Hotel Room Key Cards
A hotel room key card is an RFID card encoded at the front desk with the guest's room and stay dates. KeySmart manufactures room cards that are tested on your lock system and offered in several body materials.
- Format
- Standard credit-card size
- Bodies
- Wood, PVC, recycled PVC, paper, leather
- Encoding
- Re-encodable at the front desk
- MOQ
- 500 units
- Lead time
- Scheduled after sample approval
How a room key card works
An antenna and chip sit inside the card. The front-desk encoder writes the room number and the stay window; the lock reads it and opens if the window is valid. There is no battery — the card draws power from the reader.
At check-out the card is re-encoded for the next guest, which is why a durable body means hundreds of reuses per season.
Choosing the body material
Wood and leather suit boutique and upper-tier properties, recycled PVC handles high-volume daily use, and paper board fits events, conferences and short stays.
Mixed programmes are common: wooden cards for guest rooms, PVC for staff access, paper for event areas.
Size and print area
Room cards are produced in the standard credit-card format, compatible with every hotel lock and off-the-shelf holder. The front usually carries the brand image, the back carries wifi details and a welcome message.
Sequential numbering, room numbers and QR codes can be added.
Ordering
Send your lock system details and artwork; we select the chip and prepare a print proof. A sample is validated at your property, then production starts.
Repeat orders are matched to the approved sample so batches stay consistent.
Frequently asked questions
+Are hotel room key cards reusable?
Yes. Each card is re-encoded for the next guest and stays in service until the body wears out.
+What happens if a guest loses a card?
The lost card is cancelled at the front desk and a new one is encoded, which is why properties keep a spare stock.
+Can a phone erase a room card?
No. RFID room cards are not magnetic and are unaffected by phones or bank cards; erasure was a problem specific to older magnetic stripe cards.
+How fast can you deliver?
Lead time depends on body type and quantity. We confirm the production and shipping schedule in writing once the sample is approved.
Related pages
Samples and quotation
Share your lock system and estimated quantity — we will propose the right chip and material and prepare your sample set.
info@keysmart.net