Lock Compatibility · dormakaba
Saflok-Compatible Hotel Key Cards
Reordering for MT, Quantum or RT locks? Start with the credential your hotel issues today, then confirm the print specification and an on-site acceptance test.
For independently sourced replacement cards. Confirm the exact credential and your property's authorization requirements before ordering; brand names identify the intended locking system.
At a glance · indicative, updated September 2026
Indicative prices for Saflok key cards
| Card format | Indicative range per card (USD) |
|---|---|
| MIFARE Classic 1K compatible, PVC | $0.10 – $0.30 |
| MIFARE Ultralight C (ULC), PVC | $0.16 – $0.30 |
| Magstripe (LoCo, PVC) | $0.03 – $0.10 |
MIFARE Ultralight AES, Plus EV2 and DESFire EV3 credentials for RT Plus or current dormakaba guidance are quoted per 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.
Confirm your Saflok setup
Saflok card selection depends on the installed reader, access software and credential configuration. A lock model or an installation date alone does not identify the card to reorder, especially where hardware or security settings have changed.
dormakaba currently recommends MIFARE Ultralight AES for guest credentials and still lists MIFARE Ultralight® C (ULC) among its options. Properties that completed the Saflok security update programme (rolled out from November 2023 for System 6000, Ambiance and Community) commonly report that MIFARE Classic® 1K cards no longer encode and that the installer specified ULC credentials. That catalogue guidance is a starting point for your installer; it does not establish that every existing Saflok lock accepts the same card. For a Cardotel quote, provide the current card specification and confirm any required credential preparation before custom printing.
Saflok 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 MT / Quantum / RT installation | Confirm the installed credential specification | Use the current supplier part number and installer confirmation. Do not select a chip solely from the lock name or update date. |
| Security-updated MT / Quantum / RT (November 2023 programme onwards) | MIFARE Ultralight C (ULC) | Commonly specified after the dormakaba security update; Classic 1K stock typically stops encoding on updated encoders. Confirm the installer's specification and test ULC samples on your own encoder and doors. |
| RT Plus: published product options | MIFARE Ultralight C (ULC), Plus EV2, DESFire EV3 | The RT Plus page lists these options; it links Plus EV2 to Enhanced Security in Ambiance v2.10. Confirm your firmware, software and active configuration. |
| Current dormakaba guest credential guidance | MIFARE Ultralight AES | The manufacturer recommends this guest credential. Confirm that your installed locks, firmware and issuing setup support it before changing stock. |
| Magstripe or mixed floors | Confirm stripe specification separately | Record the reader type on each floor and the existing card specification. An RFID upgrade does not establish that one card format serves the whole property. |
Manufacturer references · checked 10 September 2026
- dormakaba: current keycards and credentials
- dormakaba: RT Plus credential and software requirements
- NXP: Ultralight AES, C and EV1 comparison (PDF)
These references describe the manufacturer's system. They are separate from evidence for the Cardotel card offered in your quote.
Card options for your Saflok inquiry
- Custom printed guest cards against an installer-confirmed credential specification
- Separate quote lines for properties or floors using different card stock
- Material, thickness and finish options for evaluation with your encoder and readers
- Card artwork and matching sleeve requirements in the same enquiry
Order planning
What determines your quote
Start with your quantity, destination and Saflok 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.
Before 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.
Saflok key card questions
Which chip should I order for Saflok locks?
Ask your installer to confirm the credential type used by your current lock, software and security configuration. Include a current card SKU or specification with your enquiry. The manufacturer options above describe its products; Cardotel compatibility and any required card preparation must be established for your property.
Do Saflok security updates always require Ultralight C (ULC) cards?
Security-updated Saflok estates commonly move from MIFARE Classic 1K to MIFARE Ultralight C (ULC), but an update date alone is not a card specification. If cards stopped working after an update, have your installer confirm the approved credential, encoder setup and lock configuration, then test ULC samples before reordering. An encoder replacement alone does not prove which chip is required. Ultralight C (ULC) key card guide
Are Ultralight C and Ultralight AES interchangeable?
They are different chip products. NXP specifies 3DES protection for Ultralight C and AES protection for Ultralight AES. A compatible frequency or similar card appearance is insufficient; your issuing system and readers must support the selected credential and configuration.
What should our hotel test before approving a bulk order?
Have an authorized operator issue agreed samples using your normal front-desk workflow. Check guest rooms, common doors and any lift readers used by guests, then test reissue and expiry. Use the intended card material and keep the approved specification with the order. Sample format, cost and timing are confirmed in the quote.
Can we order while our property upgrades floor by floor?
List the reader and credential specification for each area and identify which guests need access across them. Request separate card batches or a combined format for assessment; neither a hybrid card nor a chip substitution should be assumed to work without site testing.
Plan your Saflok card order
Share your lock system, approximate quantity and destination. Unsure of the chip? Start with the system details you have.