How do Hotel Key Cards work?

Hotel key cards are a familiar part of modern hotel stays, but the technology behind them is not always obvious. Some hotel key cards are swiped through a lock, while others are tapped or held near a reader. Some are made from standard PVC, while others are made from recycled plastic, bamboo or wood.

In this guide, we explain how hotel key cards work, the difference between magstripe, RFID and NFC cards, why cards sometimes stop working, what information they hold, and what to do if you need to order replacement hotel key cards but are not sure which type you need.

The two main types of hotel key cards

Hotel key cards are usually split into two main types:

• Magstripe hotel key cards that you swipe through a door lock. These are easy to recognise because they have a visible magnetic stripe running along the top or bottom of the back of the card.
• NFC or RFID hotel key cards, which contain a chip that is not visible to the naked eye. These are usually tapped or waved near the door handle or lock.

Ten years ago, most hotel key cards were magstripe cards. As door lock technology has become more sophisticated and chip prices have reduced, it is now far more common to be given an RFID hotel key card at check-in.

Regardless of the technology, both types fundamentally do the same thing. They store information within the stripe or chip that works with a hotel room lock to open the correct door for a set period of time.

How do magstripe hotel key cards work?

Magstripe hotel key cards, sometimes called swipe cards, are less sophisticated than RFID or NFC cards. They are usually designed to open a hotel room door, rather than manage wider access to areas such as gyms, lockers, lifts or leisure facilities.

The magnetic stripe contains encoded information that correlates with the hotel room lock system. When the card is swiped through the reader, the lock checks the data on the stripe and opens the door if the card is valid for that room and stay period.

Magstripe cards are usually cheaper, but they tend to wear out more quickly than RFID cards. They can be affected by scratches, bending, magnets or repeated use, which is one reason some hotels are moving towards RFID and contactless options.

Magstripe cards can also be easier to clone if someone has access to the right equipment, so they are less commonly used in environments where a higher level of access control is required.

How do RFID hotel key cards work?

The chip inside an RFID key card can perform more actions than a magstripe card because it can hold and communicate data differently. This is why RFID hotel key cards are often used for more than just room access, such as guest access to leisure facilities, lifts, lockers, car parks or spa areas.

RFID hotel key cards do not need direct contact with the reader to work. Instead, the card is held near the lock or reader. The chip inside the card transfers data digitally using contactless radio-frequency communication.

If the card is compatible with the lock system and the data is read correctly, the action is completed — in this case, opening the hotel room door.

RFID cards are widely used for access control because they are convenient, durable and suitable for modern contactless hotel systems.

🔎 Read more about what an RFID card is and how it works.

Are hotel key cards RFID, NFC or magnetic?

Hotel key cards can be RFID, NFC-style contactless cards or magnetic stripe cards. The right card depends on the door lock system used by the hotel.

Older hotel locks often use magnetic stripe cards, which are swiped through a reader. Newer hotel lock systems are more likely to use RFID or NFC-style contactless cards, which are tapped or held near the reader.

The important thing to remember is that these cards are not always interchangeable. A card that works with one hotel lock system may not work with another, even if the cards look very similar.

How are hotel key cards activated?

Hotel key cards are usually activated at reception or through the hotel’s access control system. The card is encoded with the information needed by the lock system, such as the room it should open and the period of time it should work for.

For example, a card may be programmed to open room 204 from check-in until checkout. Once that period ends, the card may stop working automatically, which helps hotels manage guest access securely.

For hotel operators ordering replacement cards, the blank card itself is only part of the process. The card still needs to be suitable for your system and encoded or enrolled correctly before it will work with your locks.

Why do hotel key cards stop working?

Hotel key cards can stop working for several reasons. Sometimes the card has simply expired because the guest’s stay period has ended. This explains why a card might stop working around checkout time.

Magstripe cards may also stop working if the stripe becomes scratched, worn or damaged. They can sometimes be affected by magnets or magnetic items, which is why guests are often advised to keep them away from phones, wallets or other items that may interfere with the stripe.

RFID hotel key cards are generally more durable than magstripe cards, but they still need to be compatible with the hotel lock system and encoded correctly. If the card type, chip or encoding does not match the system, it may not work.

Do hotel key cards contain personal information?

In short, no. There has been an urban myth for years that if someone gets hold of a hotel key card, they can extract personal information or bank card details from it.

The reality is that a physical hotel key card does not store your personal payment details. The data held on a key card is normally used to identify which door it should open and the dates or times it should work.

That explains why a card may stop working when you return from breakfast on the day you are checking out.

Whether it is a magstripe card or a chip card, personal payment data is not programmed onto the physical hotel key card.

This means it can usually be safely handed back to reception at the end of your stay. Hotels may prefer cards to be returned so they can be reused, recycled or disposed of responsibly.

What are hotel key cards made of?

Hotel key cards have traditionally been made from PVC, but hotels now have a much wider choice of materials. Depending on the lock system and card specification, key cards can be made from standard PVC, recycled PVC, biodegradable PVC, bamboo, wood or other more sustainable materials.

Hotels and accommodation providers increasingly choose sustainable materials because the key card is often one of the first branded items a guest receives at check-in. A wooden or bamboo hotel key card can immediately communicate a premium, natural or eco-conscious brand message.

What sustainable hotel key card options are available?

A few years ago, PVC was pretty much the only option for hotel key cards. Now, as hotels work towards green accreditation and sustainability programmes, the card industry has had to catch up.

Hotels and accommodation providers can now choose from materials such as biodegradable PVC, 100% recycled PVC, wood, bamboo and even strong paperboard, although paperboard can come with durability challenges. Many of these options are available with RFID or NFC chips.

At The Card Network, we now receive a high number of enquiries for wood RFID key cards, as hotels are keen to showcase their environmental commitments to guests at check-in. A bamboo RFID hotel key card or wood card needs little explanation: it communicates the eco message by itself.

The only potential downside with wood key cards is that hotels may find fewer cards are handed back in, as guests sometimes want to keep them as a souvenir.

Hotel key card FAQs