How Much Does It Cost To Print An ID Card?

Last updated: August 2026 · By the Bodno Team

The short answer: printing an ID card in-house in 2026 costs roughly $0.35–$0.70 per card in supplies — color ribbon plus a blank PVC card — and about $0.41 per card all-in once you spread the printer's price across its lifetime output. Outsourced badges typically run $5–$15 each, which is why most organizations break even on a printer within the first few hundred cards.

Calculating the cost to print an ID card

The all-in figure comes from two parts: the ongoing supply cost per card, and the printer's price divided across every card it will print. Take the ribbon price divided by its print yield, add a few cents for the blank PVC card, then add the printer cost divided by lifetime card volume. The sample below shows the math on real 2026 prices.

A sample computation (2026 prices)

Using the Bodno A20 at $1,595, printing 5,000 cards a year for five years — 25,000 cards:

• Supplies: the 300-print YMCKO ribbon is $94.99, about $0.32 per card, plus a blank CR80 PVC card at a few cents — call it $0.35 per card.
• Printer amortization: $1,595 ÷ 25,000 cards = $0.06 per card.
• All-in: ($0.35 × 25,000 + $1,595) ÷ 25,000 = ≈ $0.41 per card.

Your figure shifts with volume and model — the A10's 100-print ribbon runs about $0.65 per card, better suited to smaller batches, while black-only printing on a 2,000-print K ribbon drops ribbon cost to roughly 2.5 cents per card.

2026 supply prices at a glance

In-house vs outsourcing: the break-even

At typical outsourced pricing of $5–$15 per badge versus roughly $0.41 all-in at home, a $1,595 printer pays for itself after about 350 cards at the $5 rate — faster at higher outsourced prices. Past break-even, every card is printed at supply cost, and reprints for lost badges stop being a line item worth dreading.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to print one ID card?

About $0.35–$0.70 in supplies per full-color card depending on the printer's ribbon, or roughly $0.41 all-in including printer amortization in a typical 25,000-card scenario. Black-only badges cost pennies.

Is it cheaper to print ID cards in-house or outsource?

In-house wins for any recurring need: roughly $0.41 per card all-in versus $5–$15 per outsourced badge, with break-even on the printer at around 350 cards.

What supplies do I need to print ID cards?

A color or black ribbon matched to your printer, blank CR80 PVC cards, and ID card design software — included with every printer we sell: currently a lifetime license on the Bodno A-Series, Seaory S- and R-series, Magicard 250X, 400X, and D, and Matica MC320X, and a 3-year license on other models.