ID Card Holders: How to Choose the Right Option

Choosing the right ID card holder is an essential part of creating a practical, secure, and professional staff identification setup. A card holder helps protect your cards against everyday wear and scuffs, keeps credentials visible to colleagues and visitors, and influences how easily staff can present, swipe, or tap their passes during the working day. Selecting an unsuitable holder can lead to bent cards, scratched magnetic stripes, obscured details, or daily frustration for your team.

Every organisation has distinct operational demands. An office environment where employees tap contactless access readers several times a day has very different needs from an active warehouse, a clinical healthcare setting, or a busy customer service desk. Card layout also plays a decisive role. Standard identity cards are printed in either landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical) orientation, and matching the holder to your card format is critical for clear visibility and comfort.

This guide explains how to choose between open-faced and enclosed ID card holders, how to match your choice to your card orientation, and how different workplaces affect everyday use. It also compares the advantages and limitations of each style, includes our recommendations by workplace, and outlines practical checks to make before ordering.

Understanding ID card holders: open-faced vs enclosed

ID card holders generally fall into two primary structural categories: open-faced holders and enclosed holders. Their construction, protection against everyday wear and scuffs, and interaction with access readers differ. Check your card's dimensions and thickness against the holder specifications rather than assuming compatibility.

An open-faced holder secures the identity card along its perimeter edges while leaving the front surface, and often the central reverse, exposed. In contrast, an enclosed holder houses the card behind a clear front window. Imagin's enclosed landscape and portrait holders display both sides of the card and feature a thumb slot for easy removal. Check reverse-side visibility and the holder's attachment fittings before ordering.

Explore our complete range of photo ID holders to view the landscape and portrait options currently available for your workplace.

Open-faced ID card holders: design and daily function

Open-faced ID card holders are built with moulded side rails and corner retaining clips that grip the card firmly in place without concealing its face behind an additional layer of plastic. A central cut-out or push-slot on the reverse allows the user to slide the card out quickly using their thumb whenever physical inspection or manual swipe-card access is necessary.

Open-faced holders eliminate an additional plastic window, but the card surface can still reflect light. They may make visual checking more straightforward, although scanning performance depends on the code, lighting, reader, and card position. QR codes require a compatible 2D scanner or camera; standard 1D laser scanners cannot read them.

Open-faced designs are lightweight and provide support against bending while leaving the card accessible. Standard, non-shielding plastic holders generally support contactless smart cards, RFID chips, and NFC access controls; the open aperture itself does not enable RFID or NFC. Test the card, holder, and reader together before adopting a setup for routine access.

Enclosed ID card holders: design and daily function

Enclosed ID card holders feature an outer frame paired with a clear front faceplate. The enclosed construction helps protect against everyday wear and scuffs while retaining the card in the holder.

The primary benefit of an enclosed holder is added protection against everyday wear and scuffs. Identity cards carried in active, hands-on environments can be scratched or marked by routine contact, so an enclosed holder can help keep the printed photograph, name, and card surface cleaner during everyday use.

Enclosed holders also offer card retention and structural support. By housing the card within the unit, they help reduce the risk of bending, cracking, or the card working loose during ordinary use.

Matching holder orientation: landscape vs portrait

Before ordering ID accessories, you must evaluate the design and layout of your organisation's identity cards. ID cards are designed in either horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) orientation. Attempting to fit a landscape card into a portrait holder, or vice versa, results in sideways text, awkward photo angles, and an unprofessional appearance.

Card holders have attachment slots positioned to suit particular orientations. Check the holder's fitting position and your chosen lanyard, reel, or clip so that the card hangs in the intended direction. Also check the attachment fittings themselves, as hardware and holder slots are not universally compatible.

When to choose landscape ID card holders

Landscape orientation is the traditional format for corporate identity badges, visitor cards, and membership credentials. It mimics the familiar layout of driving licences and payment cards, providing generous horizontal space for wide corporate logos, longer staff names, departmental titles, and multi-line clearance notices.

Landscape holders provide a wide display area for logos, longer staff names, departmental titles, and other horizontal layouts. If your organisation uses photo ID badges single-sided landscape cards, pairing them with a matching landscape holder can help keep the artwork readable during internal checks.

When to choose portrait ID card holders

Portrait orientation is common across corporate, academic, and healthcare environments. A vertical card layout can provide space for a photograph, name, job role, and barcode or security information in a tall format. Choose it when the card artwork and the intended attachment position suit a vertical presentation.

Portrait holders can suit cards attached to clothing via a pocket clip, retractable badge reel, or waistband fitting. Their narrower profile may be convenient on shirt plackets, lab coat pockets, or lapels, but the suitability of any attachment depends on the clothing, equipment, and workplace risk assessment. If your facility produces photo ID badges single-sided portrait cards, select a portrait holder that matches the card dimensions and fittings.

Pros and cons of each ID card holder option

Every card holder format involves practical trade-offs between protection, card accessibility, weight, optical clarity, and cost. Reviewing these factors side by side helps you determine which model best supports your team's everyday routine.

Detailed analysis: Open-faced holders

Open-faced holders can be a practical option for workplaces where direct access to the card is important. By eliminating the front window, they offer several everyday benefits:

• Accessible card surface: Open-faced holders eliminate an additional plastic window, although the card surface can still reflect light. QR codes require a compatible 2D scanner or camera; standard 1D laser scanners cannot read them.
• Card access: The open frame allows quick card removal where physical inspection or manual use is required.
• Cost: Open-faced holders are priced at £0.65 excluding VAT.
• Everyday support: The holder provides support against bending while the exposed card remains subject to everyday wear and scuffs.

However, open-faced holders do leave the face of the card exposed to environmental wear. In active industrial environments, airborne particulate matter, grit, or frequent rubbing against workwear can gradually dull the card surface and degrade printed imagery.

Detailed analysis: Enclosed holders

Enclosed holders provide a case for identity cards that helps protect against everyday wear and scuffs. For businesses issuing smart access credentials containing contactless antennae, RFID circuitry, or embedded microchips, the holder can provide useful retention and support during routine use.

• Structural support: An enclosed holder helps reduce the risk of bending or cracking when a card is subjected to ordinary flexing or contact.
• Surface protection: The clear front window helps protect against everyday wear and scuffs, although the window itself can become marked.
• Price: Enclosed holders are priced at £1.40 excluding VAT.
• Removal and visibility: Both Imagin enclosed holders display both sides of the card and feature a thumb slot for easy removal.

Check whether the holder affects the way the card is used. Cards must be removed if the holder blocks magnetic-stripe swiping or contact-chip insertion. The front window can also reflect light during close visual checks.

Our recommended holders for key workplaces

At Imagin Products, we supply identification products for organisations across the UK. The recommendations below are based on the practical differences between the holder formats and the requirements of the workplaces described.

1. Corporate offices and education: Open Faced ID Card Holder - Landscape

Starting price: From £0.65 (excluding VAT; prices subject to change, bulk pricing discounts apply).
Why it may suit: Corporate office workers, civil servants, university staff, and school teachers generally operate in clean, temperature-controlled environments. In these settings, cards are rarely exposed to harsh dirt or mechanical impact. Staff primarily need their photo ID to be clearly visible to colleagues and security personnel while moving through turnstiles and contactless access doors.

The Open Faced Landscape Holder provides a lightweight format when paired with a printed or plain lanyard. Standard, non-shielding plastic holders generally support contactless use, but test the card, holder, and reader together. For organisations seeking a cost-effective daily solution, this holder is priced at £0.65 excluding VAT.

2. Healthcare and security personnel: Open Faced ID Card Holder - Portrait

Starting price: From £0.65 (excluding VAT; prices subject to change, bulk pricing discounts apply).
Why it may suit: In busy hospital wards, clinics, care homes, and security patrols, staff are constantly on their feet, bending over patient beds or navigating tight corridors. Any holder may swing or catch depending on its attachment, clothing, equipment, and movement.

The Open Faced Portrait Holder provides a slim profile that can clip to a chest pocket, tunic neckline, or retractable badge reel. Its open design eliminates an additional plastic window, although the card surface can still reflect light. It also allows access to the card for swiping or removal where required; follow your workplace risk assessment when selecting the attachment method.

3. Warehouses, logistics and manufacturing: Enclosed ID Badge Holder - Landscape

Starting price: From £1.40 (excluding VAT; prices subject to change, bulk pricing discounts apply).
Why it may suit: Warehouses, distribution hubs, manufacturing floors, and workshops present genuine physical risks to identity cards. Forklift drivers, pickers, and machine operators frequently brush against racking, pallets, and machinery, which can damage unprotected cards.

The Enclosed Landscape Badge Holder helps protect against everyday wear and scuffs and helps reduce the risk of bending or cracking. Check the card dimensions, thickness, attachment fittings, and reader performance before ordering.

4. Field engineers and construction sites: Enclosed ID Badge Holder - Portrait

Starting price: From £1.40 (excluding VAT; prices subject to change, bulk pricing discounts apply).
Why it may suit: Field engineers, utility workers, telecommunications technicians, and construction site supervisors work in active environments, navigating scaffolding, utility vaults, and plant machinery.

The Enclosed Portrait Badge Holder combines a compact vertical format with an enclosed frame that helps protect against everyday wear and scuffs. If using an armband holder, belt reel, or breakaway lanyard, follow your workplace risk assessment.

How attachment methods influence holder performance

An ID card holder is only one component of your overall display setup. The way the holder attaches to your staff's clothing dictates how comfortably it can be worn and how easily it can be presented during the working day.

Holder attachment slots are intended for lanyard clips and strap clips, but fittings are not universally compatible. Check the holder's slot arrangement against the hook, reel, strap, or clip you plan to use, as well as the card dimensions and thickness.

Lanyards: plain and custom branded

Lanyards are a common attachment method. They suspend the card holder from the neck, but the final position and movement of the card depend on the lanyard, holder, clothing, and attachment.

• Risk assessment: Some lanyards include a breakaway buckle, but this does not replace a workplace risk assessment and does not guarantee safety around machinery. Follow your workplace risk assessment when selecting and using lanyards.
• Options: Lanyards can be ordered in plain stock colours or custom-printed with your organisation's logo and website.
• Attachment: Check that the lanyard clip matches the holder fitting. Our plain lanyards are available for use with your holders.

Retractable badge reels

Badge reels feature a spring-loaded nylon cord housed within a compact circular casing that clips directly to a belt, waistband, or pocket. Our badge reels feature a durable 71 cm retractable cord, plastic strap, and metal popper attachment, with the card holder supplied separately.

• Tap-and-go convenience: Badge reels allow staff to extend a card towards a reader without unfastening a lanyard. Test the card, holder, and reader together for contactless use.
• Holder pairing: Badge reels can pair with portrait or landscape holders. Check the attachment fitting and follow your workplace risk assessment.

Strap clips and crocodile clips

Strap clips feature a small metallic crocodile clamp connected to a flexible, clear plastic strap with a secure metal popper. The clamp grips firmly onto a jacket lapel, pocket flap, or shirt seam, while the strap loops directly through the central slot of the card holder.

• No-neck wear: Strap clips suit employees who prefer not to wear a cord around the neck.
• Direct attachment: Our clip straps can attach either directly to a suitable holder or through a slot-punched card.

A practical checklist for choosing the right ID holder

Before placing an order for ID accessories, work methodically through this practical checklist. Reviewing these criteria helps reduce the risk of mismatches and ensures your chosen holders suit your organisation's day-to-day requirements.

1. Confirm card orientation: Match the holder to the horizontal or vertical layout of the card artwork.
2. Check dimensions and thickness: Compare the card dimensions and thickness with the holder specifications rather than assuming universal compatibility.
3. Assess everyday conditions: Choose an open-faced or enclosed style according to the level of everyday wear and scuffs expected.
4. Check access technology: QR codes require a compatible 2D scanner or camera; standard 1D laser scanners cannot read them. Standard, non-shielding plastic holders generally support contactless use, but test the card, holder, and reader together.
5. Check reverse-side visibility: Confirm that the chosen holder shows the information you need on the reverse side.
6. Select attachment hardware: Check the holder's attachment fittings against the lanyard, reel, or clip, and follow your workplace risk assessment.

Pair photo ID cards with accessories from Imagin Products

At Imagin Products, we provide custom photo identification cards alongside ID holders, lanyards and other accessories.

Our printed card offering includes single-sided portrait and landscape cards, double-sided portrait and landscape cards, signature strip options, and printing onto customers' existing contactless cards. Imagin prints the card but does not supply or programme access-control systems; access-control systems and readers remain the customer's responsibility. Pair cards with holders after checking dimensions, thickness, attachment fittings, and reverse-side visibility.

Coordinating cards and accessories

When staff cards, holders, and lanyards are planned together, the result is a consistent presentation. A high-contrast logo printed on a custom lanyard pairs with a clear open-faced holder, while coloured card frames can help distinguish permanent staff, contractors, and visitors.

If you also supply staff uniforms, our workwear range includes embroidered polos, sweatshirts, jackets, and hi-vis clothing.

Ordering and customer service

When you contact Imagin Products, you can speak directly to our team in Kirkcaldy for guidance on card orientation, open-faced and enclosed holders, or urgent orders.

Our standard dispatch time is usually 2 to 4 days. Dispatch time is separate from delivery time. We offer free standard delivery on orders over £150. If you have an urgent deadline or need tailored advice, get in touch to discuss available options.

View our photo ID holders

Plan your team’s next ID display

Choosing a suitable ID card holder helps protect your organisation's identification credentials against everyday wear and scuffs and supports a practical staff presentation. It can also help reduce the risk of bending or cracking when the holder is appropriate for the card and its working environment.

Review your card artwork, dimensions, thickness, attachment fittings, reverse-side requirements, and the physical demands of your workplace. Then choose between an open-faced holder, which supports access to the card surface, and an enclosed holder, which helps protect against everyday wear and scuffs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an open-faced and an enclosed ID card holder?

An open-faced holder secures the card by its edges and eliminates an additional plastic window, although the card surface can still reflect light. An enclosed holder helps protect against everyday wear and scuffs. Both Imagin enclosed holders display both sides of the card and feature a thumb slot for easy removal.

Can an enclosed ID card holder work with contactless RFID access systems?

Standard, non-shielding plastic holders generally support contactless use, including with RFID and NFC cards. Test the card, holder, and reader together before relying on the combination. Cards must be removed if the holder blocks magnetic-stripe swiping or contact-chip insertion.

Will standard CR80 photo ID cards fit into Imagin Products' holders?

Many holders are designed for standard CR80 cards measuring 85.6 mm by 53.98 mm, but compatibility is not universal. Check your card's dimensions and thickness against the holder specifications, along with the attachment fittings and whether the reverse side needs to remain visible.

How do I know whether to order portrait or landscape holders?

Check the orientation of your card design. If the text, logo, and staff photograph are printed horizontally (wider than they are tall), you must choose a landscape holder. If the artwork is printed vertically (taller than it is wide), select a portrait holder. Choosing the matching format ensures your card hangs upright with attachment slots correctly positioned at the top edge.

Can both sides of a card be viewed in an open-faced ID card holder?

Open-faced holders leave the card surface accessible, subject to the design of the retaining frame. Check the specific holder and card artwork if reverse-side information is important.

What attachment accessories work best with Imagin Products' ID holders?

Plain or custom-printed lanyards, retractable badge reels, and strap clips may be suitable, depending on the holder's attachment fittings and your workplace risk assessment. Check the fitting before ordering.

Article by

Team Imagin :)

Team Imagin helps businesses look their best with quality name badges, photo ID cards, lanyards and branded workwear. Based in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, we combine friendly, personal service with professional printing and embroidery to bring your branding to life. From small teams to large organisations across Scotland, the UK, Europe and America, we help you boost your brand and build connections.