Zebra ZC300 ID Card Printer

Zebra ZC300 ID Card Printer Overview

The Zebra ZC300 is a direct-to-card ID card printer built for organisations that need reliable, high-quality plastic card production in-house. It is available in single-sided and dual-sided configurations, so whether you're issuing staff badges, membership cards, event passes or access control credentials, the ZC300 is designed to handle the job without fuss.

Specifications

What's Included:

• Zebra ZC300 ID Card Printer
• USB Cable
• Power Supply
• Card Feeder and Hopper
• Installation Disk and Driver

Print quality and speed you can plan around

The ZC300 uses dye-sublimation thermal transfer printing at 300 dpi, producing edge-to-edge colour or monochrome output on standard CR80 plastic cards. Single-sided, it prints up to 200 full-colour YMCKO cards per hour and up to 900 monochrome cards per hour. The dual-sided model adds an integrated card flipper for automatic two-sided printing, with throughput of 140 YMCKOK colour cards per hour and 450 monochrome cards per hour. Both hoppers hold 100 cards and adjust automatically to card thickness, so switching between 10 mil and 30 mil stock does not require manual reconfiguration. A manual feed slot with LED guidance handles individual cards when you need to print one at a time.

Connectivity and encoding options

Standard connectivity is USB 2.0 and built-in Ethernet 10/100, which means the ZC300 can sit on your network and serve multiple workstations without additional hardware. Wi-Fi (802.11ac) is available as a field-upgradeable option if a wired connection is not practical.

Encoding is modular. The base printer ships without encoding, which keeps the cost down for organisations that only need printed cards. Magnetic stripe encoding (ISO 7811, tracks 1, 2 and 3; high and low coercivity) is available as a field upgrade, meaning you can add it later without replacing the printer. Contactless and smart card encoding options are also available for more complex card programmes.

Security built into the hardware

The ZC300 includes printer-to-host authentication and AES data encryption, so the print stream between your computer and the printer is protected. A Kensington lock slot lets you physically secure the printer in shared or public-facing workspaces. A locking card hopper deters opportunistic theft of card stock and rejected prints. The Print Touch NFC tag on the printer links directly to Zebra's online support resources, making it straightforward to access documentation or troubleshoot without searching.

Warranty, ribbons and ongoing supplies

The Zebra ZC300 series carries a three-year limited warranty covering both the printer and the printhead, which is one of the longer standard warranties in this class of ID card printer and reflects Zebra's confidence in the hardware.

The ZC300 takes genuine Zebra ZC-series ribbon cartridges only. The cartridge design has a single correct orientation and a door-handle grip, so loading is straightforward. Embedded smart chips tell the printer what ribbon type is installed and track remaining panels, so the printer can alert you before the ribbon runs out. Colour options include YMCKO (200 or 300 prints), YMCKOK (200 prints) and half-panel YMCKO (400 prints). Monochrome ribbons are available in black, white, blue, red, gold and silver.

Pair your ZC300 with genuine Zebra ZC300 printer ribbons for consistent print quality and to keep the three-year warranty intact. If you need card stock, our blank white PVC cards are CR80 format and compatible with the ZC300's auto-adjusting hoppers. For everyday wear, take a look at our ID card lanyards, available plain, pre-printed or custom.

Who the Zebra ZC300 was Designed for

The ZC300 is the right card printer for a business that wants professional-grade plastic card output, genuine encoding flexibility and a printer that the whole team can use without specialist training.

• Businesses needing professional, high-quality employee badges
• Schools and universities printing student and faculty ID cards
• Retail and hospitality organisations issuing loyalty and access cards
• Healthcare facilities producing staff and patient identification cards
• Event organisers creating durable, high-impact visitor passes