Should You Buy the Evolis Badgy 200? What You Need to Know Before Purchasing

Released in 2015, the Badgy200 continues to be a great choice if you want an entry-level card printer on a budget.

Find out whether it suits your office needs by reading this product spotlight. It outlines the core printing mechanics and specifications so you know you're making the right choice.

Core Specifications

The Badgy200 is a direct-to-card (DTC) printer. It works through a dye-sublimation process: a thermal printhead applies heat directly to a multi-panel ink ribbon, transferring the ink directly onto the surface of a blank PVC card.

• Printer Specifications: The Badgy200 prints single-sided, which means you will have to turn the cards over to print the other side, just as you would with a home A4 printer that doesn't support double-sided printing. It can print edge-to-edge and features a 260 x 300 dpi resolution.

• Card Compatibility: When it comes to feeding cards into the printer, the card feeding is automatic. The cards you choose should be ISO CR80 - ISO7810 (53.98mm x 85.60mm), 0.25–0.76mm (10 to 30 mil) in thickness, and made from materials such as PVC, PET, Composite PVC, or ABS, as well as varnished cards.

• Hopper Capacity: The input hopper can hold 25 cards (0.76mm – 30 mil) to 40 cards (0.50mm – 20 mil) at a time, and the output hopper matches this capacity.

Technical Performance & Metrics

Performance & Speed

• Full-Colour Cards: 95 cards per hour (just 38 seconds per card).

• Monochrome (Black Ink): 325 cards per hour (a rapid 11 seconds per card).

Size & Weight

• Compact Footprint: Only 14.8cm x 20cm x 27.6cm—takes up less desk space than a standard sheet of paper.

• Ultra-Lightweight: At just 1.66kg, it’s effortless to move around the office or pack up for off-site events.

System & Hardware

• Universal USB Connectivity: Plug-and-play compatibility across USB 1.1, 2.0, and 3.0 ports.

• Smart Memory: 16MB RAM ensures smooth data buffering without slowing down your computer.

• Simple Interface: Clean LED status buttons tell you exactly when to add cards or change the ribbon.

Optimal Environment

• Temperature & Humidity: Runs best between 15°C–30°C in standard office humidity (25%–65%).

Badgy100 vs. Badgy200

A lot of people assume the Badgy100 and Badgy200 are functionally identical outside of price. However, they use completely different internal configurations.

• The White Border Issue: The Badgy100 leaves a mandatory 1.35mm unprinted white border around the entire edge of the card. The Badgy200 achieves true edge-to-edge printing, meaning your background colours bleed perfectly off the side of the PVC.

• Software Constraints: The Badgy100 ships with a limited edition of Evolis Badge Studio. The Badgy200 includes the Plus version, unlocking the ability to import Excel data sheets (.csv or .xlsx) to run automated, mail-merge-style print jobs.

• Speed Engine: The Badgy200 prints full colour roughly 20% faster and monochrome 40% faster than its smaller sibling.

Consumables Cost Considerations

To accurately forecast your budget, look closely at the mechanical design of standard YMCKO ribbon tracking.

Warning on Panel Waste: Every standard YMCKO ribbon features static blocks of Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, Black, and Overlay panels. Even if you design a badge that is 90% white with just a tiny blue logo, the print mechanism advances through the entire YMCKO block for that single printed card.

Breaking Down Running Costs

• Colour Context (YMCKO packs): Average out your ongoing costs with genuine replacement ribbon kits. A replacement kit yields 100 colour prints.

• Monochrome Savings Feature: When running the dedicated monochrome black ribbon, the printer uses a built-in ribbon saver mechanism. It only advances the ribbon by the exact width of the black text or barcode printed, allowing a single monochrome ribbon to regularly yield up to 500 prints.

Maintenance of the Badgy200

Because the Badgy200 uses direct-to-card thermal technology, dust is the ultimate enemy. A single microscopic speck of lint sitting on a blank PVC card will block the thermal heat transfer, leaving a permanent white spot right in the middle of your text or photo ID.

We recommend purchasing a cleaning kit with your card printer to ensure you don't waste ribbons or cards, and to avoid disappointment with the final print.

[View our cleaning kits here.]

What Are the Limitations of the Badgy200?

Whilst the Badgy200 is an exceptional entry-tier device, it is not built for every environment:

• No Automated Dual-Sided Printing: If you require text or terms and conditions printed on the back of your card, you must manually pick up the card, flip it over, and re-feed it through the front hopper.

• No Access Control Encoding: The Badgy200 does not feature modular upgrade paths for magnetic strip encoders or contact/contactless smart chip programmers. It prints regular visual layouts, barcodes, and QR codes onto standard plastic cards.

• PVC Construction Limitations: Direct-to-card printheads require perfectly flat surfaces. You cannot reliably feed heavy proximity access cards or uneven, pre-assembled smart cards through the hopper without risking physical damage to the delicate printhead.

What Is the Badgy200 Best For?

Corporate & Office Operations

• Staff ID Badges: Personalising standard employee credentials complete with worker photos, department text, and company branding.

• Visitor & Contractor Passes: Instantly printing high-visibility temporary passes at reception desks to monitor building safety on demand.

Education Sector

• Student ID Cards: Generating durable identification cards for primary schools, secondary schools, or private academies.

• Staff & Faculty Access: Providing distinct clearance cards for teachers, substitute staff, and administrative personnel.

Retail & Hospitality

• Customer Loyalty Cards: Printing custom customer reward cards or account tracking cards at checkout counters to drive repeat visits.

• Gift Cards: Launching targeted, store-branded gift card promotions without relying on outsourced printer lead times.

Membership Management

• Clubs & Gyms: Issuing durable photo ID cards for sports facilities, private members' clubs, and community centres to track attendance.

• Association Branding: Dispensing high-quality member credentials that instantly elevate the professional image of local non-profits or professional guilds.

Events & Leisure

• Event Press & VIP Passes: Taking advantage of the printer's lightweight footprint (1.66kg) to transport it to trade shows, conferences, or music festivals for instant, on-site badge generation.

• Exhibitor Badges: Efficiently processing last-minute registrations or replacement passes during live, high-traffic events.

[View the Badgy 200 Bundle] 

[View ID Card Printer Cards]

[View Evolis ID Card Printers]

[View Badgy 200 Ribbons]