ID Card Sizes And Dimensions - AlphaCard

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ID Card Sizes and Dimensions

Home > ID Printer Technology & Options > ID Cards > ID Card Sizes and Dimensions ID CardsID Card Sizes and Dimensions How to Choose an ID Card Printer Step 1: Determine Your Budget Step 2: Single or Dual-Sided Printing Step 3: Select Printing Method Step 4: Volume Requirements Step 5: Lamination, Visual Security & Encoding Step 6: Determine Connection Type Step 7: Other Considerations Summary: ID Printer Checklist Industry Solutions Automotive ID Badges Casino ID Cards Church ID Cards College & University ID Cards Construction & Contractor ID Cards Emergency Services ID Badges Employee Business ID Cards Fire Department ID Badges Government ID Cards Gym & Health Club Cards Healthcare ID Badges Hospitality ID Cards In-Home Services ID Badges K-12 School ID Cards Membership ID Badges Military & Army ID Cards Nonprofit ID Cards Police Department ID Cards Restaurant ID Cards Retail ID Cards & Badges School Photographer ID Cards Security Agency ID Cards Senior Care ID Cards Ski Resort ID Cards & Badges Sports Team ID Cards Tourist Attraction Cards Transportation & Logistics ID Cards Veterinary ID Cards ID Printer Technology & Options ID Card Printers Single-Sided vs Dual-Sided Printing Dye Sublimation vs Reverse Transfer Printing Single-Feed vs Batch Printing Rewritable Printers Laminating Printers Encoding Printers USB, Ethernet & WiFi Connectivity ID Cards ID Card Material ID Card Sizes and Dimensions Color ID Cards Rewritable ID Cards Encoded ID Cards Printer Ribbons Different Types of Ribbons Encoding Options Barcode Encoding Magnetic Stripe Encoding Smart Card & RFID Encoding Proximity Card Encoding Visual Security Printer Options Ribbon Options Card Options Why You Can’t Print Fake IDs with an AlphaCard Printer Cleaning Kits Understanding Smart Cards What is a Smart Card? The Difference Between Prox & Smart Cards Understanding iCLASS Cards Understanding iCLASS SE Cards Understanding iCLASS Seos Cards How Do I Order Smart Cards? Ordering iCLASS Cards Ordering iCLASS SE Cards Ordering iCLASS Seos Cards Can I Print on Smart Cards? How Do I Integrate New Card Technology? How Should I Display My Smart Cards? ID Card Design Resources AlphaCard ID Suite Design Help How to Use .CTP Card Templates Sample ID Card Designs ID Badge Template Gallery Employee ID Card Templates ID Templates for Schools & Universities Healthcare ID Templates State and Government ID Cards Emergency Responders Businesses & Associations Membership ID Card Templates Clubs & Teams Hospitality ID Templates Nonprofit Organizations Churches All Card Templates Starting an ID Card Program How to Use ID Cards How to Display ID Cards What to Include on ID Cards ID Card Security Measures ID Card Policies & Procedures Ways to Use ID Cards Photo Identification Cards Pet ID Cards Passes & Tickets Cashless Payment Cards Time and Attendance Cards Loyalty Programs Contractor Cards Promotional Cards Security Cards Key Tag Cards Access Control Badges Business Cards Holiday Greeting Cards Volunteer Badges Tailored Membership Cards Event Badges Visitor Management ID Cards Multifunctional and Smart Cards Intro to ID Card Software ID Card Software Card Design Software Visitor Management Software Cardholder Database Encoding Options Barcode Encoding Magnetic Stripe Encoding Smart Card & RFID Encoding Proximity Card Encoding Data Capture Barcode Readers Magnetic Stripe Readers ID Card Readers Signature & Fingerprint Capture Visual Security Design Options Manual Adhesive Options Photo ID Cameras ID Card Accessories ID Badge Lanyards for Employees Badge Reels Card Holders Strap Clips Clips, Pins & Magnets Free ID Guides Case Studies ID Printer Manufacturers Magicard Datacard Fargo Zebra Evolis Glossary Temperature Screening for a Healthier Workplace

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Home > ID Printer Technology & Options > ID Cards > ID Card Sizes and Dimensions

Blank plastic ID cards exist in a variety of thicknesses, sizes, and formats, and each type has its own specific uses and functions. An ID card’s dimensions consist of three measures: the card’s length, width, and thickness. The length and width are available in four standard sizes: CR80, CR79, Xtended, or CR100. The thickness is measured in millimeters (thousands of an inch), and can range from 10-50mil.

The most common ID card size is a 30mil CR80card, and every ID card printer can print on this size. However, not every printer can print on less common card sizes, so make sure to read your printer’s technical specifications, or talk with an expert to learn which cards are compatible with your printer.

ID Card Thickness

ID card thickness is measured in millimeters (thousandths of an inch), ranging from 10mil to 50mil. The standard card thickness which is used for almost all ID card and credit card programs is 30mil. Thinner 10mil cards are flexible and less expensive, but also less durable than 30mil cards.

The thinner 10mil cards are generally used for temporary badges and business cards. Not all printers can print on a 10mil card, so talk to an ID card expert if this is something your organization is interested in.

CR80 (Standard ID Card Size)

The CR80 ID card is the size of a credit card and is considered to be the standard size for most industries. A CR80 card measures 3.375” x 2.125“. This is the most common ID card dimension and is used in a wide variety of industries for photo identification, cashless payment, access control, time and attendance tracking, student ID cards, library cards, and more.

CR80 cards come as standard PVC cards, PVC/Poly combo cards, magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, colored cards, and more.

View All CR80 ID Cards

CR79 ID Cards

CR79 cards are slightly smaller than CR80 cards, and usually have an adhesive back. For organizations that want to personalize thicker technology cards that do not fit in a card printer, a CR79 adhesive back card can be printed and applied to the front of the card.

Measuring 3.303″ x 2.051″, CR79 cards fit perfectly within the inside edge of a standard technology card.

View All CR79 ID Cards

Extra Long “Xtended” Cards

The Magicard Rio Pro Xtended card printer can print extra long cards that measure 4.3” x 2.125”. These cards are about an inch longer than a standard CR80 card and are the most affordable option for larger card printing. They are most commonly used for ticketing and passes at events, concerts, conferences, and more.

View All Xtended ID Cards

CR100 ID Cards

CR100 cards are about 42% larger than the standard CR80 ID cards, measuring 3.88″ x 2.63″. These oversized cards are used much less frequently, but are commonly used for military applications and conventions so the badge should be seen from a distance.

There are very few ID card printers that can print on oversized CR100 cards, so talk to an ID expert if this is something your organization needs.

View All CR100 ID Cards

Key Tag Cards

Made from standard white PVC materials, key tag cards are specially designed to fit on key rings. A popular choice for membership cards at gyms, grocery stores, and retail stores, these cards come pre-punched with key ring holes.

Key tags come in two varieties, 3Up and 2Up. 3Up key tags come three to a set, and measure 1.100” x 2.125”. 2Up key tags come in pairs, and measure 2.875” x 1.0625”. Not all ID card printers can print on key tags, so talk to an ID card expert if this is something your organization needs.

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• How to Choose an ID Card Printer
  • Step 1: Determine Your Budget
  • Step 2: Single or Dual-Sided Printing
  • Step 3: Select Printing Method
  • Step 4: Volume Requirements
  • Step 5: Lamination, Visual Security & Encoding
  • Step 6: Determine Connection Type
  • Step 7: Other Considerations
  • Summary: ID Printer Checklist
• Industry Solutions
  • Automotive ID Badges
  • Casino ID Cards
  • Church ID Cards
  • College & University ID Cards
  • Construction & Contractor ID Cards
  • Emergency Services ID Badges
  • Employee Business ID Cards
  • Fire Department ID Badges
  • Government ID Cards
  • Gym & Health Club Cards
  • Healthcare ID Badges
  • Hospitality ID Cards
  • In-Home Services ID Badges
  • K-12 School ID Cards
  • Membership ID Badges
  • Military & Army ID Cards
  • Nonprofit ID Cards
  • Police Department ID Cards
  • Restaurant ID Cards
  • Retail ID Cards & Badges
  • School Photographer ID Cards
  • Security Agency ID Cards
  • Senior Care ID Cards
  • Ski Resort ID Cards & Badges
  • Sports Team ID Cards
  • Tourist Attraction Cards
  • Transportation & Logistics ID Cards
  • Veterinary ID Cards
• ID Printer Technology & Options
  • ID Card Printers
    • Single-Sided vs Dual-Sided Printing
    • Dye Sublimation vs Reverse Transfer Printing
    • Single-Feed vs Batch Printing
    • Rewritable Printers
    • Laminating Printers
    • Encoding Printers
    • USB, Ethernet & WiFi Connectivity
  • ID Cards
    • ID Card Material
    • ID Card Sizes and Dimensions
    • Color ID Cards
    • Rewritable ID Cards
    • Encoded ID Cards
  • Printer Ribbons
    • Different Types of Ribbons
  • Encoding Options
    • Barcode Encoding
    • Magnetic Stripe Encoding
    • Smart Card & RFID Encoding
    • Proximity Card Encoding
  • Visual Security
    • Printer Options
    • Ribbon Options
    • Card Options
    • Why You Can’t Print Fake IDs with an AlphaCard Printer
  • Cleaning Kits
• Understanding Smart Cards
  • What is a Smart Card?
    • The Difference Between Prox & Smart Cards
    • Understanding iCLASS Cards
    • Understanding iCLASS SE Cards
    • Understanding iCLASS Seos Cards
  • How Do I Order Smart Cards?
    • Ordering iCLASS Cards
    • Ordering iCLASS SE Cards
    • Ordering iCLASS Seos Cards
  • Can I Print on Smart Cards?
  • How Do I Integrate New Card Technology?
  • How Should I Display My Smart Cards?
• ID Card Design Resources
  • AlphaCard ID Suite Design Help
  • How to Use .CTP Card Templates
  • Sample ID Card Designs
  • ID Badge Template Gallery
    • Employee ID Card Templates
    • ID Templates for Schools & Universities
    • Healthcare ID Templates
    • State and Government ID Cards
    • Emergency Responders
    • Businesses & Associations
    • Membership ID Card Templates
    • Clubs & Teams
    • Hospitality ID Templates
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Churches
    • All Card Templates
• Starting an ID Card Program
  • How to Use ID Cards
  • How to Display ID Cards
  • What to Include on ID Cards
  • ID Card Security Measures
  • ID Card Policies & Procedures
• Ways to Use ID Cards
  • Photo Identification Cards
  • Pet ID Cards
  • Passes & Tickets
  • Cashless Payment Cards
  • Time and Attendance Cards
  • Loyalty Programs
  • Contractor Cards
  • Promotional Cards
  • Security Cards
  • Key Tag Cards
  • Access Control Badges
  • Business Cards
  • Holiday Greeting Cards
  • Volunteer Badges
  • Tailored Membership Cards
  • Event Badges
  • Visitor Management ID Cards
  • Multifunctional and Smart Cards
• Intro to ID Card Software
  • ID Card Software
    • Card Design Software
    • Visitor Management Software
    • Cardholder Database
  • Encoding Options
    • Barcode Encoding
    • Magnetic Stripe Encoding
    • Smart Card & RFID Encoding
    • Proximity Card Encoding
  • Data Capture
    • Barcode Readers
    • Magnetic Stripe Readers
    • ID Card Readers
    • Signature & Fingerprint Capture
  • Visual Security
    • Design Options
    • Manual Adhesive Options
  • Photo ID Cameras
• ID Card Accessories
  • ID Badge Lanyards for Employees
  • Badge Reels
  • Card Holders
  • Strap Clips
  • Clips, Pins & Magnets
• Free ID Guides
• Case Studies
• ID Printer Manufacturers
  • Magicard
  • Datacard
  • Fargo
  • Zebra
  • Evolis
• Glossary
• Temperature Screening for a Healthier Workplace