Inkjet vs ID Card Printers – Why They’re Not the Same

Thinking of printing ID cards with your office inkjet printer? It might seem like a cost-saving shortcut - but when it comes to quality, durability, and security, inkjet printers and ID card printers are two very different tools.

In this guide, we’ll break down the differences so you know why a dedicated ID card printer is the right choice for professional results.

1. Inkjet Printers Aren’t Made for Plastic Cards

Inkjet printers are designed for paper, not PVC cards. Printing on plastic requires special cards, coatings, and often expensive adapters - and the results still fall short.

With an ID card printer, you're printing directly onto PVC cards (or via a retransfer film), designed specifically for long-lasting ID badges.

2. Durability & Finish

Inkjet prints can smudge, fade, or wear off quickly - especially if the card is used daily or exposed to moisture.

ID card printers use:

• Dye-sublimation or retransfer methods

• Heat-fused ribbons instead of wet ink

• Optional lamination for extra protection

This results in long-lasting, professional-grade cards that resist damage.

3. Alignment and Quality

Inkjet printers struggle to align accurately with plastic cards, especially for borderless or edge-to-edge designs. That leads to:

• Off-centre prints

• Uneven margins

• Low-resolution photos

ID card printers are purpose-built for accurate positioning and high-resolution images - essential for photos, barcodes, and QR codes.

4. Encoding & Security Options

Need smart card, RFID, or magnetic stripe encoding? An inkjet printer can’t do that.

Modern ID card printers offer built-in encoding capabilities, allowing your cards to integrate with access systems, time tracking, and secure entry points.

5. Time & Efficiency

Even if you get decent results from an inkjet workaround, it’s slow and manual - loading special cards, aligning templates, and hoping it prints correctly.

ID card printers are:

• Faster (many print in under 20 seconds)

• More reliable (auto-feed blank cards)

• Consistent (each card looks exactly the same)

Final Thoughts

While inkjet printers are great for documents, they’re not built for professional ID card printing. If you need secure, long-lasting cards with consistent quality, a dedicated ID card printer is the way to go.

Looking to print cards the right way? Explore our range of ID card printers or get in touch for expert advice.

Explore our top ID card printers for 2025 to get started