You don't necessarily need a double-sided ID card printer just because you want to print on both sides of a card.
A single-sided ID card printer can print the front first and then the reverse after you manually turn the card over. Whether that is practical depends mainly on how often and how many double-sided cards you print.
How do you print both sides with a single-sided printer?
Printing both sides with a single-sided printer is often referred to as manual duplex printing. You print the first side, turn the card over in the correct orientation and then print the second side.
The exact process can vary slightly depending on the printer and the card design software you use, but the basic steps are straightforward.
- Print the front of the card as normal.
- Allow the card to exit the printer fully.
- Turn the card over, checking the orientation carefully.
- Reload the card according to the instructions for your printer.
- Print the reverse design.
- Check the finished card before starting a larger batch.
It is worth doing one test card first, particularly if the reverse contains a barcode, magnetic stripe information, terms or anything that needs to appear in a particular position. It is surprisingly easy to discover you've flipped the card the wrong way only after you've printed twenty of them.
Single-sided vs double-sided ID card printers
Both types of printer can produce a card printed on the front and back. The main difference is whether you turn the card yourself or the printer does it automatically.
| Single-sided printer | Double-sided printer | |
|---|---|---|
| Can print both sides? | Yes, manually | Yes, automatically |
| Card handling | You turn and reload the card | The printer flips the card internally |
| Best suited to | Occasional double-sided printing or small batches | Regular double-sided printing and larger batches |
| Upfront cost | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Workflow | More hands-on | Faster and more automated |
When is a double-sided ID card printer worth it?
If you only print information on the reverse occasionally, paying more for an automatic double-sided printer may not be necessary.
A double-sided printer starts to make more sense when printing both sides is part of your normal workflow. This could include staff ID cards with terms or emergency information on the back, membership cards with conditions, or cards carrying a barcode or other information on the reverse.
A simple rule of thumb: if manually turning cards is starting to slow down your print runs or regularly causes orientation mistakes and reprints, it is probably worth considering an automatic double-sided model.
Do you need a different ribbon for double-sided printing?
It depends on what you want to print and which printer you use.
If you want full colour on the front and black information on the reverse, some compatible double-sided printers use a YMCKOK ribbon. The additional K panel is used for resin-black printing on the back of the card.
If terms such as YMCKO and YMCKOK are new to you, read our guide to ID card printer ribbon codes .
Ribbon configurations vary between printer models, so always check the compatible ribbon for your exact printer rather than choosing one based on the ribbon code alone.
Which type of printer should you choose?
If you're deciding between single and double-sided printing, think about how often you print the reverse of the card rather than simply whether you ever need to.
For occasional use, manually turning the card may be perfectly adequate. For frequent or larger print runs, browse our double-sided ID card printers or use the Printer Quiz to narrow down the options based on how you actually print.
Compare automatic double-sided printers or answer a few quick questions to narrow down which type of printer best fits your requirements.
