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PVC Cards

Q: What Types of PVC Cards are Available?

Composite PVC/PET cards these plastic cards are 60% PVC and 40% PET, yielding a durable material with greater flexibility, greater heat resistance, and a longer life than 100% PVC cards. Earth friendly cards (biodegradable PVC) these cards perform like standard PVC cards, but are made from fully biodegradable 99% PVC that leaves no damaging toxins behind. Rewritable cards these unique cards feature one side that is PVC and can be printed on using the standard dye-sublimation printing process of any ID card printer, and another side that is rewriteable and features a thermal printing surface.

Shop Blank PVC ID Cards

We offer a wide selection of blank PVC cards, available in standard CR80 as well as CR79 and CR100 sizes, in a variety of thicknesses. All our plastic ID cards are graphic-quality, and our inventory includes HiCo and LoCo magnetic stripe cards, perforated keytag cards, rewritable cards, color cards, earth-friendly cards, and cards with adhesive backs. Contact ID Wholesaler to speak with one of our knowledgeable ID Professionals for assistance choosing the appropriate PVC ID cards for your application, instruction on how to use magnetic stripe cards, and more!

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Have Questions about PVC Cards? We Have Answers!

What Types of PVC Cards are Available?

There many of types of PVC plastic ID cards available to serve a variety of card printing applications. Our inventory includes:

Composite PVC/PET cards these plastic cards are 60% PVC and 40% PET, yielding a durable material with greater flexibility, greater heat resistance, and a longer life than 100% PVC cards. Composite cards may be used in any ID card printer, but are specifically recommended for use with retransfer and laminating printers, as these printing processes involve high temperatures that can warp non-composite PVC cards.

Earth friendly cards (biodegradable PVC) these cards perform like standard PVC cards, but are made from fully biodegradable 99% PVC that leaves no damaging toxins behind. These earth-friendly cards maintain their integrity under normal, everyday use, as the biodegradation process only occurs if and when cards are in a fertile environment that contains microorganisms.

Rewritable cards these unique cards feature one side that is PVC and can be printed on using the standard dye-sublimation printing process of any ID card printer, and another side that is rewriteable and features a thermal printing surface. The rewritable side and can be erased and reprinted on as many as 500 times. These cards are a cost-effective solution for printing temporary ID and visitor access cards. Before ordering, verify that your card printer has resin-erase and rewrite capabilities.

For example, you may issue a personalized rewritable card to a visitor, which is turned in to you at the end of the visit. The same card can then be erased and rewritten with personalized information for another visitor. Plus, since heat is used in thermal printing, you'll save money without the need to purchase ribbons. Note: Not all ID card printers are capable of printing on rewritable cards.

What ID card Sizes are Available?

ID cards generally come in three sizes: CR80, CR79, and CR100. The vast majority of card printing applications call for CR80 size cards, and all card printers are capable of printing to this card size unless otherwise specified. Select printers are also capable of printing to CR79 and CR100 size cards, which may be used for more specialized applications. Here is a brief overview of the three most common PVC card sizes:

CR79 (3.303" x 2.051"): Slightly smaller than a standard CR80 size card, CR79 cards typically have an adhesive back and are commonly used for printing, peeling, and adhering to a “clamshell” style proximity card.
CR80 (3.375" x 2.125"): CR80 cards are the standard, most commonly used size cards for ID and other card printing applications and are the same size as a credit card.
CR100 (3.88" x 2.63"): 42% larger than a standard CR80 card, CR100 cards are often called "oversize" or "military-size" cards. CR100 cards are easier to see from a distance and are too big to hide in a wallet. Card printers with CR100 size card printing capability are very limited.
There are also options for varying card thicknesses. Standard cards (including credit cards) are 30 mil thick. PVC cards are also available in 20 mil, 13 mil, 10 mil, and 55 mil thicknesses.

Note: Not all card printers are capable of printing on non-standard card sizes and/or thicknesses. Check the specs of your card printer for the sizes and thicknesses it is capable of printing on, or call an ID Professional at (800) 321-4405 for assistance.

What is the Difference Between High Coercivity and Low Coercivity Mag Stripe Cards?

Plastic cards featuring magnetic stripes can be encoded with data for applications including financial cards, gift cards, access key cards, library cards, loyalty cards, transit cards, and more. When shopping for magstripe PVC cards, you have two options: high coercivity (HiCo) cards and low coercivity (LoCo) cards. HiCo and LoCo cards can be encoded to store same amount of data, but HiCo cards offer superior durability and security. The basic differences between the two types are outlined below.

High coercivity magnetic striped cards are harder to erase, and are therefore appropriate for applications where cards are frequently used or expected to have a long life. HiCo stripes are resistant to damage from most magnets or magnetic fields. Typical HiCo applications include: employee ID cards, access control, time and attendance, bank cards, and membership cards.

Low coercivity magnetic striped cards are easier to erase and can be damaged by brief contact with a magnetic field. Due to their sensitivity, LoCo stripe cards are typically used for short-term applications such as hotel room keys, phone cards, transit passes, and season passes for amusement parks.

At a glance, HiCo cards can generally be identified by a black stripe, while the stripes on LoCo cards are generally brown. The encoding technique is the same for both types of cards, except that encoding HiCo cards requires a stronger electrical current.

If you need assistance choosing the right mag stripe card for you, call an ID Professional at (800) 321-4405.