Why are ID card printers so expensive?
ID card printers are specialist machines designed to print accurately onto plastic cards rather than paper. But the purchase price alone doesn't tell you whether a printer is expensive to own.
The number of cards you print, ribbon yield and the features you actually need can make a much bigger difference to long-term value.
Purchase price vs cost per card
These three lower-volume printers show why the cheapest machine to buy isn't automatically the cheapest to run.
IDP Smart 21s
From £495 + VAT
Makes sense for occasional, very low-volume printing.
- Card feed: Hand-fed
- Typical volume: Up to around 500/year
- Approx. colour cost: 43p/card
Evolis Zenius 2 Classic
From £685 + VAT
Strong value if you print more regularly.
- Card feed: Automatic 50-card feeder
- Typical volume: Up to around 5,000/year
- Approx. colour cost: 31p/card
Magicard Pronto100
From £699 + VAT
You're paying for automatic feeding and Ethernet connectivity.
- Card feed: Automatic 50-card feeder
- Typical volume: Up to around 1,000/year
- Approx. colour cost: 46p/card
Prices and starter consumable costs checked August 2026. Prices can change, so use these figures as a comparison and check the current product and ribbon pages before ordering.
Approximate colour cost per card includes one full-colour YMCKO print plus one standard recycled PVC blank card at current prices. It excludes VAT, printer purchase price, cleaning supplies and optional software upgrades.
What does a 100-print ribbon mean? A 100-print full-colour ribbon is designed to print around 100 full-colour card sides. If you're printing full colour on both sides, it will produce around 50 double-sided cards.
If you're printing onto RFID, access-control or other technology cards, use the actual cost of those cards when calculating your own cost per card.
What are you paying for in an ID card printer?
Card-handling technology
Even entry-level machines need to feed and position CR80 plastic cards accurately while applying colour, text and images consistently.
Capacity & convenience
Higher-priced models may add automatic feeding, faster print speeds, larger hoppers, double-sided printing or network connectivity.
Specialist print capability
At the upper end, you're often paying for higher resolution, security features, smart-card compatibility or retransfer printing rather than simply a cheaper print.
How should you compare the true cost?
Start with two numbers
1. What will the printer cost to buy?
2. Approximately how much will each card cost to produce?
For full-colour printing, a simple consumable calculation is:
Ribbon cost ÷ ribbon yield + cost of one blank card = approximate cost per card.
When does paying more upfront make sense?
Very low-volume use
If you print around 100 cards per year, the Smart 21s' lower purchase price is likely to matter more than saving a few pence on each print.
At roughly 300 full-colour cards over three years, the approximate printer-plus-card cost is around £624 for the Smart 21s compared with £778 for the Zenius 2.
More regular use
At around 500 cards per year, consumable costs start to carry much more weight.
Over roughly 1,500 cards, the same comparison comes to around £1,140 for the Smart 21s and £1,150 for the Zenius 2. They're almost level, despite the Zenius costing considerably more initially.
At around 1,600 full-colour cards, the Zenius 2's lower consumable cost begins to offset its higher purchase price. Beyond that point, its automatic feeding and greater capacity become additional benefits rather than simply extra cost.
Examples are illustrative and use approximate printer and consumable prices checked in August 2026. They exclude VAT, cleaning supplies, optional support and optional software upgrades.
Does a more expensive ID card printer always cost less per card?
No. Once you move beyond starter printers, the extra purchase price often buys capability rather than a dramatic reduction in consumable cost.
| Example | From | Approx. colour cost | What the extra spend buys |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evolis Zenius 2 | £685 + VAT | 31p/card | Automatic feeding and good-value lower-volume printing |
| Evolis Primacy 2 | £1,032 + VAT | 28p/card | Faster printing, greater annual capacity, a larger hopper and higher-volume workflow |
| Magicard 600 | £1,315 + VAT | 30p/card | High-volume use, 600dpi print quality and additional security features |
| Evolis Agilia | £2,800 + VAT | 36p/card | Retransfer printing, premium over-the-edge finish, 600dpi output and better results on technology cards |
Approximate full-colour costs include one compatible colour print plus one standard recycled PVC blank card, using consumable prices checked in August 2026. The Agilia calculation also includes retransfer film. Figures exclude VAT, cleaning supplies and delivery and should be reviewed as consumable prices change.
What other costs should you budget for?
Consumables
These are the physical supplies you'll replace as you continue printing.
- Colour or monochrome printer ribbons
- Blank plastic cards
- Printer cleaning supplies
Ribbon yield varies between printer models, which is why two machines with a similar purchase price can have different ongoing costs.
You can browse our ID Card Printer Ribbons to compare compatible consumables.
If this is your first printer, an ID Card Printer Bundle can make the initial purchase simpler by grouping compatible essentials together.
Software & support
Starter card-design software is included with the printers featured above and isn't a monthly subscription.
If your requirements grow, you may choose to purchase a one-off upgrade to a higher software edition.
Optional support or aftercare can also be added separately if required.
If you're using a Mac with a non-Evolis starter printer, let us know before ordering so we can check compatibility and make sure the appropriate software is supplied where available.
The takeaway: compare total cost with what you actually need
There isn't one printer that's cheapest for everybody. At low print volumes, the purchase price often matters most. As your volume increases, ribbon yield and workflow become more important.
With higher-priced printers, look at what the extra spend gives you. That might be greater capacity, faster printing, automatic double-sided printing, security features, higher print quality or retransfer technology.
Compare the total cost with the capability you actually need, rather than choosing on purchase price alone.
Our Printer Finder Quiz asks a few short questions about your print volume and requirements, then recommends suitable options.
