Magnetic Stripe Cards: Reliable Secure Cards for Any Application

Welcome to Plastic Card ID: Your Trusted Source for Magnetic Stripe Cards

There is something powerful about handing someone a card. It is not just plastic - it is a promise, a brand, an identity. At Plastic Card ID, we have spent more than 25 years helping businesses across the country make that promise real, one card at a time. We ship everywhere nationally, and we are always just a call away at 800-835-7919.

We are not just a printer. We are a partner. Our team works closely with businesses of every size to deliver custom plastic cards that get noticed, get used, and get results. From magnetic stripe cards to full-color loyalty programs, our portfolio covers it all with precision and care.

Magnetic stripe cards are one of our most popular product lines, and for good reason. They combine everyday convenience with reliable technology, making them ideal for retail, hospitality, fitness, healthcare, and more. Whether you need 500 cards or 500,000, we are ready to deliver with speed and quality you can count on.

What Makes Magnetic Stripe Cards So Powerful?

Magnetic stripe cards use a band of iron-based particles on the back of the card to store data. When swiped through a compatible reader, that data is decoded instantly. This makes them incredibly fast and practical for businesses that process dozens or even hundreds of transactions daily without missing a beat.

The technology behind magnetic stripes has been around for decades, and that means it is widely supported. Almost every point-of-sale system, hotel lock, gym check-in terminal, and loyalty scanner you will find is built to read these cards. There is very little extra setup or investment needed on your end to get started.

We produce magnetic stripe cards in High Coercivity (HiCo) and Low Coercivity (LoCo) formats. HiCo stripes are harder to accidentally erase and are best for gift cards, loyalty programs, and ID badges. LoCo stripes are great for short-term use like hotel key cards. Our team helps you choose the right option for your specific needs.

Industries That Rely on Magnetic Stripe Cards

It is hard to find an industry that does not benefit from magnetic stripe cards in some way. Retailers use them for gift cards and rewards programs. Hotels use them as room keys. Gyms use them for member check-in. Schools use them as student ID cards. The list goes on and on, and we are proud to serve all of them.

Healthcare facilities use magnetic stripe cards for patient identification and access control. Casinos use them as player cards that track spending and reward loyalty. Government agencies use them for employee credentials. Across the board, our cards provide a consistent, professional experience that builds trust and keeps operations running smoothly.

Our National Shipping Promise

No matter where your business is located - from the busiest city to the most rural zip code - we ship directly to your door. Our national fulfillment network ensures that your order arrives on time and in perfect condition. We have shipped tens of millions of cards across the country, and we take every single order seriously.

When you place an order with us, you are not just buying cards. You are gaining a reliable supply chain partner who understands deadlines, quantities, and quality standards. Reach out to us anytime at 800-835-7919 and let us show you how easy ordering can be.

Types of Magnetic Stripe Cards We Offer

We carry one of the widest selections of magnetic stripe card types in the industry. Whether your needs are simple or complex, decorative or functional, we have a product that fits. Our cards are printed on durable PVC stock and built to last through years of everyday use without fading, cracking, or peeling.

Every card we produce goes through a rigorous quality check before it leaves our facility. We believe that a card reflects your brand, so every detail - from color accuracy to stripe placement - is handled with care. Here is a look at the range of magnetic stripe card categories we offer to help meet your goals.

• Gift cards with magnetic stripe encoding
• Loyalty and rewards cards
• Membership cards with swipe access
• Hotel and hospitality key cards
• Casino and gaming player cards
• Student and staff ID cards
• Healthcare and patient access cards
• Employee and corporate ID badges
• Retail discount and VIP cards
• Event access and season pass cards

Gift Cards That Drive Real Sales

Gift cards are one of the most proven sales tools in retail history, and magnetic stripe versions are the gold standard. When businesses switch from paper gift certificates to our professional plastic gift cards, they often see sales jumps of up to 100%. That is not a coincidence - it is the power of a tangible, attractive product that customers love to give and receive.

Our gift cards are fully customizable with your logo, colors, and messaging. We handle the design, printing, encoding, and packaging all in one place. That means less hassle for you and a faster turnaround so you can start putting these powerful sales tools to work right away.

Loyalty Cards That Keep Customers Coming Back

Loyalty programs powered by magnetic stripe cards are a game changer for customer retention. Studies show that a well-run loyalty program can increase sales by 35-50% over time. Our loyalty cards are designed to feel premium, because when customers feel valued, they come back more often and spend more each visit.

We can encode each card with a unique customer ID, point balance data, or account number depending on your system requirements. Our team is experienced in working with all major loyalty program platforms, so integration is smooth and straightforward from day one.

Employee and Access Control ID Badges

Security starts at the door, and our magnetic stripe ID badges help you control who goes where inside your facility. From small offices to large corporate campuses, our cards work seamlessly with access control systems to keep your team safe and your operations secure without complicated setups.

Each badge can be printed with a photo, name, title, barcode, and magnetic stripe all on a single card. This eliminates the need for multiple credentials and makes the employee experience simpler and more professional. We also offer custom carriers and lanyards to complete the look.

Card Printers and Refill Supplies - Everything You Need in One Place

A great card starts with a great printer, and we carry a full lineup of professional-grade card printers to match every volume and budget. Whether you are printing cards in-house or setting up a full card production station, our team will help you find the right equipment to get the job done right the first time.

We also stock a comprehensive range of refill supplies so you never have to scramble for parts. From ribbon cartridges to cleaning kits, we carry everything your printer needs to keep running at peak performance. All of these products ship nationally, right to your door.

Popular Card Printer Models We Carry

Our printer inventory includes models from the most trusted brands in the industry. These printers range from compact desktop units perfect for small offices to high-volume machines designed for enterprise-level production. No matter your throughput needs, we have a printer that fits your workflow and your budget.

• Single-sided direct-to-card printers
• Dual-sided (duplex) card printers
• Retransfer printers for edge-to-edge printing
• High-volume batch production printers
• Printers with built-in magnetic stripe encoding
• Printers with lamination modules for added durability

Each printer we sell is backed by manufacturer support and our own product knowledge team. If you ever run into a question about setup, maintenance, or ribbon replacement, just call us at 800-835-7919 and we will walk you through it step by step.

Ribbons, Overlaminates, and Cleaning Supplies

The quality of your printed card depends just as much on the ribbon as it does on the printer. We carry a full range of color (YMCKO), monochrome, and specialty ribbons for all major printer brands. Our ribbons deliver sharp, vivid colors and crisp text that makes your cards look sharp and professional every single time.

Overlaminates add a protective layer to your cards that resists scratches, UV fading, and everyday wear. We stock clear and holographic options that not only extend card life but also add a premium look and an extra layer of security. Pair them with our cleaning kits to keep your printer running at its best.

Card Accessories and Finishing Products

We offer much more than just cards and printers. Our accessories line includes custom card carriers, branded sleeves, cardstock holders, and mailer envelopes that make your cards look polished when they reach your customers. First impressions matter, and the right packaging elevates the entire experience from ordinary to memorable.

We also offer card affixing and mailing services for businesses that want a fully hands-off fulfillment experience. Tell us your design, your list, and your deadline - and we will handle the rest. It is a complete, end-to-end solution that saves you time and eliminates the headache of managing card distribution in-house.

Why Magnetic Stripe Technology Still Leads the Way

In a world full of apps, tap-to-pay, and digital wallets, magnetic stripe cards have not gone anywhere. In fact, they remain one of the most widely used card technologies in the world. Their compatibility with existing infrastructure, low cost per card, and universal acceptance make them a smart, practical choice for businesses at every level.

We have seen countless businesses try to go completely digital, only to discover that their customers still want something they can hold, carry, and use without needing a battery or a signal. Magnetic stripe cards bridge that gap perfectly, offering the reliability of proven technology with the branding power of a custom-printed design.

HiCo vs. LoCo: Choosing the Right Stripe

Feature	HiCo (High Coercivity)	LoCo (Low Coercivity)
Magnetic Strength	2750 Oersteds	300 Oersteds
Best Use	Gift, Loyalty, ID Cards	Hotel Key Cards
Durability	Long-term use	Short-term use
Erase Resistance	Very high	Moderate

Choosing the wrong stripe type can lead to frustrating card failures, missed swipes, or data loss. Our team helps you make the right call based on how long the cards will be used and what kind of environment they will be used in. Getting this detail right from the start saves you time, money, and customer headaches down the road.

HiCo cards are our most popular choice for permanent programs like loyalty accounts and employee badges. LoCo cards are a perfect fit for temporary applications like hotel rooms or short-term event access. Both are available in custom print designs with fast turnaround and competitive pricing.

Data Encoding and Track Options

Magnetic stripes are organized into data tracks - most commonly Track 1, Track 2, and Track 3. Each track holds different types of data, and most business applications use Track 1 or Track 2 encoding. We offer all three tracks and can encode them to your specifications, whether you supply the data file or need our team to help you create one.

Our encoding is handled in-house with precision equipment that ensures every card reads cleanly and consistently. We test each batch before shipping to confirm accuracy, so you can be confident that your cards will work right out of the box. That level of quality control is something we take very seriously for every single order we fill.

Combining Magnetic Stripes with Other Technologies

Sometimes one technology is not enough, and that is why we offer combo card options. We can produce cards that combine a magnetic stripe with a barcode, a chip, or even RFID contactless technology. This gives your card more functionality without needing to issue multiple credentials to the same person or customer.

These hybrid cards are increasingly popular in healthcare, corporate security, and higher education, where users need both swipe access and contactless convenience. Our team can walk you through the available combinations and help you design a card solution that checks every box on your list without breaking your budget.

Real Results: How Businesses Win with Our Magnetic Stripe Cards

Over the past 25 years, we have helped more than 100,000 businesses put our cards to work. The results speak for themselves. From small boutique shops launching their first loyalty program to national retail chains re-ordering millions of gift cards every quarter, our clients see real, measurable growth when they invest in professional plastic card programs.

We have watched a small coffee shop triple its repeat customer rate after launching a magnetic stripe punch-and-swipe loyalty card. We have seen a mid-sized gym reduce front-desk check-in time by half after switching to mag-stripe member cards. These are not rare wins - they are the kind of results our products are designed to deliver.

Case Study: Retail Gift Card Success

One of our retail clients had been using paper gift certificates for years but was frustrated with the high rate of fraud and loss. After switching to our custom-printed HiCo magnetic stripe gift cards, they reported a dramatic reduction in fraud and a 100% increase in gift card sales within the first holiday season. The professional look and feel of the cards made them feel like a real gift, not just a paper slip.

We handled everything for that client - from design consultation and printing to encoding and packaging. They received their cards ready to sell, and our team stayed available throughout the process to answer questions and make adjustments. That kind of full-service support is what sets our approach apart from the competition.

Case Study: Membership Program Transformation

A regional fitness center came to us struggling with manual sign-in sheets and a clunky membership system. We set them up with custom-printed magnetic stripe membership cards that integrated with their existing gym management software. Within 60 days of launch, they reported faster check-ins, fewer errors, and a noticeable boost in member satisfaction scores across all locations.

Their staff loved the new system because it eliminated the daily pile of paper logs and freed them up to focus on member experience. Their members loved the cards because they felt like they were part of something real and professional. It is amazing what a well-designed card can do for the perception of your entire brand and operation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Cards

We get a lot of great questions from businesses exploring magnetic stripe cards for the first time. Here are some of the most common ones our team hears, along with honest, straightforward answers. If you have a question that is not listed here, just call us - we love talking cards.

• What is the minimum order quantity? We work with businesses of all sizes and offer flexible minimums to get you started.
• Can I supply my own design? Absolutely - we accept print-ready files and also offer in-house design help.
• How long does production take? Most orders ship within a few business days, with rush options available.
• Do you encode the cards for me? Yes - we handle encoding in-house to your exact specifications.
• Can I order a sample first? Yes - contact us to discuss sample options before placing a full order.

Custom Design Options That Make Your Cards Stand Out

Your card is a direct reflection of your brand. A dull, generic card tells your customers you did not think very hard about them. A sharp, vibrant, professionally designed card tells them you care - and that message is worth every penny of the investment. We offer full-color custom printing on both sides of every card we produce.

Our design capabilities go far beyond just slapping a logo on a blank template. We work with your brand guidelines, color palette, and visual identity to create a card that genuinely looks like it belongs to your brand family. The result is a card that customers actually want to hold onto, which means more brand visibility in more wallets.

Full-Color Printing and Specialty Finishes

We print in brilliant full color using industry-leading equipment that delivers crisp images, bold typography, and accurate brand colors every time. You can choose from gloss or matte finishes depending on the look and feel you want. Gloss finishes pop with vibrancy, while matte finishes give your card a sophisticated, premium appearance that feels great to the touch.

We also offer specialty options like spot UV coating, which adds a shiny highlight to specific design elements - a great way to make your logo or key text visually stand out from the rest of the card. These finishing touches are what separate a good card from an outstanding one.

Variable Data Printing for Personalized Cards

Sometimes every card in your batch needs to be unique. That is where variable data printing shines. We can print individual names, account numbers, barcodes, photos, or serial numbers on each card in a run, making every single card uniquely personal to its holder. This is especially popular for employee ID badges, student cards, and VIP membership programs.

Variable data printing does not slow down our production process significantly, which means you still get your order fast. Our systems are built to handle large variable data files smoothly, so even orders of tens of thousands of personalized cards are processed accurately and efficiently from start to finish.

Custom Card Shapes and Sizes

Who says a card has to be a standard rectangle? We offer die-cut custom shapes that let your card take on any form that fits your brand - rounded corners, key tags, mini cards, or even unique shapes that match your logo or product line. These distinctive formats are especially effective for promotions and events where you want maximum attention and memorability.

Standard CR80 cards are our most common format, but we also produce CR79, CR50 key tags, and other custom dimensions. Whatever size or shape best serves your program, our production team has the tools and experience to deliver it with the same high quality we apply to every order that leaves our facility.

Card Programs That Build Long-Term Customer Loyalty

Building loyalty is not just a marketing tactic - it is a long-term business strategy. Businesses that invest in structured card-based loyalty programs consistently outperform competitors who rely on discounts alone. Our magnetic stripe cards give you the technology backbone to run a loyalty program that truly works and keeps customers coming back month after month.

We have helped businesses design loyalty programs from scratch, including the card design, encoding structure, and fulfillment plan. Our experience across industries means we bring real-world insight to every conversation, not just theoretical advice. We know what works because we have seen it work, over and over, for more than 25 years.

Benefits of a Magnetic Stripe Loyalty Program

• Increased visit frequency: Cardholders visit more often to earn and redeem rewards
• Higher average transaction value: Loyalty members tend to spend more per visit
• Better customer data: Stripe encoding captures transaction data at every swipe
• Reduced churn: Customers with cards are less likely to switch to a competitor
• Stronger brand recall: A card in the wallet keeps your brand visible every day
• Easy program updates: Re-encode or replace cards as your program evolves

Pairing Loyalty Cards with Mailer Campaigns

One of our most effective strategies for loyalty program launches is combining the new card with a direct mail campaign. Our plastic postcard mailers achieve double the response rates of standard paper mail, and when you include a loyalty card right in the mailer, you give the recipient a reason to visit immediately. It is a one-two punch that drives real foot traffic and new enrollments.

We handle card affixing and mailing in-house, which means you can send us your mailing list and we will take care of attaching the card to the mailer, addressing, and sending everything out. This turnkey service is a huge time-saver for businesses that do not have the resources to manage a card mailing campaign on their own.

Renewing and Refreshing Your Card Program

Card programs do not have to stay the same forever. In fact, refreshing your card design every year or two can re-energize your loyalty base and attract new customers who might have overlooked your program before. We make reordering simple, and our records of your previous orders make updates fast and hassle-free for our repeat clients.

Whether you want to update your branding, add a new technology layer, or expand your program to new locations, our team is here to guide you through the process. We treat every returning client with the same energy and attention as a first-time order, because we know that your continued success is what drives ours.

Specialty and Premium Magnetic Stripe Card Options

For brands that want to make an extraordinary impression, we offer premium card options that go well beyond the standard plastic card. These specialty products are designed for clients who understand that the medium is part of the message - and that a truly premium card communicates premium value before it is ever swiped.

From crystal-clear transparent cards to heavy-gauge metal cards crafted from stainless steel or gold, our specialty lineup is built for brands that refuse to blend in. These cards command attention, spark conversations, and create moments of genuine delight when they are handed to a customer or employee for the first time.

Clear and Transparent Plastic Cards

Clear plastic cards are a stunning alternative to standard white PVC stock. Your design floats on a transparent surface, creating a unique visual effect that makes every element pop in a completely different way. These cards are especially popular for VIP memberships, upscale retail programs, and nightlife venues that want to convey exclusivity without saying a word.

We can combine clear stock with a magnetic stripe and full-color printing for a card that is as functional as it is beautiful. The transparency adds a layer of visual intrigue that standard cards simply cannot replicate, and cardholders tend to keep clear cards longer because they simply look too good to toss out.

Metal Cards for the Ultimate Brand Statement

Nothing communicates premium quite like the weight of a metal card in your hand. Our metal cards are crafted from materials like brushed stainless steel, gold-toned alloy, and other luxury finishes, and can be paired with a magnetic stripe for full functionality. These cards are ideal for executive membership programs, high-end retail VIP tiers, and luxury hospitality brands.

The cost per card is higher than standard PVC, but the impact is exponential. Customers who receive a metal card feel genuinely valued, and that emotional response translates directly into loyalty, referrals, and increased lifetime spending. For the right program, the investment in metal cards pays for itself many times over.

RFID and Combo Technology Cards

We offer cards that combine magnetic stripe technology with RFID contactless chips, opening the door to a wide range of modern applications. These combo cards are perfect for access control systems that require both swipe and tap capability, or for loyalty programs that are evolving toward contactless interaction at the point of sale.

Our RFID options include MIFARE DESFire and other industry-standard formats that integrate with most modern access and payment systems. Adding contactless technology to your magnetic stripe card does not dramatically increase the cost, but it does dramatically increase the card's versatility and future-proof value for your program over time.

Working with Plastic Card ID: Our Process from Order to Delivery

We have made our ordering process as smooth and simple as possible because we know your time is valuable. From the moment you reach out to us to the moment your cards arrive at your door, our team is with you every step of the way. We do not hand you off to an automated portal and disappear - we stay engaged and available throughout your entire experience with us.

Our process is built on clear communication, fast production, and reliable shipping. We have fulfilled millions of orders over the years, and we have refined our workflow to eliminate delays, errors, and surprises. When you work with us, you know what to expect - and we consistently deliver on that promise.

Step-by-Step: From Consultation to Delivery

1. Consultation: We discuss your card program goals, quantities, and design preferences
2. Design: Our team creates or refines your card artwork with your approval
3. Encoding setup: We configure your magnetic stripe encoding to your specifications
4. Proof approval: You review and approve a digital proof before production begins
5. Production: We print, encode, and quality-check every card in your order
6. Packaging: Cards are packed securely for safe transit to your location
7. National shipping: Your order is shipped directly to your door, anywhere in the country

Our Commitment to Quality and Accuracy

Every card that leaves our facility goes through a multi-point quality check that covers print quality, color accuracy, stripe encoding, and card thickness. We do not cut corners because we know that a card with a printing flaw or a stripe that fails to read reflects poorly on your brand - and that is something we simply will not allow to happen on our watch.

Our production team has decades of combined experience and uses calibrated equipment that meets the highest industry standards. When you open your shipment and see your cards for the first time, we want you to feel proud. That moment of satisfaction for our clients is what motivates every person on our team to do their very best work every single day.

Reordering Is Fast and Easy

One of the best parts of building a relationship with us is how easy reordering becomes. We keep your artwork, encoding specs, and order history on file so that placing a repeat order takes just minutes. You do not need to start from scratch or re-explain your program every time - we already know your business and we are ready to go when you are.

Many of our clients reorder quarterly, seasonally, or annually, and we accommodate all of those cycles with consistent quality and reliable turnaround times. Whether you are reordering the same card or making updates to your design, just give us a call and we will take care of the rest from there.

Pricing, Value, and Why Plastic Card ID Is Worth Every Penny

We believe in transparent, fair pricing that reflects the true quality of what we deliver. Our cards are not the cheapest on the market, and we are proud of that. Because when you invest in our cards, you are investing in a product that represents your brand with the professionalism it deserves - and that has real, measurable value for your business.

Most standard magnetic stripe card orders range from $75-$200 per thousand cards depending on design complexity, encoding options, and finishing choices. Premium options like metal cards or RFID combos are priced higher, and our team will always give you a clear, itemized quote before any production begins.

Getting the Best Value from Your Card Program

The best way to maximize the return on your card investment is to think about the full lifecycle of the card in your customer's wallet. A card that is used frequently drives more revenue than one that gets tossed in a drawer after the first swipe. We help you design cards and programs that encourage active use, which multiplies the return on every dollar you spend with us.

We also offer bundle pricing for businesses that order cards and printer supplies together, creating significant savings for in-house printing setups. The more products you source through us, the more streamlined and cost-effective your entire card operation becomes over time. Our team is happy to walk you through the options during your consultation.

Comparing In-House Printing vs. Ordering Pre-Printed Cards

Some businesses prefer to print cards themselves using one of our card printers, while others prefer to order fully finished cards from us in bulk. Each approach has its advantages, and the right choice depends on your volume, budget, and how frequently your card designs change. Our team can help you run the numbers to figure out which model makes more financial sense for your operation.

In-house printing gives you flexibility for variable data and on-demand production. Bulk pre-printed orders from us are typically more cost-effective per card for large runs with consistent designs. Many of our clients do both - using in-house printing for ID badges while ordering pre-printed gift and loyalty cards from us in high volumes. We support both approaches with equal enthusiasm and expertise.

Ready to Get Started? Contact Plastic Card ID Today

There has never been a better time to invest in a professional magnetic stripe card program for your business. Whether you are launching a brand-new loyalty program, upgrading your existing gift card system, or simply looking for a more reliable supplier for your card printing supplies, Plastic Card ID is ready to help you make it happen.

We have the experience, the products, and the national shipping network to serve businesses of every size, in every industry, in every corner of the country. Our team is passionate about what we do, and we bring that passion to every order we fill, every card we print, and every conversation we have with our clients.

Our magnetic stripe cards have helped over 100,000 businesses build stronger customer relationships, improve operational efficiency, and grow their revenue in ways they did not think a small piece of plastic could accomplish. But that is exactly what the right card, made the right way, can do for your business when you work with the right partner.

Call Plastic Card ID now at 800-835-7919 to speak with a card specialist and get your order started today. We are standing by to help you build something lasting, one card at a time.

What to Have Ready When You Call

To make your first call as productive as possible, it helps to have a few things in mind before you pick up the phone. Knowing your approximate quantity, the type of card program you are running, and any design assets you already have will help our team give you accurate pricing and timelines right away. You do not need to have everything figured out - we are very good at helping businesses work through the details.

If you have an existing card design or brand guidelines, feel free to have those ready to discuss or email over. If you are starting from scratch, no problem at all - our in-house design team loves working with businesses to create card designs that reflect their brand beautifully and make a strong impression on every cardholder who receives one.

We Are Here to Support You Every Step of the Way

Our relationship with you does not end when your order ships. We are here for follow-up questions, reorders, design updates, printer support, and supply replenishment for as long as you run your card program. We have clients who have been ordering from us for more than a decade, and that kind of long-term loyalty is something we treasure and work hard to earn every day.

Call 800-835-7919, place your order online, or simply reach out with a question - whatever feels most comfortable for you. The team at Plastic Card ID is ready, enthusiastic, and genuinely excited to become your trusted card partner. Let us show you what over 25 years of experience and more than 50 million cards delivered can do for your business starting today.