IDP Smart 31s ID Card Printer, Single Sided
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The IDP Smart 31s ID Card Printer is a single-sided ID printer, designed for first time or low volume users to print up to 1,000 cards per year. Featuring an automatic card feeder and free card software, the IDP Smart 31s comes with a leading five-year warranty, ensuring performance from your investment.
Printer Specifications
Print Technology:
Dye-sublimation
Print Resolution:
300 x 300dpi
Print Speed:
156 Full Colour Cards Per Hour
720 Monochrome Cards Per Hour
Card Capacity:
80 Card Input Hopper
25 Card Output Hopper
Warranty:
5 Years, 3 Years Printhead
Printer Support Packages
For peace of mind after your card printer purchase, we give you 30 days of free email support to help you get up and running.
Or you can choose to upgrade to one of our Aftercare Support Packages to receive expert professional support all year round.
Silver Package - £45 per year
- Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 10% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
Gold Package - £145 per year
- Next Day Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 15% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
- Remote printer set-up assistance
- Remote access support for troubleshooting
- Zero labour costs if your printer needs repairing
- Loan printer if your printer needs to be returned for a repair.
*Easybadge and CardPresso software only.
For peace of mind after your card printer purchase, we give you 30 days of free email support to help you get up and running.
Or you can choose to upgrade to one of our Aftercare Support Packages to receive expert professional support all year round.
Silver Package - £45 per year
- Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 10% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
Gold Package - £145 per year
- Next Day Email and Telephone Support across printer and software*
- Access to online support library
- 15% off printer consumables (cards, ribbons, cleaning kits)
- Remote printer set-up assistance
- Remote access support for troubleshooting
- Zero labour costs if your printer needs repairing
- Loan printer if your printer needs to be returned for a repair.
*Easybadge and CardPresso software only.
Unsure if this is the best ID card printer for you?
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Answer four short questions and get recommendations based on your needs.
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ID Card Printers for up to 1,000 Cards Per Year
Part of our low volume ID card printer range. Ideal for organisations printing regular single sided cards without needing a higher volume printer.
View other printers in this range →
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Not sure if you need the Smart 31S, a double sided printer, or something more advanced? Answer 4 short questions and we’ll point you in the right direction.
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Why Choose the IDP Smart 31S?
The IDP Smart 31S is a single sided ID card printer designed for organisations that need a simple, reliable way to print professional cards in house. It offers 300dpi print quality, automatic card feeding, USB connectivity and a 5 year warranty, making it a strong choice for everyday ID card printing.
Who Is the IDP Smart 31S Best For?
The IDP Smart 31S is best suited to organisations printing up to around 1,000 cards a year who mainly need to print on the front of the card. Typical uses include:
- Staff ID cards with a photo, name and role
- Student ID cards for schools, colleges and training providers
- Visitor passes for reception and workplace access
- Membership cards for clubs, gyms and leisure centres
- Loyalty cards with branding, numbers or barcodes
- Event passes and basic delegate badges
- Organisations that want automatic card feeding without moving up to a higher volume printer
You can still print on the reverse of a card with the Smart 31S, but you will need to manually flip and reload each card. If you regularly need both sides printed, the IDP Smart 31D is the better choice.
IDP Smart 31S Key Printer Features
The IDP Smart 31S is designed for organisations that need reliable single sided ID card printing with a smoother workflow than a basic hand fed printer. These key features show why it works well for staff ID cards, student cards, membership cards, visitor passes and everyday card issuing.
Design & Ease of Use
- Single sided ID card printer
- Automatic card feeding
- Simple LED button operation
- 80 card input hopper
- 25 card output hopper
Print & Performance
- 300dpi colour print quality
- Up to 156 full colour cards per hour
- Up to 720 monochrome cards per hour
- Edge to edge direct to card printing
Single Sided Card Printing
- Ideal for front only card designs
- Suitable for photo ID, names, roles and logos
- Reverse side printing is possible manually
- Choose the Smart 31D if you need automatic double sided printing
Connectivity & Upgrade Options
- USB connectivity as standard
- Ethernet upgrade available
- Magnetic stripe encoding option
- Contact and contactless smart card encoding options
Warranty & Reliability
- Reliable option for regular in house card printing
- Suitable for up to around 1,000 cards per year
- 5 year printer warranty
- 3 year printhead warranty
IDP Smart 21S vs 31S vs 31D: Is the Smart 31S Right for You?
The IDP Smart 31S sits between the smaller Smart 21S and the automatic double sided Smart 31D. It is a good choice if you print regular single sided ID cards and want automatic card feeding, but do not need the printer to flip each card for you.
| Printer model | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Occasional card printing where you want a simple starter printer | Regular single sided ID card printing with automatic card feeding | Regular front and reverse card printing without manually flipping cards |
| Price band | Entry level | Entry level plus | Entry level plus, with automatic double sided printing |
| Front and reverse printing | Single sided as standard Reverse side can be printed manually |
Single sided as standard Reverse side can be printed manually |
Automatic double sided printing |
| Typical yearly volume | Lower volume use | Up to around 1,000 cards/year | Up to around 1,000 cards/year |
| Card feeding | Best for smaller batches | 80 card input hopper 25 card output hopper |
80 card input hopper 25 card output hopper |
| Print speed | Designed for lower volume printing | Up to 156 full colour cards per hour Up to 720 monochrome cards per hour |
Up to 156 full colour single sided cards per hour Up to 124 double sided YMCKOK cards per hour |
| Print resolution | 300dpi | 300dpi colour and monochrome printing | 300dpi colour and monochrome printing |
| Connectivity | USB | USB as standard Ethernet upgrade available |
USB as standard Ethernet upgrade available |
| Encoding options | Best for standard printed ID cards | Magnetic stripe, contact and contactless smart card encoding options available | Magnetic stripe, contact and contactless smart card encoding options available |
| Best choice if | You only print small batches and want the simplest IDP Smart option | You print more regularly, but most cards only need one side printed | You regularly need both sides printed and want the printer to handle the card flipping automatically |
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Choose the IDP Smart 31S if you print cards regularly and mainly need a front design with a photo, name, logo, barcode or membership details. You can still print the reverse manually if needed, but if front and back printing is part of your normal workflow, the IDP Smart 31D is the easier option.
Want a fuller explanation? Read our guide to printing double sided cards on a single sided printer.
IDP Smart 31S Setup Video
Watch the IDP Smart 31 setup process, including loading the ribbon, adding cards and preparing the printer for use. This video is useful if you want to see how straightforward the Smart 31S is to get ready before you start printing your ID cards.
What’s Included with the IDP Smart 31S?
When ordering the IDP Smart 31S single sided ID card printer, you can choose between a Printer Only option or a Printer Bundle, depending on whether you already have ribbons and cards or want the main starter items included.
- Printer Only:
IDP Smart 31S single sided ID card printer - Power supply and power cable
- USB cable
- Driver and software download
- Starter ID card design software
- 5 year printer warranty, including 3 years on the printhead
Printer Bundle:
Includes everything in the Printer Only option, plus:
- IDP 659366 YMCKO colour ribbon, 250 prints
- 100 blank plastic cards, 100% recycled PVC
The bundle is a good choice if you want the main items needed to start printing without ordering the consumables separately.
Optional Add Ons, Available on Request:
The IDP Smart 31S can also be supplied with additional features if required, including:
- Ethernet connectivity
- Magnetic stripe encoding
- Contact smart card encoding
- Contactless smart card encoding
If you need Ethernet or encoding, please get in touch before ordering so we can confirm the right setup for your cards.
A quick note on reverse side printing:
The IDP Smart 31S is a single sided printer, but you can still print on the reverse of a card manually by flipping and reloading the card. If you need to print both sides regularly, the IDP Smart 31D may be the easier option because it handles double sided printing automatically.
Print Technology:
Dye-sublimation
Print Resolution:
300 x 300dpi
Print Speed:
156 Full Colour Cards Per Hour, 720 Monochrome Cards Per Hour
Card Capacity:
80 Card Input Hopper, 25 Card Output Hopper
Physical Dimensions (LxWxH):
6.8in x 14.8in x 7.5in
Weight:
7.5lbs
Connectivity:
USB
Warranty:
5 Years, 3 Years Printhead
Find Out More
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IDP Smart 31S Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful answers for choosing the IDP Smart 31S single sided ID card printer, including print speed, ribbons, software, card compatibility and whether you need to upgrade to automatic double sided printing.
Buying the IDP Smart 31S
Choosing a reliable single sided printer for regular in house ID card printing.
Is the IDP Smart 31S a good single sided ID card printer?
Yes. The IDP Smart 31S is a good single sided ID card printer for organisations printing up to around 1,000 cards per year. It is a practical choice for staff ID cards, student cards, membership cards, visitor passes, loyalty cards and basic event passes where most of the design sits on the front of the card.
What is the difference between the IDP Smart 31S and IDP Smart 31D?
The IDP Smart 31S is single sided as standard, while the IDP Smart 31D prints both sides automatically. The 31S can still print on the reverse of a card manually, but you need to flip and reload the card yourself. If front and reverse printing is part of your normal workflow, the IDP Smart 31D is usually the easier option.
Can the IDP Smart 31S print on both sides of a card?
Yes, but not automatically. The IDP Smart 31S can print on both sides if you print the front first, turn the card over, then reload it to print the reverse. This is fine for occasional reverse side printing, but if you do it regularly, an automatic double sided printer will save time. Read our guide to printing double sided cards on a single sided printer.
Who is the IDP Smart 31S best for?
The IDP Smart 31S is best for small businesses, schools, clubs, gyms, membership organisations and reception teams that need to print professional single sided cards in house. It is a good step up from a basic starter printer because it has automatic card feeding and is better suited to regular low volume card printing.
Should I choose the IDP Smart 21S or IDP Smart 31S?
Choose the IDP Smart 21S if you only print smaller batches occasionally and want the simplest starter option. Choose the IDP Smart 31S if you print more regularly and want automatic card feeding, faster workflow and a more practical setup for ongoing card issuing.
Ribbons, software and card compatibility
Making sure the Smart 31S works with your cards, consumables and setup.
How fast is the IDP Smart 31S?
The IDP Smart 31S can print up to 156 full colour cards per hour using a YMCKO ribbon and up to 720 monochrome cards per hour. Actual print speed can vary depending on your card design, ribbon type and printer settings.
What ribbon does the IDP Smart 31S use?
The IDP Smart 31S uses IDP Smart 31 compatible ribbons. For standard full colour card printing, a YMCKO ribbon is commonly used. Mono ribbons are also available if you only need to print in one colour, such as black text, numbers or simple logos. Our ribbon guide explains what ID card printer ribbon letters mean.
Does the IDP Smart 31S come with card design software?
Yes. The IDP Smart 31S includes starter ID card design software, so you can create simple card layouts and start printing. If you need database features, advanced card design tools or more complex workflows, you may need upgraded software. Our guide explains what ID card software is and why you may need it.
Can the IDP Smart 31S print access control or RFID cards?
The IDP Smart 31S can be supplied with optional magnetic stripe, contact and contactless smart card encoding. If you are printing onto access control, RFID or smart cards, please speak to us before ordering so we can check the card type, chip position and best printer setup.
Is the IDP Smart 31S a direct to card printer?
Yes. The IDP Smart 31S is a direct to card printer, which means it prints directly onto the surface of the card. This works well for many everyday ID card projects. If you need full over the edge coverage or are printing onto certain technology cards, a retransfer printer may be worth considering. Our guide explains direct to card vs retransfer ID card printers.
