Magnetic Stripe Readers

A magnetic stripe card reader lets a computer read the data encoded on the stripe of an ID card, membership card or loyalty card the moment it is swiped. It is the piece of hardware that turns a physical card into a login, a clock-in or a membership lookup on your system. The same unit gets called a swipe card reader, a magstripe reader or a magnetic card reader.

The ID Tech MiniMag II is the reader we stock. It is a compact desktop unit that sits beside a monitor or till without taking over the desk. It reads a standard CR80 card, the credit card size at 85.6mm x 54mm that most printed ID and membership cards use. It connects straight to your machine, ready to pass the swiped data through.

One reader covers most jobs, because swipe cards are read the same way whether they carry access details, loyalty points or staff numbers. That suits front desks, gyms and leisure centres, membership organisations and any office running a card-based login or attendance system on existing magnetic stripe cards. If you need the reader to work with a particular application or till software, tell us and we will confirm compatibility before you buy.

If you are pairing readers with printed cards, printers or ribbons, Plastic ID can put the whole setup together for you. Call or email the team with your card type and what you want the reader to talk to, then we will confirm the MiniMag II is the right fit.