Combo Cards Examples
Combo card design ideas
A combo card is a standard 86 x 54mm plastic card with a 54 x 29mm key tag joined to it, printed as one piece and designed to be snapped apart by the person you issue it to. They keep the card in a wallet and the tag on a keyring, so the scheme works whichever one they have on them. They suit gyms, salons and loyalty schemes that want a member to be able to scan in without having remembered to bring a wallet card without issuing a second card.
Do you see a design that you like?
Love one of our examples? Let’s use it as inspiration!
If you spot a example design that catches your eye, we can use it as a starting point to create your own design.
We’ll tailor the layout, colours, logos, and text to suit, all included as part of our Design Service.
Just tell us what you like and send over any logos and pictures, and we’ll do the rest.
One Piece, Two Cards
A combo card arrives as a single moulded piece: a full-size 86 x 54mm card with a 54 x 29mm key tag attached to it. The person you issue it to snaps the two apart in a second, keeps the card in their wallet, and puts the tag on their keyring.
The whole idea rests on a simple observation about how people actually behave. A wallet card gets left in the other coat. A keyring is almost never forgotten, because it is attached to the way someone got there. Issue both and your scheme works whichever one they happen to have.
It also halves the administration. One order, one artwork file, one item to hand over at the desk, and no separate stock of key tags to keep track of alongside a stock of cards.
Designing for Two Sizes at Once
This is the part worth spending time on, because a combo card is really two designs that have to come out of one artwork file, and the tag is about a third of the card’s area.
A logo that reads comfortably across 86mm may be illegible at 54 x 29mm, and a strapline that fits the card almost certainly will not fit the tag. The designs that work best in the examples above treat the tag as its own small job — usually a simplified mark, the scheme name, and a barcode — rather than shrinking the card design down and hoping.
If the card and the tag both carry a barcode, make sure they carry the same number. Sounds obvious, but it is the mistake we most often catch on proofs: a member scans the tag one week and the card the next, and if the two resolve to different accounts you have split their history in two. Send the numbers in an Excel file and we will match them across both parts.
Both the card and the tag print in full colour CMYK on both sides, with the design sealed beneath the surface, so neither part wears out on a keyring or in a wallet.
Specification and Price
Combo cards are 680 microns thick (0.68mm) — slightly slimmer than a standard 760-micron card, which is what allows the two parts to separate cleanly. The card is 86 x 54mm, the tag 54 x 29mm, and the tag is punched ready for a keyring.
Prices start at £224 for 25, including free UK delivery, based on one artwork file, with VAT and optional extras on top. That is more than a plain card because you are getting two items in one piece, and it is worth comparing against ordering cards and separate key tags as two jobs if only some of your members want both.
The usual extras are all available: sequential numbering, barcodes, QR codes, signature strips, scratch-off panels, photoseals and a metallic base, plus gloss or matt finish.
Combo Card FAQs
What exactly is a combo card?
An 86 x 54mm plastic card with a 54 x 29mm key tag joined to it, printed as one piece. The two snap apart easily, so the member keeps the card in a wallet and the tag on a keyring.
How thick are combo cards?
680 microns (0.68mm), slightly slimmer than a standard 760-micron card. That is what lets the card and tag separate cleanly.
Do the card and the key tag both get printed?
Yes, both parts print in full colour CMYK on both sides, with the design sealed beneath the surface so neither wears out on a keyring or in a wallet.
Should the card and tag have the same barcode number?
Almost always yes. If they resolve to different accounts, a member scanning the tag one week and the card the next splits their history in two. Send the numbers in an Excel file and we will match them across both parts.
Will my logo work at key tag size?
That depends on the logo. The tag is about a third of the card's area, so a detailed mark often needs simplifying. We will show you both parts on the proof before anything is printed.
What do combo cards cost?
From £224 for 25, including free UK delivery and based on one artwork file, with VAT and optional extras on top. You are getting two items in one piece.
Would separate cards and key tags be cheaper?
Possibly, if only some members want both. It is worth pricing a combo run against ordering cards and separate key tags as two jobs — ask us and we will quote both.
What extras can I add?
Sequential numbering, barcodes, QR codes, signature strips, scratch-off panels, photoseals and a metallic base are all available, along with your choice of gloss or matt finish.