Blank Plastic Cards for Magnetic Stripe Encoding: How It Works

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There is a moment in every serious card program when the decision crystallizes: generic paper just will not do. Whether you are launching a loyalty initiative, building an access control system, or issuing employee credentials at scale, the card itself carries a message before anyone reads what is printed on it. That message is either permanence and professionalism - or it is not. Blank plastic cards with magnetic stripe encoding capability deliver the former, decisively.

Plastic Card ID has spent over 25 years placing the right cards in the right hands, serving more than 100,000 customers and moving over 50 million cards across every type of industry in the United States. This page is your complete guide to blank magnetic stripe plastic cards - what they are, how they work, when to use them, and how to choose the right specification for your program.

Magnetic Stripe Card Specifications at a Glance
Feature HiCo (High Coercivity) LoCo (Low Coercivity)
Coercivity Rating 2750 Oe 300 Oe
Durability Very High Moderate
Best Use Cases ID cards, access control, loyalty Hotel key cards, event passes
Magnetic Stripe Color Typically black or brown Brown standard
Susceptibility to Erasure Low Higher
ISO Standard Compliance ISO 7811 ISO 7811

Strip away the branding and graphic design, and what you have is a standard CR80 PVC card measuring 3.375 x 2.125 inches at 30 mil thickness - the same footprint as every credit card in your wallet. The magnetic stripe version adds a data-encoded strip on the card's reverse, capable of storing track information that card readers can decode in milliseconds. Blank simply means the card arrives white, ready for your printer to apply logos, text, photos, or barcodes.

This is a critical distinction for organizations that manage card issuance in-house. Buying blank magnetic stripe cards in bulk, then encoding and printing them locally, gives you complete operational flexibility. You control the data. You control the artwork. You print on demand or in batches. The economics shift heavily in your favor when you are not paying a third party to produce finished cards every single time your roster changes or a card is lost.

ISO 7810 defines the CR80 standard, and virtually every card reader, wallet slot, cardholder, and badge reel on the market is built around it. When you buy blank CR80 cards, you are buying guaranteed compatibility. There is no guessing whether the card will fit the reader, the printer, or the lanyard clip. That interoperability is not incidental - it is the entire point of the standard.

PVC construction gives these cards a lifespan measured in years under normal handling conditions. They resist bending, moisture, and the daily friction of being swiped or inserted. Durability directly translates to lower replacement costs, which matters whether you are running a 50-card employee program or a 10,000-card retail loyalty initiative.

Magnetic stripe cards can carry up to three data tracks. Track 1 holds alphanumeric data and is the highest-capacity track - commonly used for name fields and account identifiers. Track 2 is numeric only but widely supported by point-of-sale and access readers alike. Track 3, less commonly used, is often reserved for specialized financial or transit applications.

For most business programs - loyalty cards, membership IDs, gift cards, employee badges - Tracks 1 and 2 together provide ample data capacity. Your card printer's encoding module writes to these tracks at the moment of card issuance, meaning every card can carry unique data tailored to the individual cardholder without any pre-programming required from the card supplier.

High coercivity (HiCo) stripes require a stronger magnetic field to write and erase, which is exactly why they are harder to accidentally corrupt. A HiCo card survives proximity to everyday magnets - think clasp purses, refrigerator surfaces, stacked cards in a wallet. For programs where cards are used repeatedly over months or years, HiCo is the clear and practical choice.

Low coercivity (LoCo) stripes are easier and cheaper to encode, and they work well for short-duration applications. Hotel key cards are the classic example: they are issued, used for a few days, and deactivated. The lower durability threshold is irrelevant when the card lifecycle is measured in days rather than years. CPE stocks both formats in quantity, so matching your operational reality to the right stripe type is straightforward.

The applications are broader than most organizations realize when they first start exploring card programs. Nearly any workflow that involves identifying a person, authorizing access, or tracking a customer relationship is a candidate for magnetic stripe card integration. The encoding capability is what elevates a plain plastic card into a functional business tool.

Consider the range: a regional grocery chain issuing loyalty cards that encode unique member IDs, a mid-size manufacturer distributing time-and-attendance badges, a fitness franchise handing out membership cards that open turnstiles - all of these rely on blank magnetic stripe PVC cards encoded and printed in-house or through a managed issuance workflow.

The data on plastic versus paper in retail is not subtle. Retailers making the switch from paper punch cards or paper gift certificates to plastic see sales increases of 35-50% in gift card revenue alone. Plastic cards live in wallets. Paper cards live in junk drawers until they are forgotten. The physical presence of a well-made card is a persistent marketing asset that works every time a customer sees it during a routine wallet search.

Loyalty programs built on magnetic stripe cards allow point-of-sale systems to read account balances, apply discounts, and update member records in real time. That two-second swipe is doing real work. Encoding unique IDs on blank cards and linking them to your CRM or POS backend is a straightforward technical integration that pays for itself quickly.

Magnetic stripe employee badges serve double duty: they identify the cardholder visually (via the printed photo, name, and title) and functionally (via the encoded employee ID that time clocks and door access readers can query). Blank magnetic stripe cards give HR and facilities teams the flexibility to issue cards immediately when a new employee starts, without waiting on an outside vendor.

For organizations with high turnover, this agility has real dollar value. A blank card costs a fraction of what a custom-printed card ordered from an outside vendor costs per unit at low volumes. Print only what you need, when you need it, with encoding applied at the printer.

Gyms, clubs, professional associations, libraries, and campuses all share a common operational need: they must verify that the person attempting to access a space or service is authorized to do so. Magnetic stripe access cards handle this reliably at minimal per-card cost. The reader verifies the encoded ID against a database, and access is granted or denied in under a second.

Blank magnetic stripe cards in these contexts often carry printed design elements that reinforce brand identity - the organization's logo, colors, and name rendered by a desktop card printer. The card is simultaneously a credential and a piece of member communication. That dual function justifies the investment every time.

Not every blank magnetic stripe card is identical, and the differences matter operationally. Stripe coercivity, card finish, PVC composition, and track configuration all interact with your printer model and your reader infrastructure. Getting the specification right before you order at volume saves rework and frustration.

CPE works with organizations at every stage of this decision, from businesses setting up their first card program to established enterprises scaling into tens of thousands of cards monthly. The following considerations form the foundation of a sound purchasing decision.

Card printers from Evolis, Zebra, and Fargo each have encoding modules calibrated for specific coercivity ranges. Using a LoCo card with a HiCo encoder - or vice versa - produces unreliable encoding results. Always verify your printer's magnetic stripe encoding specification before ordering cards. This single step prevents the most common source of encoding errors in new card programs.

If you are purchasing your printer and your blank cards together, CPE can confirm compatibility across the full stack - printer, ribbon, and card - so your program launches cleanly. Call 800.835.7919 to speak with someone who can walk through your specific printer model and intended application before you commit to a card specification.

Printers in the Evolis Primacy, Zebra ZC300, and Fargo HDP5000 families all support magnetic stripe encoding modules as factory options or field-installable upgrades. Knowing your printer's capabilities up front shapes the entire card purchasing decision.

One of the clearest advantages of blank magnetic stripe cards over custom pre-printed cards is the per-card cost structure at volume. Blank cards ordered in cases of 500 or 1,000 cost dramatically less per unit than finished custom cards ordered in small batches. For organizations issuing cards continuously - replacing lost cards, onboarding new members, cycling through seasonal promotions - the cumulative savings are substantial.

In-house printing costs per card include the ribbon and the card blank. Even factoring in printer amortization over a machine's useful life, the economics of in-house issuance consistently outperform outsourced custom printing once monthly volumes exceed 50-100 cards. That threshold is lower than most organizations expect.

  • White gloss PVC is the standard finish for magnetic stripe cards and provides the best print surface for dye-sublimation card printers.
  • Clear and frosted card blanks are available but require specific ribbon types for clean image transfer.
  • Colored stock (black, gold, silver, red, blue) can carry magnetic stripes and adds visual distinction to your card program.
  • 30 mil thickness is the universal standard for CR80 cards; 10 mil and 20 mil overlaminates can be added for additional durability.
  • Pre-punched cards (with a slot punch near one edge) are available for organizations that issue lanyards or badge reels as part of their credential program.
  • Cards with signature panels on the reverse provide an added verification element for membership and access programs.

The encoding process happens inside your card printer during the print cycle. As the card passes through the printer's encoding module, an electromagnetic write head magnetizes the stripe to embed your data - employee ID numbers, loyalty account codes, access authorization strings - in the precise track positions your readers expect. The process takes seconds and requires no separate hardware or software beyond your printer driver and card issuance software.

Card issuance software ranges from the basic utilities bundled with most card printers to full-featured platforms like Evolis Primacy SDK integrations or third-party ID management systems. The software is the brain; the printer and blank card are the output mechanism. Once configured, your team can issue individually encoded and printed cards in under a minute each.

A typical retail loyalty card encoding workflow looks like this: customer information is entered into the POS or loyalty platform, which generates a unique account ID. That ID is passed to the card printer's software, which encodes it onto the magnetic stripe during printing. The finished card is handed to the customer, who swipes it at the register on every subsequent visit.

The entire cycle from card request to card in hand can take under two minutes in a well-configured setup. Speed of issuance is a competitive advantage in retail environments where customers are making enrollment decisions at the point of sale - a slow process loses sign-ups.

For access control programs, the encoding step typically involves writing an authorized employee or member ID to Track 2, which the access reader queries against a whitelist in the access control system's database. Revoking access is done at the database level - the card itself does not need to be physically retrieved or modified. This architecture makes magnetic stripe access cards both simple and operationally flexible.

Organizations running mixed environments - some doors on magnetic stripe readers, others on proximity or RFID readers - can choose combo cards that carry both a magnetic stripe and an embedded proximity chip. CPE stocks these combination card formats for exactly this use case.

When encoded cards fail to read consistently, the cause is almost always one of three things: a coercivity mismatch between the card and the encoder, a dirty or worn encoder head, or degraded magnetic stripe quality on older card stock. Regular encoder head cleaning using certified cleaning cards is the single most effective preventive measure.

Card stock that has been stored improperly - near strong magnetic sources, in high heat, or for extended periods past recommended shelf life - can exhibit stripe degradation before the card is ever encoded. Store blank magnetic stripe cards in their original packaging, away from direct sunlight and magnetic fields, and you will have minimal encoding problems in practice.

While blank white magnetic stripe cards are the volume workhorse, the Plastic Card ID catalog extends well beyond that single SKU. Organizations with more demanding applications or differentiated brand requirements have access to a full spectrum of card formats, from specialty finishes to advanced chip technologies that work alongside or instead of magnetic stripes.

The goal has always been to be a genuine one-stop resource for any card program, regardless of scale or complexity. That means stocking not just the cards, but the printers, ribbons, cleaning kits, card carriers, sleeves, and affixing and mailing services that complete a card program operation.

Clear and frosted plastic cards make a strong visual impression in premium membership and VIP programs. The translucent material adds a tactile and visual distinction that white cards cannot replicate. Printed elements appear to float within the card substrate, and when combined with a magnetic stripe, the card is as functional as it is distinctive.

Custom die-cut shapes, luxury stainless steel cards, brass cards, and gold-finish metal cards are available for organizations where the card itself is a brand statement. A metal card communicates status and value in a way no paper or standard PVC card can approach. Casino player cards, executive membership credentials, and premium hotel loyalty cards are natural applications.

RFID proximity cards and contactless smart cards - including MIFARE DESFire variants - represent the next step up in access control and secure identity applications. These cards communicate with readers without physical contact, offering faster throughput at high-traffic entry points and stronger security through encrypted data exchange. They can be issued blank and programmed at point of use, exactly like magnetic stripe cards.

For organizations planning to migrate from magnetic stripe access control to contactless RFID systems, combo cards carrying both technologies allow a phased transition - existing magnetic stripe readers continue working while new RFID readers are installed. No one loses access during the migration. CPE stocks the combo card formats that make this transition practical.

A card program is only as reliable as the consumables feeding it. Ribbons degrade over time and with improper storage; the wrong ribbon type produces faded prints or incomplete color coverage. Matching the correct ribbon to your specific printer model and card stock is not optional - it is fundamental to consistent output quality.

Cleaning kits, cleaning cards, and cleaning swabs keep encoder heads and print heads performing at specification. Card carriers, sleeves, and badge reels complete the physical handling infrastructure for issued cards. All of these accessories are available through CPE as part of a complete program supply relationship, not as afterthought add-ons.

Ready to build your card program on a foundation that actually performs? Talk to a specialist about your volume, application, and printer setup today.

Organizations new to in-house card programs consistently arrive with a similar set of questions. The answers below reflect the practical experience of working with thousands of customers across dozens of industries over more than two decades.

Yes. Modern card printers from Evolis, Zebra, and Fargo are designed for business users, not IT specialists. The software that drives them handles the encoding logic once it is configured with your data fields. Most organizations are printing and encoding cards reliably within a single day of unboxing a new printer - especially with setup guidance from CPE.

The learning curve is steepest in the initial configuration phase, when you are mapping your data fields to the correct tracks and verifying that your readers are accepting the encoded output. After that initial setup, day-to-day operation is genuinely simple - feed a blank card, trigger the issuance process, receive a finished encoded card in under a minute.

Blank magnetic stripe cards are available in quantities ranging from small trial packs to full cases of 500 or 1,000 cards. For organizations issuing more than a few hundred cards per month, ordering in cases delivers significant per-card cost reduction and ensures you have stock on hand for immediate issuance without reorder delays.

  • Trial or startup quantities: 100-250 cards, ideal for testing printer and reader compatibility.
  • Standard program quantities: 500-1,000 cards per order, the most common volume for established programs.
  • High-volume programs: 5,000-50,000 cards, available with volume pricing and scheduled delivery arrangements.
  • Mixed orders combining white gloss, colored stock, and specialty finishes are accommodated to match program complexity.

Properly stored blank PVC magnetic stripe cards maintain their encoding quality for several years. The critical factors are temperature stability, low humidity, and distance from strong magnetic fields. Storing cards flat in their original sealed packaging in a climate-controlled environment is the best practice. Cards left in a hot vehicle or near magnetic sources can develop stripe issues before they are ever issued.

For high-volume programs that carry significant card inventory, CPE recommends periodic spot-testing of stored stock - encoding and reading a sample from each lot - before large issuance runs. This simple step catches any storage-related quality drift before it affects your active program.

Your card program deserves the right foundation from the start. Contact the team at Plastic Card ID and get matched with the exact blank magnetic stripe card specification your program requires.

Twenty-five years of supplying blank and custom plastic cards to businesses across the United States is not a number arrived at by accident. It reflects a consistent commitment to carrying the right products, giving accurate guidance, and treating every card program - whether it is 50 cards a month or 50,000 - as worth getting right. Plastic Card ID is a strategic partner in your card program, not just a vendor fulfilling an order.

From the first conversation about HiCo versus LoCo, through printer selection, ribbon matching, and volume scaling as your program grows, the relationship is designed to be genuinely useful at every stage. The catalog is comprehensive, the stock is deep, and the people answering the phone actually know cards.

Getting Started Is Simple

If you are setting up a new card program, start by identifying your reader infrastructure - what type of magnetic stripe does your reader expect? HiCo or LoCo? Tracks 1 and 2, or Track 2 only? If you already have a card printer, what encoding module does it carry? These three questions narrow the card specification rapidly, and the Plastic Card ID team can help you answer them in a single call.

If you are scaling an existing program, the conversation shifts to volume economics, consistent quality across card lots, and whether your current card specification is still the best fit for how your program has evolved. Programs grow and change; your card supply relationship should keep pace. Call 800.835.7919 today and speak directly with a specialist who understands your application from the card stock up.

Why Customers Stay for Decades

Over 100,000 customers. More than 50 million cards delivered. The retention numbers behind those figures reflect something real: when a card program runs reliably, organizations do not look for a new supplier. They reorder, they scale up, they add new card types as their programs evolve, and they call CPE when they have questions about what comes next.

That continuity of relationship is what separates a strategic supplier from a commodity vendor. The card is just a card until it is the right card, properly specified, reliably stocked, and backed by people who know what they are talking about. That is what Plastic Card ID delivers, order after order, year after year.

Make your next card order the beginning of a program that performs exactly as intended. Reach out to Plastic Card ID at 800.835.7919 and get your blank magnetic stripe card program moving in the right direction today.

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