It’s a fairly simple process, yet, there are probably a few questions on your mind holding you back. Should you handle the printing process in-house or outsource it to a professional? How big is an ID card supposed to be, and how much do ID cards cost? Where can you customize ID cards?

We’re here to answer all these questions and any others you may have about how to make ID cards for staff with this detailed guide. You’ll feel confident in your next steps by the time you finish reading below, as we’ll show you what makes CustomLanyard.net the #1 choice online.

Choosing our custom ID cards means getting top-tier quality at an unbeatable price, with world-class customer service every step of the way. Learn more about how to make staff ID cards below!

Why You Need Staff Photo ID Cards in the Workplace

Let’s make one thing clear, staff photo ID cards are a must in the workplace regardless of the size of your business. This isn’t just something massive corporations need.

So, why use photo ID badges for employees? Beyond the obvious reasons, security and access control, there are a few other benefits you should be aware of.

Security and Access Control

The threat of unauthorized individuals accessing sensitive areas of your workplace is always looming, and it’s something that you don’t want yourself or your employees stressing over. 

So, how do ID cards work? Modern ID cards integrated with RFID chips or magnetic stripes allow staff to tap or swipe their cards to gain access to restricted areas so that only authorized personnel can enter secure zones like data centers, labs, or executive offices.

This is important for all businesses but especially industries like healthcare, finance, and tech, where data privacy and security are top priorities and the consequences of a breach are severe.

ID cards also help streamline visitor management, making it effortless to distinguish between staff, contractors, and visitors in a busy office or facility. ID cards let security teams instantly identify who belongs and who needs further verification, reducing potential security risks.

Professionalism and Brand Identity

Security aside, having staff photo ID cards brings a sense of professionalism to your company. This presents a professional, cohesive image to both clients and visitors with the business logo and colors on display, along with a staff member’s name and title.

Accountability and Employee Morale

Many ID cards are used to track the flow of employees throughout the organization. These can be used to clock in and out of a shift, preventing the headaches of filling out timesheets manually.

ID cards can also be used to see who has accessed certain areas of the building, which can reduce incidents of internal theft, unauthorized access, or other misconduct. It creates a sense of accountability across departments.

If for no other reason, learning how to make ID cards for staff can help boost morale across the workforce as everyone feels that they belong when they have their own badge. This is a great way to onboard a new staff member and make them feel at home early on in onboarding. 

Should You Try Printing Staff ID Cards Yourself or Outsource to the Professionals?

It’s clear you need to invest in staff ID cards, the only question is how you should go about it. The two options are to invest in the best ID printer and any necessary materials and handle it yourself - OR, leave it to the experts in ID card printing, like CustomLanyard.net. 

In-House Printing

One of the main reasons you might consider printing your own ID cards is for the control it offers over the process from start to finish. You can print as many or as few cards as you need, and you can always go back to print a new one if you have a new hire.

This route makes sense for businesses that frequently hire new staff or experience turnover. Plus, learning how to print an ID yourself isn’t all that difficult. However, it does come with a few limitations. 

The initial investment for a high-quality ID card printer, along with necessary accessories like ink, blank cards, and laminates, can be costly. In fact, it oftentimes exceeds the cost of outsourcing your printing process altogether.

There are also quality concerns. It can be tough to match the professional look and feel of cards printed by experienced professionals. When it comes to your brand’s image, you shouldn’t leave anything to chance or cut any corners.

Nevertheless, we have a detailed guide on how to laminate PVC ID card at home if you’re interested in pursuing this path. Learn more there. Otherwise, let’s look at the appeal of printing staff ID cards with the help of a professional.

Outsourcing to a Professional

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could keep your focus on matters more relevant to your day-to-day operation, or concentrate on long-term growth strategies? You shouldn’t bother with bringing another responsibility in-house that doesn’t contribute to your company’s goals.

That’s why most of the time, outsourcing ID card printing for your staff members is the logical choice. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of errors and malfunctions that can occur with in-house printing.

Speaking of which, you won’t have to stress about quality when you hire an expert. They are well-versed in this process and leverage cutting-edge technology to guarantee professional results. You can trust you’ll get high-resolution, durable ID cards that mirror your brand’s image.

Even just from a cost perspective, it makes much more sense to partner with a professional for this project. Businesses that need hundreds or thousands of cards printed can get bulk discounts and pay as little as $0.37 per card!

It’s clear that outsourcing is the way to go, but all the benefits are contingent on finding a printer you can trust to deliver top-notch results at a fair price with exceptional customer support along the way. As we said from the start, you needn’t look further than CustomLanyard.net. 

Enjoy High Quality, Low Prices, and World-Class Service When You Print Staff ID Cards at CustomLanyard.net!

We’ve earned the trust of industry-leading businesses like Facebook, Netflix, Yelp, Google, Nike, and more - and even smaller organizations have partnered with us for custom PVC cards. With a million happy customers and counting, you can rest assured you’re in the right place.

Our company prioritizes quality across all our products, from these photo-staff ID cards to our custom lanyards, custom wristbands, and even custom badge holders. All our materials are durable and ensure a clear, professional look.

Yet, we offer the lowest prices online so you can stretch your budget further without compromising on quality. The more you buy, the more you’ll save. But there are no minimum order quantities, so even small businesses can bring their staff ID cards to life through us. We even cover the shipping costs!

You’ll enjoy unparalleled customer service every step of the way, whether you’re looking for guidance on how to make ID cards for staff or come across an issue in your order.

After all, our goal is to create a long-lasting relationship with you so that we can help you with all your needs for years to come - not simply sell you a single batch of ID cards for your staff! That being said, we’ll walk you through our quick and intuitive process for how to make staff ID cards below. 

How to Make ID Cards for Staff: Step-by-Step Guide

Now, let’s get into how to make employee badges here at CustomLanyard.net. It takes just a few clicks and you’ll be well on your way to distributing ID cards to your staff and streamlining your operations. 

Start With Sizing

The first step is figuring out what size you need for your ID cards. There are quite a few options available here in our catalog, ranging from as small as 2.21” x 3.38” to as large as 6.5” x 4.75”. 

The optimal size is typically CR80 (3.375" x 2.125"), which is the same size as a credit card and works well for most workplace environments. It fits in wallets, acrylic badge holders, or you can learn how to put an ID card on a lanyard for easy display. 

That being said, you might find your company has too much information that needs to be displayed beyond photos, names, and job titles, and that a bigger card works better. 

You also need to consider the PVC ID card thickness, as this influences its durability and the professional feel of the cards. It also determines the cost of your cards, though. The standard option works just fine for most people, but you may want something thicker and heavier.

Sizing is one of the most common challenges we see our customers run into, and it’s something we can help you navigate if you’re not sure. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

Choose a Card Type and Style

Now, what are IDs made of? Options range from PET vs PVC ID cards to laminated vs non laminated ID cards. Each material has its pros and cons, but we suggest our PVC cards for a few reasons.

First, it’s very easy to print on so you can rest assured you’re getting a professional result that will maintain its vibrancy for years to come. These cards are also very durable and capable of withstanding wear and tear from frequent use. Most importantly, they’re very affordable.

If you need your ID cards to function as access cards, consider adding a magnetic stripe that can be swiped to allow entry into restricted areas. Or, you can take things a step further with RFID-enabled cards for contactless access.

Card Design Tips

The actual process of designing your cards is supposed to be fun - yet, it can also be stressful if you’re not sure where to start. That’s why we’ve presented a variety of options for designing your cards.

You can start by determining what type of card finish you want. Our options include glossy, matte, frosted, holographic, and transparent cards. 

Then, choose whether or not you want holes in your cards for attachment to a lanyard. Card holes can be a circle, or oval, or you can have two holes.

If you already have a professional design file for your card, great! You can easily upload that and then fill in specific details for each staff member - their name, title, photo, etc.

Otherwise, there are a few different directions you can take. Designing from scratch is easy with our customization wizard, or you can use our easy form and keep things simple. We have a great selection of templates you can browse for inspiration as well.

Don’t stress about this step, as help is always available if you aren’t sure how to proceed. Just get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Place Your Order

At this point most of the hard work is done - it’s just a matter of checking the details of your order and making sure everything looks good before placing it. We provide a digital proof before printing so you can review and approve the final design.

Then, we’ll get to work! Our turnaround times are fast as is, but we offer the ability to rush your order if you’re in a time crunch. Just let us know before we start production.

Distribution and Use

While you wait for your ID cards to arrive it’s a good time to think about how you’re going to distribute them to your staff and train them on proper usage. 

New staff can be presented their cards during the onboarding process, where they can be linked to the staff member’s account in your system. 

If you’re just now rolling out ID cards across your workforce for the first time, consider holding an all-hands meeting to pass them out, explain their significance, and educate on how to use them along with protocols for reporting lost or damaged IDs.

There you have it - how to make ID cards for staff in just a few clicks with CustomLanyard.net! It’s quick, easy, and most of all, fun. So take the next step today as we wrap up our guide on how to make staff ID cards below.

Parting Thoughts on How to Make Staff ID Cards 

We hope this guide on how to make ID cards for staff has left you feeling clear in confident not just in your next steps, but why this is such an important part of running your business. It can enhance security, professionalism, and morale all at once!

Our blog has more resources on how to make badge holders, how to make your own security badge, how to make event badges, how to make PVC ID cards, the best ID badge holder. And more.

Whether you’re looking for a custom ID card lanyard or a clear plastic card holder, remember that CustomLanyard.net is your go-to source. So, get started designing your cards today and see for yourself how quick and easy it can be!