for organisations with lower budgets.
Key features:
- Colour & mono single side printing
- Printing resolution: 300 dpi (colour), 600 dpi & 1200 dpi (mono only)
- Edge-to-edge printing
- Enhanced security with SMARTMark
- Optional encoders: magnetic and smart card
To find out more information and purchase yours, see our IDP Smart 21S page.
Best High-Performance ID Card Printer – Magicard 300
The ultra reliable Magicard 300 ID Card Printer offers robust performance tailored for schools, colleges, and medium-sized businesses printing up to 10,000 cards annually. Built with resilience and security in mind, the Magicard 300 is the go-to choice for secure and dependable ID card printing. With a wide colour spectrum and a printing resolution of 300 dpi, it delivers exceptional print quality, perfect for photographs on ID cards and precise corporate logos. Although the Magicard 300 boasts fast printing speeds, it may not be the fastest option for large volume printing needs.
Key features:
- Printing speed: full-colour single-sided card with HoloKote® in under 23 seconds, resin-only version in under 6 seconds.
- Digital shredding™ technology for data security
- Anti-fraud measures, including customizable HoloKote® watermarking.
- Easy updates and upgrades for the latest features and fixes
Looking to find out more or buy? Head over to our Magicard 300 page.
Best Retransfer ID Card Printer – Evolis Agilia
The Evolis Agilia Retransfer ID Card Printer excels in printing breathtaking high-resolution cards at an unbeatable 600 dpi. With advanced colour profiling and full over-the-edge coverage capability, the Agilia is highly adaptable to different materials and technical specifications, and captures intricate details for an attractive finish. This retransfer card printer offers numerous possibilities for graphic and electrical customizations, enhancing card security. One potential drawback of the Evolis Agilia is its relatively high cost, which might not make it the most economical choice for smaller businesses.
Key features:
- Print compatibility with all card materials.
- High-definition 600 dpi print technology
- Colour adjustment via colour profile for precise and vibrant prints.
- Single or double-sided printing options for added flexibility.
- Prints up to 150 cards per hour, ensuring efficient and timely production.
See our Evolis Agilia page for more information and to buy today.
Best for Events – Magicard E+
The Magicard E+ Card Printer stands as a powerful tool for event organisers. It prints full-colour cards in just 23 seconds and monochrome in 6 seconds, prioritising efficiency. Equipped with HoloKote security technology, the Magicard E+ ensures each print is secure with customizable watermarking, and its wide colour spectrum makes it ideal for printing photographs and precise company logos. Despite its impressive features, the Magicard E+ may have limited compatibility with certain card sizes, potentially restricting its suitability for specific event requirements.
Key features:
- Optimised colour profiles for vibrant and accurate prints
- High-speed printing for swift production of event badges
- Single line encoding and smart card encoding for enhanced security.
- Edge-to-edge and photo-quality printing
- Rewritable technology for reusable cards
- Digital shredding for secure data management
- Longer length printing capabilities and duplex printing option
If this sounds like the right fit for you, visit our Magicard E+ page.
How to increase the return on your ID printer investment
Purchasing an ID card maker is definitely an investment given plastic card printer prices. Selecting the right printer tailored to your specific requirements ensures that the investment positively impacts your operations.
At The Barcode Warehouse we go beyond providing ID card printers and accessories; we offer comprehensive services to keep your hardware functional and your software up-to-date. To learn more about how we can support your printer and enhance your business efficiency, visit our ID card printer repair services page.
