Single-Sided Printers
Single-sided card printers — ideal when you only need to print on one side of your ID cards. That covers most use cases: staff photo IDs, membership cards, visitor passes, and basic access control credentials. Single-sided printers are generally faster, more affordable, and simpler to maintain than their dual-sided counterparts.
We stock single-sided models from all the major brands — Evolis, Fargo, Magicard, IDP Smart, Entrust, and Zebra — with options ranging from basic entry-level printers to advanced models with encoding. Available for delivery across Ireland. Browse our printer ribbons and printer bundles.
Single-sided card printers — ideal when you only need to print on one side of your ID cards. That covers most use cases: staff photo IDs, membership cards, visitor passes, and basic access control credentials. Single-sided printers are generally faster, more affordable, and simpler to maintain than their dual-sided counterparts.
We stock single-sided models from all the major brands — Evolis, Fargo, Magicard, IDP Smart, Entrust, and Zebra — with options ranging from basic entry-level printers to advanced models with encoding. Available for delivery across Ireland. Browse our printer ribbons and printer bundles.
Choosing a single-sided ID card printer
Most ID cards only ever need a front. A photo, a name, a role, and the back stays blank. That is the case for most staff IDs, membership cards and visitor passes issued in Ireland, and why a single-sided card printer is the right buy more often than you might think. Fewer moving parts, fewer things to jam, lower running costs per card.
The range spans every major brand, from the Zebra ZC100 and IDP Smart 21S at the entry level, through the Fargo DTC4250e and Magicard 600 UNO, up to retransfer printers such as the Zebra ZXP Series 9 and Fargo HDP5000. Priced models start from €1,070 ex VAT.
Single vs double-sided card printer: what to look for
| Printer | Technology | Price ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Zebra ZC100 | Direct-to-card, USB | €1,070 |
| IDP Smart 51 | Direct-to-card | €1,279 |
| Zebra ZXP Series 7 | Direct-to-card | €2,200 |
| Zebra ZXP Series 9 | Retransfer | €2,862 |
Two decisions settle the rest. Direct-to-card prints through a ribbon onto the PVC and is cheaper per card; retransfer prints onto a film fused to the card, giving edge-to-edge coverage and a surface that survives years in a wallet. Then connection: the Fargo DTC1250e with Ethernet and the Zebra ZC350 can sit on the network rather than under one desk.
Ribbons, lamination and where to go next
Ribbons for every printer here are in ID card printer ribbons and consumables, and the collection also lists single-sided lamination modules for the Fargo HDP5000 and IDP Smart 51. If you print under 300 cards a year, start with the entry-level printers; if the back of the card will matter, look at the dual-sided printers. The direct-to-card printers and retransfer printers pages split the range by technology.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Single vs double-sided card printer: which do I need?
If everything the reader needs is on the front, single-sided. If the back must carry contacts, terms or a barcode that will not fit, buy dual-sided from the start.
What is a retransfer ID card printer?
A printer that prints onto a clear film and bonds that film to the card under heat. It gives full-bleed coverage and better wear than direct-to-card, at a higher cost per card.
Which single-sided printer suits a small Irish business?
For a few hundred cards a year, the Zebra ZC100 or IDP Smart 51. For a busier office or several sites, the Zebra ZXP Series 7 or Magicard 600 UNO.
Call 01 555 5555 with your card volume and what the card has to do, and we will narrow this list to two or three and dispatch from Dublin.
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