Create ID Cards/Badges Online
Design printable ID cards and badges for schools, offices, clubs and events. Pick a template, add a name, role and photo, preview the result, and download a print-ready PDF.
Note: These ID cards are sample templates for professional, educational and illustrative purposes. They are not government-issued IDs and must not be used to impersonate anyone.
Select any template below to personalise it online and get the printable PDF.
What does one need an ID card?
- Identification:
An ID’s biggest purpose, as evident from the name, is to provide identification or verification of the person wearing or holding it. The claim of the information provided by the person is matched with that of the information that has been registered. An ID card helps to tell that the person is legitimate and has been registered with the government or another governing body.
There are chances if you lose your ID card you will be considered as “nobody.”
- Tracing and Access:
All of us know that the data related to an individual is registered with the government and is kept secure. Whenever there is a need to track an individual or his family members for one reason or another, the data acquired from the identity card is entered into the system to automatically retrieve the database that contains everything about the individual.
With a valid ID card, authorities can quickly and securely access important records if needed.
In addition, your ID card can help authorities track you or in case of an accident or a mishap. The criminals can also be reached by reaching theirs or their family’s database through their IDs.
Simply, it can be said that an ID card will help you in your life when no one else does. For you to be able to fight legal battles, apply for international travel or immigration, comply with governmental rules and regulations, cast votes, at the time of one’s wedding and tax payment, etc.
What features does an ID card mostly contain in its format and design?
Bring a very common ID card in your mind, what can you recollect? Let us help you guess:
- A small, pocket-sized, handy card that has been made out of a sturdy plastic material and has been coated with a thin, transparent plastic sheet in most case
- A specialized theme or color tone that is mostly kept monotonous and highly official
- A photograph that provides the card bearer’s visual identity
- Other mandatory details, such as name, father name, or husband name, address, date of birth, mark of identification, an exclusive identity card number, date of card provision, date of card expiry, signature or thumbprint of the cardholder, a bar code at the back of the card, and a unique serial number.
Do we only need state-issued ID Cards?
The above introduction was just a basic overview of what can you expect from the term “identity card.” However, an ID card is not only required to show basic citizenship, there a great number of fields and departments where it is needed, such as:
- Corporate sector
- Education
- Health
- Security
- Transportation, etc.
Can you design a basic as well as a complex ID card on your own?
A modern-day ID card is complicated but gone are the days when people had to visit professional card makers whenever they would need some for the business, project, educational institution, or office. Nowadays, it has become very convenient to take help from online templates and come up with the cards of your choice that also keep a professional outlook.
Here are a few simple steps that can be followed:
- Determine your direction:
Start with a very clear mind on why do you need ID cards, and what purpose do you want these to serve. For instance, are you making identity cards or badges for your students or the employees working at your organization? The ones for the students will most probably have a different composition than those for employees. The details to be added will also be varied.
- Select an appropriate design:
After you have a direction determined, you can then choose which design meets your expectations. Out of the many templates available on our website, you can pick and start with any one of these. Be very selective in the details, and don’t forget that the design must come in complementarity with the theme or field you have chosen.
- Play with personalization:
You can go all creative in bringing personalization to the design template you have selected. You can move the fields, change fonts, modify color tones, and add specialized details. You can add flair to your design by simply getting your creative side on.
Finally, you can copy and save the design for your use, however, it can be modified whenever needed. The scope is crazy!
What are the different types of ID cards or badges?
- State-issued ID cards
- Driver’s ID cards
- Student ID badges
- Employ ID cards
- Military ID cards
- Business badges, etc.
How can you display your ID card or ID badge?
Carrying an ID card in your pocket might lead to you losing it or might also create confusion in situations when you are supposed to keep it on display. Therefore, several ways can be used for keeping your ID card visible, whether you’re entering your office, or visiting a high-security building:
- Strip clip
- Lanyard
- Badge holder
- Card Reel, etc.
All templates are intended for personal, business, or educational use. Misuse of downloadable materials to impersonate individuals or create false identification is strictly prohibited.
Tips for a good-looking ID card or badge
- Use a clear, recent photo. A plain background and a face that fills most of the frame stay readable even when the card is printed small.
- Keep the text short. Name, role and an ID number are usually enough. Long job titles or addresses make the card crowded and hard to read at a glance.
- Print at actual size. In your print dialog choose "Actual size" or 100%, not "Fit to page", so the card keeps its intended proportions.
- Use sturdy paper. Card stock or PVC-friendly sheets last much longer than plain office paper. A pouch or a lamination sleeve protects the card from daily wear.
- Leave room for a lanyard hole or clip when you trim the card, so the printed details are not cut off.
Where these cards are used
Schools issue them to students and teachers, clubs and events use them as visitor or member badges, and small businesses use them as staff badges for internal use. Each template here can be filled in online and downloaded as a PDF within a few minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Are these government or official ID cards?
No. They are design templates for internal, educational and illustrative use only. They are not government-issued identification and must not be used to impersonate a person or an organisation.
Can I use my own organisation’s logo and colours?
Yes, where the template offers a logo field you can upload your own. Only use logos and names that you are entitled to use.
Is my photo stored on your servers?
Files you add while creating a card are removed automatically shortly after creation. See our Privacy Policy for the exact retention period.