Pricing guide · Updated September 2026
What hotel key cards cost in 2026
Indicative factory-direct price ranges by card format, the quantity bands that move them, and a calculator that turns your own assumptions into a quote request.
The ranges below are indicative per-card figures for a defined specification. A quote depends on the confirmed credential, card construction, quantity per design and delivery requirements.
Factory-direct price ranges (September 2026)
Indicative Cardotel ranges per card at 1,000–4,999 pieces per design, four-colour offset printing included, EXW Dongguan. Freight, duties, taxes, finishes, sleeves and any credential preparation are quoted separately. The chip is confirmed with test samples in your locks before printing; the exact figure is set by chip, material, finish and quantity in a dated quote.
| Card format | Indicative range per card (USD) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Magstripe key card (LoCo, PVC) | $0.03 – $0.10 | Legacy swipe locks (Onity HT, Saflok MT mag, Ilco) |
| RFID PVC — MIFARE Ultralight® EV1 compatible | $0.16 – $0.30 | Onity RFID and other Ultralight EV1 systems |
| RFID PVC — MIFARE Classic® 1K compatible | $0.10 – $0.30 | Pre-update Saflok, Kaba, SALTO (Classic), TTLock and most RFID locks |
| RFID PVC — MIFARE Ultralight® C (ULC) | $0.16 – $0.30 | Security-updated Saflok, dormakaba, Onity and SALTO estates |
| Waterproof paper RFID card | $0.12 – $1.35 | Plastic-free programmes, high-turnover properties |
| Bamboo RFID card | $0.25 – $1.50 | Eco positioning at mid volume |
| Wooden RFID card (wood veneer, FSC options) | $0.30 – $1.60 | Boutique and luxury properties |
| RFID PVC — MIFARE® DESFire® EV2/EV3 | $1.02 – $1.25 | High-security and mobile-access estates |
MIFARE Ultralight® C (ULC) cards for security-updated Saflok, dormakaba, Onity and SALTO estates run $0.16–$0.30 per card on the same basis; ULC is not interchangeable with Ultralight EV1, so name the chip on your quote. Not sure which chip your locks need? Start with the chip guide or the lock compatibility pages.
Quantity bands
| Quantity per design | Effect on the per-card range | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 pieces | Quoted separately | Press setup is a fixed cost; ask for a small-run quote or combine designs. |
| 500 – 999 | About +35% vs. the ranges above | Fine for a first trial run or a small property. |
| 1,000 – 4,999 | The ranges above | The common first order for a single property. |
| 5,000 – 9,999 | About −15% | Annual stock for a mid-size property. |
| 10,000 – 24,999 | About −25% | Group buying or a large resort. |
| 25,000 and above | About −35% | Group and chain volumes; call-off schedules available. |
Percentages are indicative and apply per design; split artwork is priced per design. Compare any two quotes on the same chip, quantity, printing and delivery scope.
Estimate your card subtotal
Quantity × your unit budget in USD. No default prices, automatic discounts or added charges.
Your unit budget (USD)
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Card budget subtotal (USD)
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Enter a quantity and, if known, your unit budget to calculate a subtotal.
The subtotal covers only the per-card amount you enter. Freight, duties, taxes, setup, credential preparation, samples, sleeves and special finishes are not added by this tool. Check which items your entered unit price already covers.
Valid entries are carried to the enquiry form as your budget assumptions. You can also enquire without an estimate.
Make quotes comparable
Ask each supplier to price the same specification and show the scope of every charge. Card format alone is not enough to compare two offers.
| Confirm | Details to request |
|---|---|
| Credential and preparation | Current card SKU, chip or magnetic stripe specification, lock system and any required credential preparation. |
| Card construction | Material, dimensions, thickness and the conditions in which the finished card will be used. |
| Printing and quantity | Artwork versions, print coverage, finish, quantity per design and any separately priced setup. |
| Samples and approval | Blank or printed samples, sample charges, shipping and the agreed on-site encoding and access test. |
| Packing and accessories | Packing method and whether sleeves or other accessories are included or quoted separately. |
| Delivery and taxes | Destination, delivery terms, freight, duties, taxes and the validity period of the quote. |
Need to identify the credential first? Review the lock system guide and ask your authorized system provider to confirm the specification.
Estimate annual replacement demand
Use your property’s operating data. Room occupancy measures room nights; divide by average stay length to estimate room stays before calculating cards issued.
Occupied room stays ≈ rooms × occupancy × days open ÷ average stay length in nights
Cards issued ≈ occupied room stays × cards issued per room stay
Recurring replacement cards ≈ cards issued × (1 − reusable return rate)
Illustration only: 200 rooms × 70% occupancy × 365 days ÷ 2 nights per stay = 25,550 room stays. At 2 cards per stay, that is 51,100 card issues. If 50% of issued cards return fit for reuse, the simplified replacement estimate is 25,550 cards.
Those percentages and counts are hypothetical, not hotel benchmarks. This example assumes steady operation, consistent stay length and issue rates, and that reusable cards are put back into circulation. It excludes opening inventory and additional reissues during a stay. Count damaged returns as non-reusable; do not add the same losses twice.
For an order, estimate replacements until the next delivery, add the usable reserve you want to hold, and subtract usable unallocated stock already on hand. Allow separately for opening stock, extra reissues or a system change. Use a quantity of at least zero, then enter your planned order in the calculator.
For a worked order and reorder-point example, read how to plan hotel key card quantities.
Control spend with a clear specification
Compare the same credential specification
A similar-looking card or matching chip name does not establish compatibility. Confirm the approved credential, any required preparation and the finished card construction before comparing prices.
Ask for alternative quantities
Compare actual quoted totals for quantities you can use. Do not assume a fixed discount threshold, or buy surplus stock solely to reach one.
Measure reusable returns
Track how many issued cards return in usable condition, not just how many are collected. Use your property’s results when forecasting replacement stock.
Plan around the next delivery
Include a practical stock reserve and the confirmed delivery schedule. Consider storage conditions, artwork changes and system upgrades before ordering a long period of stock.
Separate appearance and access approval
Approve a print proof for appearance and test an agreed sample through your hotel’s authorized issuing workflow. Record the accepted specification for the order.
Ready to check the assumptions? Request a quote using your entries, or discuss a sample assessment.
Budget questions, answered
How much do hotel key cards cost?
Indicative Cardotel factory-direct ranges at 1,000–4,999 pieces per design, four-colour printing included, EXW Dongguan: magstripe $0.03–$0.10, MIFARE Ultralight EV1 $0.16–$0.30, MIFARE Classic 1K $0.10–$0.30, MIFARE Ultralight C (ULC) $0.16–$0.30, waterproof paper $0.12–$1.35, bamboo $0.25–$1.50, wood $0.30–$1.60 and DESFire EV2/EV3 $1.02–$1.25 per card. Quantity, finish, material grade and delivery scope set the exact figure, so request a dated quote for your specification.
Is the calculator result a Cardotel quote?
No. It multiplies the quantity by the USD unit budget you enter and rounds the subtotal to cents. It does not select a chip, verify compatibility, apply discounts or add freight, tax, setup, sleeves or finishes. If you leave the unit budget blank, you can still send your quantity and format with an enquiry.
What happens when I select foil stamping or sleeves?
The selection is passed as a requirement to discuss in your quotation or sample enquiry. The calculator adds no charge for it. Ask the supplier to show the cost separately or identify it clearly in the unit price.
How do I estimate annual card purchases?
Start with occupied room stays: room count × occupancy × days open ÷ average stay length in nights. Multiply by cards issued per stay, then by the share not returned in reusable condition to estimate recurring replacement demand. Opening stock, extra reissues, reserve levels and stock already available need separate adjustment.
Are samples, artwork and delivery included?
Their availability, scope, cost and timing must be confirmed in the quote. Ask whether you are reviewing an unprinted test card or a printed proof, how it will be delivered and which site tests are required before a bulk order.
Do larger orders receive a fixed discount?
Unit prices step down with quantity per design: about −15% from 5,000 pieces, −25% from 10,000 and −35% from 25,000 against the 1,000–4,999 range, while 500–999 pieces run about +35%. The calculator itself applies no discount. Request prices for the quantities and artwork splits you can actually use, then compare delivered totals.
Plan your hotel key card order
Share your lock system, approximate quantity and destination. Unsure of the chip? Start with the system details you have.