ID Card Printers for Small Businesses
If you’re a small business looking for an ID card printer, you’re probably less interested in technical jargon and more interested in choosing something that works properly for your day-to-day needs.
If you're buying an ID card printer for the first time, we’ll explain what matters, what doesn’t, and which printers are best suited to each setting.
You may also find our checklist on what to consider before buying an ID card printer helpful - especially if this is your first setup.
ID Card Printers for Occasional & Low-Volume Use
If you print handfuls of ID cards at a time, for example for new starters, visitor badges or a small membership list, these printers are designed to keep things simple, compact and affordable.
IDP Smart 21
From £525 (£630 inc VAT)
Best for: Small businesses printing ID cards occasionally such as new starters, visitor badges or small membership lists, where budget is the main consideration and simplicity is key.
Evolis Zenius 2
From £685 (£822 inc VAT)
Best for: Small businesses printing volumes of staff, visitor or membership ID cards regularly, looking for a robust and reliable desktop printer that's easy to set up and use.
Zebra ZC100
From £675 (£810 inc VAT)
Best for: Reception desks, counters and small offices printing low volumes of ID cards, where space is limited and cards are typically printed in handfuls or small batches.
Explore Other Low-Volume ID Card Printers
Low-volume printers are ideal for small businesses printing around 500-1000 cards per year. Compact, cost-effective, and easy to manage in-house.
View other low-volume printers →
Take Our 60-Second Quiz and Find Your Perfect Printer
Answer a few quick questions and we’ll recommend the right printer based on how you’ll actually use it.
Take the printer quiz →
ID Card Printers for Regular Printing & Larger Batches
If you print cards more frequently, want to prioritise photo quality, or need a printer that's robust day-to-day, these models are better suited to regular use.
Magicard 300
From £1,020 (£1224 inc VAT)
Best for: Small businesses printing staff or member photo ID cards frequently, especially where colour accuracy, sharper images and added security features are important.
Evolis Zenius 2
From: £685 (£822 inc VAT)
Best for: Small businesses printing staff, visitor or membership ID cards regularly, where ease of use, quiet operation and a professional finish matter more than raw speed.
Matica MC110
From £749 (£898 inc VAT)
Best for: Affordable double-sided ID card printing, with low ongoing running costs. Ideal for larger batches of cards that need to be quickly and efficiently.
Best small-business ID card printers - at a glance
Green = great starter pick · Blue = faster / more features
| Printer Model | Evolis Zenius 2 | Magicard 300 | IDP Smart 31S | IDP Smart 21S | Zebra ZC100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses printing cards weekly (staff, visitor or membership IDs) | Regular staff photo ID runs where security features matter | Small teams wanting a capable printer without pushing into “top-end” pricing | Occasional printing on a tight budget (new starters, visitors, ad-hoc cards) | Reception desks and low-volume one-offs where space is tight |
| Ease of use | Compact, quiet, simple ribbons | Plug-and-play + Digital Shredding™ | Very user-friendly | Super simple set-up & lowest cost | Very simple, slim footprint for desks/counters |
| Speed | ≈120 cards/hr | ≈160 cards/hr | ≈130 cards/hr | ≈100 cards/hr | ≈150 cards/hr |
| Print quality | 300 dpi | 300 dpi vivid colour | 300 dpi | 300 dpi | 300 dpi |
| Encoding options | Magstripe, contactless | Magstripe, contactless | Optional Magstripe | None (basic ID) | — (ask if you need encoding) |
| Price tier | Entry-level | Mid-range | Mid-range | Entry-level | Entry-level |
Tip: swipe left/right to compare printers. Price tiers are a general guide only — see each product page for current pricing.
How small businesses keep cards looking professional
For front-facing roles, memberships or access cards, consistency matters more than complexity. A clean layout, sharp photo and clear text will always look professional, even on an entry-level printer.
Many small businesses use a simple, efficient setup:
- one consistent card design
- small, on-demand print runs
- quick reprints when details change
If you want a more polished finish, you can also start with professionally printed base cards and overprint names and photos in-house. This keeps branding consistent and makes replacements fast and cost-effective.
Do You Need Higher Print Quality?
For most small businesses, standard dye-sublimation printers offer more than enough quality.
However, in environments where cards:
- Have heavy wear-and-tear
- Act as access cards
- Need maximum durability
- Must have edge-to-edge print
Retransfer printers offer a higher-end finish.
If you’d like a deeper explanation of the difference, this guide to direct-to-card vs retransfer ID card printers breaks down quality, durability and when each option makes sense.
New to ID Card Printing?
If you've never bought an ID Card printer before, our guide explaining how ID card printers work walks through the process in plain English before you buy.
If you’re unsure what level of print quality you need, we’ll guide you through it and make sure your setup is right from day one.
If you are still comparing options, our Best ID Card Printers for 2026 guide explains the differences between entry-level, mid-range and retransfer printers in plain English.
ID Card Printers - What to consider before you buy
Printing your own plastic cards for the first time? There are many different ID Card Printer models on the market to consider, with different features and vastly varying price tags....
Small Business ID Card Printer FAQs
Fast, plain-English answers for small businesses choosing an ID card printer — including running costs, setup, and the best printer for low-volume vs regular printing. Want to browse instead? See all ID card printers.
Choosing the Right Printer
Match the printer to how often you’ll print and what your cards need to do.
Which ID card printer is best for a small business?
For most small businesses, the best ID card printer is one that’s easy to run, compact, and reliable for on-demand reprints. If you print occasionally (new starters, visitors, replacements), an entry-level printer is usually ideal. If you print regularly (staff photo ID, memberships, frequent replacements), a mid-range model saves time and keeps quality consistent. If you’re unsure, start with our recommendations above or take our 2-minute printer quiz.
What’s the best ID card printer for low-volume printing (one-offs and small batches)?
If you’re printing a few cards at a time, choose a printer designed for low-volume, desk-based use. These models are ideal for reception areas, small offices, gyms and clubs — where you want professional cards without a bulky machine. You can also browse our low-cost ID card printers.
What’s the best ID card printer for staff photo ID cards?
For staff photo ID, you’ll want a printer that handles colour well and produces sharp images and text. Mid-range printers are usually the best fit because they cope better with frequent printing and deliver more consistent results. If you’ll be printing staff cards weekly or monthly, it’s worth choosing a model built for regular photo ID runs.
Do small businesses need access control card printing?
Only if your cards need to open doors or work with an access system. Many small businesses print standard visual ID only — but if you’re using smart cards (e.g. MIFARE®/DESFire®), you may need specific card types and, in some cases, encoding options. If you tell us what system you use, we’ll guide you to the correct setup.
Costs & Running the Printer
The real-world cost questions small businesses ask before buying.
How much does it cost to print an ID card in-house?
Your main consumables are ribbons and blank cards. Full-colour cards typically work out at around 8–20p per card in consumables depending on the ribbon type and card specification. Mono (black-only) printing costs less. If you want help estimating your cost per card, tell us how many cards you’ll print per month.
Are ID card printers expensive to maintain?
Not usually. Most small businesses keep their printer running smoothly with simple routine cleaning and sensible storage of cards and ribbons. The biggest “maintenance issues” we see are caused by dust, dirty rollers, or using the wrong ribbon/card combination. If you want a simple guide, see our cleaning and care advice in the blog section.
Should a small business buy an entry-level or mid-range ID card printer?
Entry-level is ideal if you print occasionally and want the lowest upfront cost. Mid-range is better if you print regularly (weekly/monthly), need reliable photo ID quality, or don’t want your printer to feel “slow” when you’re doing batches. If you’re printing staff cards across multiple sites or doing frequent reprints, mid-range usually pays for itself in time saved.
Setup, Software & Printing Workflow
What you need to start printing and how it works day-to-day.
What do I need to start printing ID cards?
You’ll need the printer, a compatible ribbon, and blank cards. Most people also use ID card software to design the card and store staff details. If cards will be worn, add lanyards and holders so they’re easy to display.
Do I need a dual-sided ID card printer?
Only if you regularly need to print on the back — for example barcodes, membership terms, emergency contact details, or instructions. A single-sided printer can still print both sides; you just flip the card and run it through again. For most small businesses, single-sided is perfectly fine.
Can I import staff details from Excel to print cards in batches?
Yes. Many ID card software options allow you to import an Excel/CSV list and map columns like name, job title and ID number to your card template. This is a huge time-saver for printing staff photo ID cards or membership cards in batches.
Can I print branded base cards and overprint names/photos later?
Yes — and it’s a great option for small businesses that want a consistent, professional look. You can have base cards professionally printed (logo and branding), then overprint names, photos and expiry dates in-house when needed. We can help with printed base cards so your branding stays consistent and reprints are fast.
