Is There a Difference Between PVC and PET cards?

[Banner] Is There a Difference Between PVC and PET cards


Plastic cards have become more popular than traditional paper cards. Plastic cards are more flexible, more durable, and have more life than paper cards. Nowadays plastic cards are the most preferable card material by many industries. And there are many variety card materials available under plastic cards. 


But PVC and PET cards are widely used plastic cards and particularly quite famous card material around the globe. There are a lot of similarities and a lot of differences between these PET and PVC plastic cards. Knowing the difference between PVC, PET cards and the benefits they offer will help in choosing the right card material for your business. 


Read on to find out more about each of these cards so that you can make an informed decision about which material will best suit your needs.

PVC cards


PVC is one of the most important card materials used around the industry. PVC cards are standout card material for a variety of useful purposes. PVC cards are plastic cards made out of polyvinyl chloride. 


These cards are simply made out of heating polyvinyl chloride to high temperatures. PVC cards are standard material for identifying cards. They produce a different variety of sizes, thicknesses, colors and are completely customizable. PVC cards are one of the cheap and the best plastic card material available in the market.

Benefits of PVC cards:

  • PVC cards are inexpensive. 
  • Standout material for staff ID cards, membership cards, access cards, loyalty cards, and even debit cards.
  • They are more durable than paper cards and do not break or bend easily. 
  • They are waterproof, and will not be damaged from contact with water.
  • They are easily customizable.
  • They can hold an embedded chip. This chip can be used to store confidential details. 

PET cards


PET cards are widely used plastic cards next to PVC cards. It is made out of polyethylene terephthalate. It is simply produced by plastic resin a form of polyester. They are also called composite PVC cards.  


PET is a combination of PVC and polyester. This PET has many similarities to the PVC card. PET materials are an updated version of PVC materials. PET cards are standard cards for payment cards and high-security access cards. However, PET cards are quite expensive compared to PVC cards.

Benefits of PET cards:

  • PET cards have high brittle strength compared to PVC cards. It is hard to break, warp, melt, and crack compared to PVC cards.
  • PET cards withstand even high temperatures.
  • They are also easily customizable.
  • Best card material for a credit card, debit card, and platinum card. 
  • It has a high lifetime compared to PVC. 


In conclusion, both PVC and PET cards are plastic cards, but what differentiates the two is their composition. Since these two materials have many similarities, it is important to know the differences before deciding which card type you want for your business or organization.


Mixto offers custom printed cards from either material with fast turnaround times at affordable prices. Our team of experts has the knowledge and experience to print your custom cards on either material type. 


Contact us today with any questions about our customized products or how they can be used as part of your marketing strategy – we look forward to hearing from you soon!