How to Print on Blank NFC Cards
Blank NFC cards can be printed in the same way as ordinary blank plastic cards, but a few checks protect the chip and save you from ruined batches. This guide explains how to print on NFC cards safely.
How an NFC card is built
A PVC NFC card has a thin inlay, a chip with a flat coil antenna, laminated between layers of PVC. The card is the same 85.6 × 54 mm size as a bank card (CR80), and the chip is inside, so printing on the surface does not touch it.
Printers that work with blank NFC cards
| Printer type | Works with NFC cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PVC card printer (dye-sublimation / retransfer) | Yes | The standard choice for full-colour cards. Use cards made for card printers and check the printer’s card specification. |
| Inkjet printer with a card tray | Yes, with inkjet-printable cards | Needs cards with an inkjet-receptive surface. Regular gloss PVC will smudge. |
| UV flatbed printer | Yes | Prints on the card surface at low heat. Good for spot colour and textured finishes. |
| Laser or office printer | Not recommended | Fuser heat and rollers can damage or warp plastic cards. |
How to print on NFC cards without damaging the chip
- Test one card first. Print a single card, read it with a phone and read it again after a day. Do this before every new printer, ribbon or card batch.
- Use cards made for your printer. Card thickness, surface and size must match your printer’s specification.
- Never bend or crease the card. The coil and chip are laminated in, but repeated bending can crack them.
- Keep high heat and pressure to the printer’s normal settings. Follow the printer maker’s guidance and avoid extra passes.
- Keep QR codes and small text off the chip area. The chip area is usually slightly raised or marked. Put the design around it.
Print first, then encode
Most people print the design first, then encode the chip with the customer’s link, then test each card. That order avoids encoding a card that gets spoiled in printing. If you use our encoding service we do the writing and testing for you.
Questions about printing on NFC cards
Can I put the NFC card through a normal PVC card printer?
Usually yes, if it is standard CR80 white PVC. Test one card first because printer models differ.
Will printing erase the data on the chip?
Printing on the surface does not erase data. Physical damage or extreme heat can, which is why a test card comes first.
Do you print the cards for me?
Yes. We print both sides and can encode the chips. See custom printing.
Browse PVC NFC cards or the NTAG215 PVC NFC card.
