At a glance
| Paper insert + holder | PVC (plastic) badge | |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | Bends, tears and smudges; holders help | Rigid 30 mil plastic, wipes clean |
| Lasts | One day | Multi-day events, then reusable |
| Printing | Office printer, same day | Card printer; order ahead or Rush |
| Look | Fine for casual events | Like a real credential |
| Barcodes and QR codes | Can blur or crease | Stay sharp and scannable |
| Extra cost | Holders and lanyards | Lanyards or clips only |
When paper makes sense
- A one-day event where badges are thrown away afterward
- Registrations right up to the morning of the event, printed on site
- A very tight budget and no scanning at the door
When plastic is worth it
- Multi-day conferences and festivals: paper inserts rarely survive day three.
- Staff, crew, volunteers and VIPs: badges that need to look official, and can be reused next year.
- Scanned badges: QR codes and barcodes for check-in or lead retrieval stay readable.
- Sponsored events: full-color, edge-to-edge printing gives sponsor logos room to shine.
Mix and match
Many events do both: PVC badges for staff, speakers and VIPs ordered ahead, and paper for late registrations printed on site. With a roster upload, every PVC badge still gets its own name, photo and QR code.
How far ahead to order PVC badges
Standard orders print and ship within 3–5 business days, plus shipping time. If you're short on time, choose Rush and order by 11 AM ET on a weekday to ship the same day. See same-day ID cards.