x

The Complete ID
Printer Buyer's Guide

This guide walks you through all the important considerations you'll need to know when selecting an ID card printer.

  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *

Thank You For Requesting Your Free Buyer's Guide!

Click the button to download your free copy.

Download the Guide
Absolutely Free!
x

Get Personalized
Recommendations!

Our ID card system experts will review your needs and send you personalized recommendations.

  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *

Thank You!

One of our experts will be in touch with you shortly to discuss the best ID card printer for your organization

In the meantime, get started by exploring our Free ID card printer comparison tool

Start Comparing

How to Choose an ID Card Printer

Learning Center

How to Choose an ID Card Printer

Buyer's Guide
to ID Card Printers

Get the 7-step guide
from the industry experts!

Get Free Guide Buyer's Guide to ID Card Printers

With such a wide range of ID card printers on the market, evaluating the options can become an overwhelming task. This guide will walk you through all the considerations and help you select the best ID card printer for your organization.

  • Step 1: Determine Your Budget

    It’s very helpful to have a pre-established budget range when evaluating printers since an organization’s budget can be the most limiting factor. Make sure you consider the ongoing supply costs including blank cards and printer ribbons.

  • Step 2: Single or Dual-Sided Printing

    If you need to print both sides of the card, dual-sided printers automatically flip and print onto the backside of a card. If you are unsure, consider a printer with a field upgradable dual-sided printing module.

  • Step 3: Select Printing Method

    Most ID card printers use dye sublimation printing, while some of the more sophisticated models use reverse transfer printing to produce high-definition cards. In addition, some printers have a monochrome rewritable mode.

  • Step 4: Volume Requirements

    Knowing the estimated printing volume is very important when choosing the right printer. Organizations with medium to high-volume print jobs may prefer to invest in a more expensive printer up front in order to save on labor and supply costs over time.

  • Step 5: Lamination, Visual Security & Encoding

    Some ID card printers have special features to increase ID card durability and visual security including lamination, holographic lamination and Holokote watermarks. Encoding options are fairly standard across all ID card printers.

  • Step 6: Determine Connection Type

    Do you need to connect your printer to a single computer or to a network? USB cables connect printers to a single computer and come standard with all ID printers. Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections are required to connect to a network.

  • Step 7: Other Considerations

    Before making a final choice, you may want to consider ID printer size, availability of field upgrades, or operating system compatibility. We recommend reviewing the manufacturer warranty to determine if you should purchase extended warranty coverage.

  • Summary: ID Printer Checklist

    This checklist contains an overview of all the features to consider when selecting an ID card printer. Once you have completed this checklist, you will be equipped with the knowledge necessary to compare ID printers.