4 Must-Have Accessories for ID Badges

You may think that printing ID badges on reliable and durable plastic cards is enough to get your ID program off the ground. Consider purchasing a few accessories to make your solution not only easy to use but also easy to store, protect, and display ID cards.

First, answer the following questions to better determine what accessories you should consider.

Do you need to display your ID cards or use them frequently?

If so, you'll need some type of badge holder that makes it easy to display ID cards and easy for security personnel to see them. And if your employees use their ID cards frequently for access to facilities or buildings, they need to make it quick and easy for employees to move around.

Ways to display and easily use ID cards include lanyards that are worn around the neck, plastic badge holders that protect and display cards, badge reels that make it easy to swipe a card that remains attached to your person, or clips and magnets that make display and use easy and reliable.

Is safety paramount for your solution?

Safety can mean different solutions depending on your needs. For example, if you're issuing access control badges to plant or factory employees, who work around machinery or other equipment, consider getting breakaway lanyards. These lanyards eliminate the possibility of choking if an ID badge gets caught in equipment. They're also good for use with young children where anything around their necks poses a choking hazard.

If you work in a healthcare environment like a hospital, clinic, or doctor's office, there are anti-microbial lanyards to keep germs from spreading between healthcare providers and patients.

Do your ID cards need to promote your brand?

If your employees wear their ID badges where they could be noticed by others, you can easily promote your brand by customizing your accessories.

For example, you could print your company name and logo or some other identifying information on your card. You can also get customized lanyards, badge reels, and other accessories with your logo or company name preprinted on them.

Another way to use customized ID cards for visual security is to use lanyards of different colors for different access levels. You can also have words preprinted on your badge accessories. For example, to easily identify contractors at your facility, purchase colored lanyards with the word "Contractor" preprinted on them.

Basic, must-have ID badge accessories

The purpose of any badge accessory is to make sure your ID card program is convenient and appropriate for both display and use and something that protects your cards from wear and tear or other use-related hazards. Your answers to the above questions will help you choose which of the following basic ID badge accessories you need.

Badge holders. These come in vertical or horizontal alignment to match your ID cards and give you options for attaching lanyards, badge reels, or clips. Choose a badge holder that is ultimately durable and displays your badges in the best possible manner.

Lanyards. This is an easy way for your employees, guests, and others to display ID cards. By simply slipping a lanyard around their neck, those in your facility are immediately identifiable by security personnel.

Badge reels. These make it easy to swipe cards while keeping them readily attached and available. Retractable badge reels easily clip to your person and with a single pull, let you swipe your card then retract it back to its location, whether that's clipped to your belt, pocket, clothing, or even a lanyard.

Clips and magnets. These offer attachment options for those who don't want a badge pinned to their clothing. They're strong and let your employees, visitors, and others easily display ID badges on any kind of fabric without poking holes through your clothing.

Final thoughts

These must-have ID card accessories will help you create a badging solution that works for your employees, your security needs, and the convenience and safety of everyone involved.

If you still have questions or are uncertain about the best accessories for your situation, contact one of Idesco's ID Card Experts. We will help you choose the right accessories that meet your business and budget requirements.