ID Badge Printing2024-10-08T08:28:42-04:00

Employee
ID badge printing
without the hassle

Thousands of companies of all sizes trust their ID card printing to InstantCard. With no minimum batch sizes, free template design, and same-day shipping, ID badge printing has never been so hassle-free.

The ID cards you need, when you need them

Employee
ID badge printing
without the hassle

The ID cards you need, when you need them

Thousands of companies of all sizes trust their ID card printing to InstantCard. With no minimum batch sizes, free template design, and same-day shipping, ID badge printing has never been so hassle-free.

InstantCard Account Setup

Submit your infoFilling out this form gives us all the information we need for initial account setup. Fund your account100% goes towards card production. Choose your options Choose basic design/technology options & upload your logo Template design You will be contacted by our professional designers to approve your ID template.
Can I send you a batch of photos for processing?2019-08-02T14:05:56-04:00

Yes.

We will provide you with a personalized ftp destination on our site, where you can send all your photos. They will be linked by name to the data submitted in a spreadsheet. We also offer our unique photo-processing service which can process large batches of photos to make them all consistent: same face-fill factor (using facial recognition); same x-y dimensions; same definition & resolution. This is particularly useful when you have a large numbers of pictures coming from a variety of different sources.

Does the service use pre-set card design templates?2021-01-20T06:49:44-05:00

At InstantCard we pride ourselves in making custom designs for each of our clients. We prefer to make a custom design for you to best meet your exact needs. This is a free service. If you would like to get some inspiration as to what others in similar fields have done, to give our designer your preferences, please leaf through the card gallery on our site.  Your design will be unique, based on your logo, your color scheme, and your layout preferences.

You may also upload any inspirational examples for our designers via the template design form.

I’m not very design-oriented. Can someone create a template for me?2019-08-02T14:03:37-04:00

Absolutely. In fact, most people prefer to have us design their ID cards. We have expert graphic specialists at InstantCard who would be more than happy to design a custom template for you using your company logo, color scheme, and any other design specifications that you may have. This is a no charge service. And if you decide at a later date to make changes to the design, we typically help you do that in a matter of minutes.

Do I email you the employee photos?2019-08-02T14:03:06-04:00

No.

Our online service eliminates email entirely, since this manual process is the source of most errors when dealing with an outside supplier. Our service allows you to just point to the photos for your IDs cards, then automatically embeds them onto your cards. Within your browser window, you will be able to easily adjust which part of the picture you want to show up on the ID (cropping). There is no need to worry about pictures mismatched with employee names, poor pictures, or improper sizing. You’ll see an exact image of card as it will be printed, so you can verify spelling and presentation, before you choose to print the ID card.

If you have a large number of employee pictures, we provide a custom service which automatically re-sizes and crops all your pictures to the appropriate format for your ID cards.

Can our card design include barcodes or QR codes?2021-01-20T06:47:19-05:00

Our service can support 30 different barcode symbologies, including of course the most common ones like Code39 and Code128. Cards can have multiple barcodes on them, on either the front or the back or both.

We fully support QR codes, which can create a linkage between the physical card and the virtual cloud-based information. Or they can be used to allow scanning of contact information.

Can I change my card design after processing the cards?2019-08-02T14:01:34-04:00

Yes.

You may make as many changes to card templates as you like, now or in the future. In fact, you can make an unlimited number of card templates, at no extra charge. Many clients use multiple designs, such as for staff and students, or for temporary and permanent employees. If you update the templates, for example with a new expiration date, you will not need to change your personnel data.

Can you encode the magnetic stripe on our cards when the badge is printed?2021-01-20T06:51:00-05:00

Yes.

Our service allows you to define the contents for encoding Track1, Track2, and Track3. There is no extra charge for this service.

Security is very important for my company. How can you enhance the security of our ID cards?2019-08-02T14:00:10-04:00

We offer a number of options that can greatly increase the security of our ID cards. Some of the options which significantly reduce the risk of fraud or falsification include:

  • Print your cards on smart card (chip) cards which can be encoded for enhanced security
  • Add a holographic overlay covering the full surface of the cards
  • Use micro-printing, which only high-quality high-definition printers can achieve
  • Print a ghosted and re-sized picture on the front or back of the card
  • Overlay or underlay complex graphics over variable data (photo, name, etc.)

We would be pleased to work with you to define the best security solution to meet your organization’s unique requirements.

Can I upload a sketch?2019-08-02T13:56:59-04:00

Yes! You may absolutely upload a sketch of your idea. Our professional designers will realize it into a complete design. They will work with you to make sure that the design matches your intentions. So, go ahead, scan the back of that envelope. We’ll make it into something you’ll be proud to wear.

Do I have to use professional design software?2021-01-20T06:49:19-05:00

No.

You may use whatever software you are comfortable with. Just be aware, if you are uploading a complete design, make sure that it is 1050 pixels (minimum) on the longest side. If you are unsure how to do this, don’t worry—send us what you have and our professional designers can recreate it in high resolution. (If you are using a photo background, make sure you send us the full, high-resolution photo along with your design.)

What types of files can I upload?2019-08-02T13:55:22-04:00

Currently, we accept graphic files with the following extensions:

.pdf, .doc, .docx, .zip, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .psd, .cdr, .bmp

If you have something in a format other than that which is supported here, no problem. Simply contact us, and we’ll make sure that we get your template up and running ASAP.

Do we email you the employee photos? And where do I enter employees’ names and info?2020-03-17T08:23:45-04:00

The InstantCard removes email, and therefore manual operations, completely!  You will upload employee photos along with employee data directly to the website.  Once you have approved your first template design, you will be given login credentials to the InstantCard service. There, you may either enter each employee’s information one-at-a-time or all-at-once via a bulk upload using a spreadsheet.

Initial Account Funding

We will begin working on your custom ID card design
as soon as you fund your account for the first time.

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Minimum initial deposit is $195.00.

100% goes to card production. This will cover 20-30 cards depending on options.

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Not ready Yet?

Focus on what matters

Printing employee ID badges
isn’t your core business.

Printing employee ID badges and cards in-house requires additional overhead and swearing at jammed printers. Devoting so many resources to a non-vital operation detracts from your core business. This is why we will never try to sell anyone an ID card printer. We don’t want to sell the hassle that comes with them. We also don’t want you to deal with the traditional pains of outsourcing—minimum batch sizes and complicated transfer of employee data. Small companies can’t commit to big batches. Big companies need to get new hires their IDs right away. So, we built a better option—an ID badge printing system that allows for single-card-orders, same-day shipping, and easy import of employee data. Now, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of on-site ID badge printing nor batch sizes.
Photo ID badges for employees, made easy.

Learn More

Special Badge of Honor

We take customer satisfaction very seriously.
In fact, every ID card printed comes with a 100% guarantee.

Try our In-House Vs. Outsource Cost Calculator

Edit all variable data according to your company’s needs and specifications. We’ve taken into account all possible costs and overhead associated with ID card printing so you can easily find out if outsourcing makes sense for your organization.

Looking good!

Free ID Badge Template Design

Our professional designers will create a custom ID template based on your specifications. We do not use generic badge templates, ensuring you get exactly what you need from your employee ID cards. We provide unlimited templates, so you get the identification features you need, where you need them.

From technology to design—you shouldn’t be limited in your employee ID badge options.

ID card template designs

New hire? No problem!

No Minimum Batch Size

Many ID badge providers require a large batch size to qualify for reasonable prices. Large companies need ID badges immediately, as soon as there’s a new hire. Small companies find it hard to fulfill minimum batch sizes. So, it doesn’t make sense to have a system with minimum batch sizes.

Since our system was designed to service business of all sizes and needs, we have always supported single-card orders. In fact, our whole service was designed around this simple concept.

  • 1 Employee ID Badge
  • Stack of 2 Employee ID Badges
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  • Stack of 13 Employee ID Badges
  • Stack of 12 Employee ID Badges
  • Stack of 11 Employee ID Badges
  • Stack of 10 Employee ID Badges
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ID Badge Security FeaturesID Card security options

We offer practically every possible technology option to go with your ID badges. If you need to use your ID cards for access control, no problem. There are multiple contactless chip options for your cards, including low-frequency, high-frequency, and ultra-high frequency.

| NFC | RFID | QR Codes | Exposed Chip | Magstripe | Holographic Overlay |

ID Badge Security Features

ID Card Ordering API integrationsID Card Ordering API integrations

We offer a variety of web services for ID badge ordering integrations. At the heart of our web services is our robust application program interface, allowing you to integrate InstantCard’s services into virtually any app or external site. Use your platform to distribute ID badges, or even generate revenue without redirecting to an external site.

| Web Services Page | API Documentation | Individual Card Ordering |

Scalable & Flexible Servicescalable and flexible ID card Ordering

The InstantCard ID card ordering system was designed to work with companies of virtually any size. When you go with us, our services can scale with your business as it grows. As you move to more sites, avoid the hassle of ID card printing logistics. If you have special needs for your employee badges, we can help you with them.

| Multi-Site Corporations |

ReportingID Card reporting

Easily keep track of which ID cards have been printed. If you’re using expiration dates, receive alerts when you need new badges for employees. Our reports makes things easier for your HR department.

Unlimited ID Card Templatesunlimited ID card templates

Along with free template design, we will design multiple templates for you if needed. Do you need visitor badges, simple flash passes, and RFID ID badges for access control? No problem! We can create separate templates for each of these. Get the features you need only where you need them.

Data SecurityID Badge Data Security

We’re SOC 2 certified. We go to great lengths to ensure your employee data is secure, so you never have to worry about information breaches. Our cloud services model utilizes the most advanced data protection schemes, so you can rest assured that your personnel data is well-protected.

Online User ManagementID Card Ordering Online User Management

We give you a single easy-to-use portal for your staff to track employees and see their ID card ordering history.  Reports can be generated online, at any time, to get a summary of usage.  Users can be granted access rights at the local, regional, or national level.

ID Badge Mailing OptionsID Badge Mailing Options

In addition to printing and mailing same-day, we let you decide how your IDs are shipped: USPS, UPS, or FEDEX. We can include custom letters with each order, which is especially useful when drop-shipping. We can even include a badge holder or a lanyard with each card sent.

There’s a better way to get Employee Photo ID Cards in 2024

Before InstantCard, companies had two equally unattractive options when deciding on a work ID Badge program for their staff.

The first option was to print employee ID Cards in-house. But this requires additional overhead, dedicated staff, and swearing at jammed printers.  Not to mention deciding whether to get a printer for each office, or just one at HQ. Devoting so much time and resources to a non-vital operation detracts from the successful running of your company. This is why we will never try to sell anyone an ID card printer. We don’t want to sell the hassle that comes with them.

The second option was a printing company, but that meant having to meet batch size requirements and deal with the transfer of sensitive employee data. Small companies can’t commit to big batches. Big companies, with fast employee turnaround, ran into issues with getting new hires their IDs right away.

So, we built a new option – an online ID Card printing service that allows for single-card-orders, same-day shipping, and easy upload of employee information. Now, you no longer have to deal with the hassle of on-site ID badge printing, or the struggle to meet minimum batch sizes. Photo ID badges on-demand: quick, easy, and low-cost.

We also made sure to offer every possible ID card technology. We make access control via ID cards as easy as possible, so you can enhance security through your badge program. Get employee ID badges made that can facilitate accessibility to not only physical locations but also computer systems. We support all existing security systems. Make your IDs work for you.

Simply get the company employee identification badges you need, when you need them.  So you can focus on successfully running your company.

The good news is that outsourcing your ID badge printing is the ideal solution. Indeed, here at InstantCard, we will take care of everything for you- from designing and printing your badge to shipping it directly to you, on the same day! Plus, we offer the highest quality printing at an affordable price. 

Choose InstantCard for all your work ID badge needs 

With our advanced equipment, InstantCard ID badges are far higher quality than anything you could produce in-house. We will also create your badge template for free, so our professional graphic designers will save you the hassle of tediously setting up your ID cards yourself. 

You’ll be delighted to discover that our pricing is refreshingly reasonable too, with no hidden fees or subscriptions ever. And there is no extra charge for single-card orders when you hire one new employee! Lastly, you can order your ID badges quickly and easily online, and even get a free sample custom ID badge to check the quality of our design and production before you commit to using our services.

Employee ID Solutions

What are employee ID cards made of?2020-11-20T13:29:25-05:00

Employee IDs are typically printed on standard PVC plastic card stock. This is the same card stock used for standard credit cards. IDs may also be printed on composite card stock, which is slightly more durable.

What are the dimensions for ID card graphics?2020-11-20T13:28:43-05:00

The minimum recommended resolution is 675px by 1050px (at 300dpi). This includes bleed for edge-to-edge printing.

Should you wish to create your own ID card template design, you should create an image that is at least 675 pixels on the short edge and 1050 pixels on the long edge for a standard CR80 (credit-card-sized) ID card. If the ID card contains a slot punch, allow for a 140 pixel margin from the top of the card.

Id card graphics dimensions

What size are ID cards?2020-11-20T13:28:05-05:00

The standard (CR80) ID card size is 3.375″ by 2.125″ (85.6mm by 54mm). The thickness of a standard ID card is 30mil. This is the same size as a standard credit card.

CR80 standard ID card size

There are other, less common, ID card size standards such as CR79 and CR100. The CR79 card is 2.051”× 3.303” (52mm × 83.9mm). The CR100 card is  2.63”× 3.88” (66.8mm × 98.6mm).

CR79, CR80, CR100 ID card comparative size

InstantCard prints all ID cards on CR80 card stock. Most badge holders and wallets are designed for the CR80 size standard.

How are ID Cards Printed?2020-11-20T12:53:32-05:00

There are three major options for printing ID cards: direct-to-card printing (DTR), thermal retransfer printing (TR), and offset printing (OP).

Direct-to-Card Printing

DTC is inexpensive and is the process often used for in-house and budget operations. Despite the price, there are several disadvantages to DTC printing. When printing directly to PVC the color rendering is not very sharp. Small imperfections in the plastic prevent a complete coating of the material, and the plastic itself is resistant to the dye. Additionally, DTC does not offer true edge-to-edge printing—there is always a thin white band at the edge of the card.

Thermal Retransfer Printing

The TR process has the card image first printed to a thin film which is then fixed to the card using a heat process. This has several advantages. The color quality is based on how film takes the dye. It is more durable (dye doesn’t scratch off the film easily). TR allows printing to the edge of the card. InstantCard uses this process due to its quality and flexibility.
Read more on TR printing.

Offset Printing

OP is of slightly higher quality than TR. However, OP may only be implemented where the PVC stock is being produced. Additionally, it does not allow you to print to either prox or RFID cards (or any sort of textured cards).

Can I take Photos for ID cards with a phone?2020-11-20T13:10:13-05:00

Yes. It is possible to take perfectly good employee ID badge photos with a phone camera. However, while the size and quality of today’s phoneimages is more than enough, phones often struggle in low light. To take a good ID photo with a small sensor, make sure to have plenty of light. You should also make sure the light is flat (diffused) to eliminate shadows.

Standard phone image sizes for ID card photos

What is an employee ID badge?2021-12-14T06:34:30-05:00

An employee ID badge is used by companies to efficiently track the identities of employees that work throughout their organization. Employee ID badges generally utilize basic features such as an employee photo, name, and ID number. Advanced features include smart chip cards and holographic printing.

 

Why are ID badges important to your business?2022-09-26T06:29:05-04:00

There are many reasons to use ID badges in your business, whether it’s large or small:  

  • Improved Security
    The first, and perhaps most obvious reason to use ID badges is to safeguard the security within your business. This is because ID cards come with barcodes or chips that can be scanned to check the level of access the wearer has been granted. What this means is it makes protecting high-security areas, or data from being breached much easier, and more efficient. In turn, making your business more secure and minimizing the level of risk you need to account for.
  • Customer confidence
    Another important reason to use ID badges in your company is that they can help to boost the credibility and authority of your employees when they are interacting with your customers. Indeed, when a customer sees someone with an official ID badge, they know immediately, that they can be trusted, and that they are the right person to be talking to about their issue.
  • Accountability
    Many businesses also find ID cards useful because they help them hold their employees accountable for their actions. This is because by using systems where ID cards have to be scanned or swiped a business can easily track the movements of their staff, ensuring that they clock in and out on time, and are in the locations for which they have clearance. This can make identifying any problems much faster, and easier, as well as provide your business with advanced warning of small issues that could become bigger problems if left unchecked.
  • Showing that each employee is part of the team
    ID cards also serve the important purpose of demonstrating that the wearer is an accepted member of the team. In a similar way to how a sports kit demonstrates membership and can contribute to identity and teamwork, so can providing an ID badge with a logo.
  • Professionalism
    Next, investing in ID badges is well worthwhile because of the impact of professionalism that they encourage. Indeed, when individuals wear ID badges with the logo of the company that they work for on them it can help them to remember that they are in the workplace and to act accordingly.
  • Branding opportunities
    Last, of all, ID badges can be another arm of your branding strategy, as they will be visible to members of the public when worn outside of the office. In turn, this means they can ignite curiosity in those that see them, and even be a catalyst for a conversation about your business bringing it to the attention of someone new.
What information should be featured on your work ID badges?2022-09-26T06:32:10-04:00

A good ID badge will always have: 

  • Logo and branding of your business
    Your ID badges should be instantly recognizable as part of your brand, even from a distance.
  • ID Photo
    photo ID badges are much more secure than ones that do not have a photo. Make sure that the image is high resolution so it can be checked against the identity of the wearer easily. 
  • Encoded data
    as previously mentioned ID badges are more secure when they have either a barcode or encoded chip that contains specific information about the cardholder.  QR codes are a simple way to verify information using any device.
  • Additional security
    To preserve the integrity of the card and prevent unauthorized copies, they can have additional security features such as holographic overlays 
Where can I get an ID badge made?2022-09-26T06:33:18-04:00

The first option is to make your own ID badges in-house. Unfortunately, this option is not as easy and convenient as it first seems. This is because making your own in-house ID badges can be a great deal of hassle, incur high costs, require lots of specialist equipment including special ink, and end up taking staff away from other valuable tasks. 

Additionally, when you make your own ID badges in-house, they are not crafted by experts in the field, and can also be less secure. After all, if some of your staff have direct access to manufacturing badges there is always the risk that one could be made that allows unauthorized entry. 

Fortunately, the good news is that by outsourcing your ID badge production to InstantCard you can ensure you have professional-looking badges, that are well designed, and reach your business quickly because they are shipped same-day. 

How to make an employee ID badge?2023-05-24T12:40:05-04:00

Creating an employee ID badge is a process similar to making a standard ID badge. With InstantCard, you can easily create professional employee ID badges online. Simply upload your employee data, photos, and finalize your design. InstantCard will print and ship the ID badges directly to you, saving you time and ensuring high-quality results.

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