Card stock
Blank PVC cards for ID printers
Print-ready CR80 card stock for every desktop ID printer: standard 30-mil (760-micron) white PVC, composite PVC-PET for retransfer printers and lamination, plus signature-panel, recycled-content and PVC-free constructions. No chip — this is the canvas, not the credential.
For new deployments or authorised credential issuance. Existing secured cards are not copied.
What are blank PVC cards for ID card printers?
Blank PVC cards are chipless CR80 print stock — 85.6 × 54 mm at the standard 30 mil / 0.76 mm thickness — that feed desktop ID printers from Zebra, Fargo, Evolis and Magicard. American Key Cards supplies white gloss PVC, composite PVC-PET for retransfer printing and lamination, and recycled-content or PVC-free bodies, matching the construction to your printer model because plain PVC can warp under retransfer heat.
Overview
About Blank PVC cards
Every ID card printer is only as good as the stock feeding it. This is that stock: CR80 ISO-size blank cards in standard 30 mil (760 micron) white gloss PVC, composite PVC-PET construction for retransfer printers and laminating modules, signature-panel variants, thinner and thicker gauges for special cases, and the recycled-content and PVC-free bodies that sustainability procurement increasingly requires.
The one spec that ruins batches is construction versus printer type: plain PVC softens under a retransfer printer’s heat and can warp or jam, which is why composite stock exists. Tell us the printer model and we match the card — it is a thirty-second question that saves a returned case.
Technical details
Blank PVC cards for ID printers specifications
- Card dimensions
- CR80 ISO/IEC 7810 ID-1 — 85.6 × 54 mm
- Thickness
- 30 mil / 0.76 mm standard; thin-gauge bodies available
- Constructions
- PVC, composite PVC-PET (60/40), signature panel
- Eco options
- Recycled-content and PVC-free card bodies
- Printer fit
- Dye-sub direct-to-card; composite for retransfer and lamination
- Surface
- Glossy print-optimized finish, both faces
- Chip
- None — this is print stock, not a credential
Available configuration
Choose the form factor after the technology
Where it fits
Common Blank PVC cards applications
In-house badge printing
Everyday stock for HR and security offices running direct-to-card printers for employee and visitor IDs.
Retransfer & laminated card programs
Composite cards that hold flat through high-heat retransfer printing and lamination for long-life credentials.
Membership & gift card runs
Volume white stock for print shops producing loyalty, gift and promotional cards.
Sustainability-mandated purchasing
Recycled-content PVC and fully PVC-free card bodies for organizations with plastics reduction targets.
Before you order
How to order Blank PVC cards correctly
- Direct-to-card vs retransfer
DTC printers accept standard PVC happily; retransfer units run hotter and want composite. The printer manual says which you own — or just tell us the model.
- Thickness is standardized for a reason
30 mil / 760 micron is what printers, laminators and wallets expect. Thinner and thicker gauges exist for specific applications; stray from standard only on purpose.
- Grade affects print quality
Card-surface quality shows up in dye-sub output — cheap stock prints with pinholes and speckles. High-grade gloss cores are why identical printers produce different-looking badges.
Questions we actually get
Blank PVC cards FAQ
Will these work in my Zebra / Fargo / Evolis / Magicard printer?
Standard CR80 30 mil stock runs in all mainstream direct-to-card printers. For retransfer models, specify composite. Name the printer in the quote form and we confirm the right construction.
What is the difference between PVC and composite?
Composite laminates PET into the card core, raising heat tolerance and durability. It costs slightly more and is the correct choice for retransfer printing, lamination and cards expected to survive years of daily use.
How eco-friendly are the eco options?
Recycled-content cards reuse post-industrial PVC; PVC-free bodies remove chlorinated plastic entirely. Both print normally on standard equipment — we send specs and samples for procurement review on request.
Can I add a magstripe or chip later?
No — stripes and chips are built in at manufacture. If you might need technology in the cards, buy that variant from day one; blank means blank forever.
Need help identifying the technology?
Send a photo of the credential and the reader model. We'll identify the format before we quote a compatible product.
Lifetime parts & workmanship guarantee on every card