What Is the Minimum Order for Plastic Cards?

Short answer: you can order from just 25 cards.

You do not need to commit to thousands to get professionally printed plastic cards. Whether you are a small business testing a new loyalty scheme, a sole trader who needs a handful of gift cards, or an event organiser who wants passes for a private gathering — we print small runs as well as large.

View our plastic card printing options


Why most people ask this question
Most plastic card printers have minimum order quantities that do not suit small businesses. Some will not print fewer than 250. Others will not quote below 500. If you have already hit a wall elsewhere, you have found the right page.

At CP Cards, we manufacture in England and handle small orders the same way we handle large ones — proper print quality, full-colour both sides, on 760 micron PVC card stock.

Does a small order cost more per card?
Yes, honestly — unit cost is higher on smaller runs. That is true with any print product. But for most small businesses, ordering 25-100 cards and paying a bit more per unit still makes far more sense than ordering 500 cards you will never use.

Our pricing is transparent. You can get an instant quote without having to speak to anyone.

When a small order makes sense
A small plastic card order is the right call when you are:

- Launching a new loyalty or rewards scheme and want to test it before going all in
- A new business that does not yet know how many cards you will actually need
- Running a short-term promotion or seasonal campaign
- Replacing a partial stock of existing cards
- Ordering personalised cards where different staff need different details

There is no sensible reason to over-order just to hit someone else's minimum. Start with what you need.

When a larger order makes more sense
If you know you will use the cards — and most established businesses do — ordering in higher quantities brings the unit cost down significantly. If you are a salon, gym, coffee shop, or retailer with a steady flow of new clients, ordering a few hundred cards at once is usually the more cost-effective approach.

How to order

1. Choose your card type
2. Use our online quote tool to see pricing at different quantities
3. Upload or send your artwork — or ask about our design service
4. We print in England and despatch quickly

Ready to get a quote?
View our plastic card printing options or get in touch if you have a question about minimum quantities or small run pricing.