Lock Compatibility · dormakaba
Kaba / dormakaba Key Cards
Share your installed lock, encoder and current card reference to plan a replacement order.
For independently sourced replacement cards. Confirm the exact credential and your property's authorization requirements before ordering; brand names identify the intended locking system.
Start with these three details
Share what you know; you can begin before every item is confirmed. If you have an approved card specification, include it in your quote request.
- System & current card
- Lock and encoder models, access software and the current card part number; list any mixed or retrofitted readers.
- Quantity
- Approximate quantity for each artwork or property.
- Delivery
- Destination country and your preferred arrival date.
Not sure which card to order? Plan a compatibility test
At a glance · indicative, updated September 2026
Indicative prices for Kaba / dormakaba key cards
| Card format | Indicative range per card (USD) |
|---|---|
| Magstripe (LoCo, PVC) | $0.03 – $0.10 |
| MIFARE Classic 1K compatible, PVC | $0.10 – $0.30 |
| MIFARE Ultralight C (ULC), PVC | $0.16 – $0.30 |
Ultralight AES, Plus EV2, DESFire EV3 and any required credential preparation are quoted against the confirmed specification.
Indicative USD ranges per card at 1,000–4,999 pieces per design, four-colour offset printing included, EXW Dongguan; freight, duties, taxes, special finishes, sleeves and credential preparation are quoted separately, and the exact price is set in a dated quote.
Quantity bands. Per design, against the 1,000–4,999 range: about −15% from 5,000 pieces, −25% from 10,000 and −35% from 25,000; 500–999 pieces run about +35%. Full price table
A price range is not a compatibility statement. Confirm the chip with test samples in your own locks before ordering.
Order planning
What determines your quote
Start with your quantity, destination and Kaba / dormakaba system details. The final card specification determines the minimum order, price and schedule.
- Card specification
- Confirm the chip manufacturer and exact part, credential preparation, material, dimensions, thickness and finish. A chip family name alone is not an order specification.
- Minimum order
- Request the MOQ for your selected chip, material and finish. State the quantity for each artwork and property; multiple designs may have separate minimums.
- Price & delivery terms
- Request unit prices by quantity, the currency, setup charges, sample costs and packing. Confirm whether freight, duties and taxes are included, and the delivery term.
- Production & arrival
- Give your required arrival date and destination country. Confirm production time after specification, sample and artwork approval; shipping and customs need a separate allowance.
Confirm your Kaba / dormakaba setup
A property may contain different generations of locks, reader retrofits and issuing systems. Record these separately, along with the current card specification and any planned upgrade.
dormakaba’s current catalogue recommends MIFARE Ultralight AES for guest credentials and also lists Ultralight C, Plus EV2 and DESFire EV3. This describes its current offering, not a specification for every Kaba or Ilco installation. Confirm the current supplier part number, encoder and enabled security configuration before evaluating a replacement. An update date alone does not identify the required card.
Kaba / dormakaba credential reference
Use the manufacturer references below to prepare your inquiry. Supported credential families, card preparation and installed configurations must be checked together; these are not interchangeable purchase options.
| System / application | Card / chip | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Existing Ilco 760 / 790 installation | Confirm installed reader and credential | Inspect the actual reader and current stock; confirm stripe requirements separately if it uses magstripe. |
| Kaba or dormakaba RFID installation | Current Classic 1K or Ultralight C specification, where confirmed | Record the current part number and required preparation. These families are different products; confirm the installed issuing configuration before reordering. |
| Current dormakaba credential catalogue | Ultralight C, Ultralight AES, Plus EV2, DESFire EV3 | The manufacturer recommends Ultralight AES for guest use. Confirm software, firmware, reader and credential configuration with the system provider before changing from existing stock. |
Manufacturer references · checked 1 November 2026
- dormakaba: current guest and staff credential options
- dormakaba Ambiance: RFID key type and system settings
These references describe the manufacturer's system. They are separate from evidence for the Cardotel card offered in your quote.
Card options for your Kaba / dormakaba inquiry
- Custom print against a confirmed credential specification
- Card material and finish options subject to the selected construction
- Separate specifications for different installations or floors
- Artwork, quantity per design and destination for a project quote
Agree your site test before ordering samples
Choose the checks with your authorized system provider and hotel team. Keep the accepted card reference and tested configuration with the production order.
Request test cardsBefore a production order
Approve a sample in your own system
Agree both the technical test and the sample costs first. An unprinted test card checks the credential; a printed proof checks the artwork and finish.
Agree what will be tested
Confirm the proposed credential, card body and encoder requirements. Ask for sample quantity, sample charges, courier cost and dispatch timing before arranging shipment.
Issue a test credential on site
Have your authorized property team enroll and encode the sample in your current system. A successful reader scan or matching UID format does not prove that a guest credential will work.
Check the complete guest journey
Test the intended room locks and any configured elevator or shared-area readers. Include check-in, expiry and reissue in the test, and record the software, encoder and lock versions used.
Approve the production specification
Record the accepted credential and artwork reference, material, size and finish. Reconfirm these details if your system or card specification changes before a reorder.
For the initial review, share the lock model, encoder/software details and a non-sensitive card reference. Keep guest data, live access credentials and system security keys with your authorized team.
Request test cardsProcurement evidence
What to review before you order
Ask which documents are available for your proposed card and review their scope before approval. A lock manufacturer's specification does not certify a third-party card.
Exact card & chip specification
Manufacturer and part number, credential preparation requirements, card dimensions and tolerances, material, print finish and the approved artwork revision.
Sample acceptance record
The sample reference, encoding setup, doors and readers tested, results and approval date. A factory read check and a property compatibility test answer different questions.
Material & test evidence
Ask which reports apply to the proposed material and finished card. Check the issuer, date, tested item and scope; request sourcing documentation if certified material is part of your specification.
Written quotation & quality terms
Quantity by design, agreed inspection criteria, production schedule, packing, shipping terms and the process for reporting and resolving a manufacturing defect.
A blank specification and acceptance checklist for your team to complete; it is not a certificate or a completed test report.
Review the quality and sample checks guide for the information to agree before production.
Kaba / dormakaba key card questions
What cards fit an existing Ilco 760 or 790 installation?
Confirm the lock model, encoder, access software and credential configuration. A brand or chip family alone does not establish compatibility; test the proposed sample with your authorized encoder and doors before ordering. If the installed reader uses magstripe, confirm its coercivity and encoding layout from the current stock or installer. Magnetic stripe (HiCo & LoCo) guide
Does the dormakaba brand make all Kaba and Saflok cards interchangeable?
No. Use the installed lock, reader and issuing configuration to establish the credential. The dedicated Saflok page links to manufacturer guidance for that product family; it is not a specification for every dormakaba installation.
Which chip should I order for Kaba RFID locks?
Confirm the lock model, encoder, access software and credential configuration. A brand or chip family alone does not establish compatibility; test the proposed sample with your authorized encoder and doors before ordering.
Should we replace Ultralight C cards with Ultralight AES?
dormakaba currently recommends Ultralight AES for guest credentials and still lists Ultralight C. This is not an instruction to substitute one card for another. Ask your authorized provider to check the installed hardware, software and security settings, agree any required changes, and test the proposed credential before approving a new order.
How should a group manage reorders across mixed installations?
Keep an approved specification per property, including reader, encoder, software, credential part, artwork and sample acceptance. Reconfirm after hardware or software changes and agree quantities, packing and delivery in the quote.
Plan your Kaba / dormakaba card order
Share your lock system, approximate quantity and destination. Unsure of the chip? Start with the system details you have.