Every school office asks the same question before the new session: how much will ID cards cost us this year? The honest answer is: it depends on the card, the quantity and a few small extras. This guide shows real prices, so you can plan your budget in minutes.
Quick answer: In 2026, a printed school ID card with a lanyard costs about ₹30–₹45 per student for a holder card and ₹45–₹70 for an acrylic card, before 18% GST. PVC parent cards cost ₹12–₹30 each. The more cards you order at once, the lower the price per card. RFID cards cost more, because you also pay for the chip, the readers and the software.
All mustprint prices below are from our product pages at the time of writing (October 2026). Prices on the product pages are always the latest.
Price per card: the main types
| Card type | Price per card | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Holder ID card | ₹30–₹45 | Printed card in a white or clear holder, 16 mm lanyard attached |
| Acrylic ID card | ₹45–₹70 | Crystal-clear acrylic, any shape, 16 mm lanyard attached |
| Parent Card (ATM Style) | ₹12–₹30 | Waterproof PVC, 85.6 × 54 mm, for parents and staff |
| RFID card | Ask your system provider | Needs readers and software too (see below) |
Prices are per card, before 18% GST. The lower price in each range is for large orders.
How the price drops with quantity
Printing is cheaper per card when we print more cards in one go. That is why every card has quantity slabs. Here are the slabs from our current price list:
| Quantity | Vertical White Holder ID Card | Acrylic ID Card |
|---|---|---|
| 50+ | ₹45 | ₹70 |
| 100+ | ₹40 | ₹60 |
| 300+ | ₹37 | ₹55 |
| 700+ | ₹35 | ₹50 |
| 1500+ | ₹30 | ₹45 |
The PVC Parent Card has its own slabs:
| Quantity | 10+ | 50+ | 100+ | 250+ | 500+ | 1000+ | 2000+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per card | ₹30 | ₹25 | ₹20 | ₹18 | ₹16 | ₹14 | ₹12 |
Printing on both sides adds about ₹4–₹5 per card. A double-sided card is worth it: the back carries the school address, an emergency number and the "if found, please return" line.
Worked example: 500 students
Say your school needs double-sided holder cards for 500 students:
- 500 cards fall in the 300+ slab: ₹37 per card
- Double side: + ₹5 → ₹42 per card
- 500 × ₹42 = ₹21,000
- GST at 18% = ₹3,780
- Total: ₹24,780, which is about ₹49.56 per student, lanyard included
- Delivery is free on orders over ₹999
Want parent cards too? 500 PVC parent cards at ₹16 each (500+ slab) = ₹8,000 + GST ₹1,440 = ₹9,440.
What changes the price?
Two schools ordering "ID cards" can pay very different amounts. These are the things that change the price:
- Quantity. The biggest factor. Order the whole school together, not class by class.
- One side or both sides. Double side adds a few rupees per card.
- Card material. Acrylic costs more than a holder card, because it is thicker and cut to shape.
- The lanyard. Our ID cards include a 16 mm printed lanyard. A wider 20 mm lanyard or a fish hook costs a little extra. See our lanyard prices.
- Design work. Using a ready design from our design studio keeps the cost low.
- Reprints. Every wrong name or wrong photo means a new card. Clean data saves money.
What about RFID cards?
RFID cards have a small chip inside. They are used for automatic attendance at the gate. The card itself costs more than a printed card, and you also need:
- Readers at the gate or in classrooms
- Attendance software, often with a yearly fee
- Installation and someone to look after the system
So compare the cost of the whole system, not only the card. Ask your attendance-system provider which chip their readers need before you order any RFID cards.
5 ways to keep the cost down
- Order once for the whole session. One order of 800 cards is much cheaper per card than eight orders of 100.
- Keep about 5% extra for students who join late or lose their card.
- Check the data before printing. Reprints are the biggest hidden cost. Our guide on making ID cards from Excel shows how.
- Pick a ready design instead of paying for a new one every year.
- Order lanyards together with the cards. Our ID cards already come with one attached.
Tip: Ask every printer for the final price per card including GST, lanyard and delivery. Comparing only the "card price" can be misleading.
Get an exact price for your school
Open any product page to see the full price list and work out your total as you change the quantity. For a large order, send us your numbers on the bulk quote page and we will reply with a clear price. You can also read our guide on ordering school ID cards in bulk.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of a school ID card in India?
Most printed school ID cards cost ₹30–₹70 per student in 2026, depending on the card type and quantity. Add 18% GST.
Is GST charged on ID cards?
Yes. Printed ID cards carry 18% GST. Our prices are shown before GST, and the GST is added at checkout.
Is the lanyard included in the price?
Our ID cards come with a 16 mm printed lanyard attached, so it is included. A 20 mm lanyard or a fish hook costs a little more.
What is the minimum order?
It depends on the card. For example, the Acrylic ID Card and the Vertical White Holder ID Card start at 50 cards, and the Parent Card at 10.
Why do RFID cards cost more?
They have a chip and an antenna inside, and they need readers and software to work. The card is only one part of the total cost.
