What Is a HiCo Magnetic Stripe Card? Full Guide
What Is a HiCo Magnetic Stripe Card? Everything You Need to Know - Chicago Pipe Essentials
Swipe a card at a hotel front desk, a gym turnstile, or a retail loyalty kiosk - that smooth, satisfying read happens because of what's embedded in that dark stripe running across the card's back. Magnetic stripe technology has quietly powered card programs across every industry for decades, and yet most buyers don't know the difference between a card that holds its data reliably and one that fails mid-program. That difference, almost always, comes down to one word: HiCo.
Whether you're launching a membership program, building an employee access system, or scaling a retail loyalty card initiative, understanding HiCo magnetic stripe cards gives you a concrete advantage. This page breaks down exactly what they are, why they outperform alternatives in most applications, and how CPE has spent over 25 years helping organizations across the United States choose the right card technology for their specific needs.
| Feature | HiCo (High Coercivity) | LoCo (Low Coercivity) |
|---|---|---|
| Coercivity Rating | 2750 Oe | 300 Oe |
| Resistance to Demagnetization | High | Low |
| Typical Use Cases | Loyalty, Access, ID, Gift | Hotel Keys, Event Passes |
| Card Lifespan | Long-term use | Short-term use |
| Stripe Color | Dark Brown / Black | Brown |
The Science Behind HiCo: What "High Coercivity" Actually Means
Magnetic stripe cards store data using tiny magnetic particles embedded in a stripe on the card's surface. Coercivity measures how much magnetic force is required to alter or erase the data stored on that stripe. The higher the coercivity rating, the stronger the magnetic field needed to disrupt the card's encoded information. HiCo cards operate at approximately 2750 Oersteds (Oe) - dramatically more resistant to accidental demagnetization than their LoCo counterparts.
Think of coercivity like the difference between writing in pencil versus permanent marker. A LoCo stripe can be disrupted by everyday magnetic fields - phone cases, magnetic clasps on purses, or even proximity to certain electronic devices. A HiCo stripe holds its data through the everyday chaos of a busy cardholder's life. For any card expected to be used repeatedly over months or years, HiCo is the professional standard.
The Three Tracks: What Data Lives on a Magnetic Stripe
Magnetic stripes are divided into three distinct tracks, each standardized by ISO/IEC 7811. Track 1 holds alphanumeric data - up to 79 characters - and is commonly used for cardholder name and account number. Track 2, the most widely used by point-of-sale systems, holds up to 40 numeric characters. Track 3 is a read-write track that was historically used in banking systems but sees limited application today.
For most business card programs, Tracks 1 and 2 carry all the necessary data - membership IDs, employee numbers, loyalty points account references, and access codes. Understanding which tracks your card reader system requires is an essential step before ordering, and CPE can help you match the right card to your existing infrastructure or new system.
Why Encoding Matters as Much as the Card Itself
A blank HiCo magnetic stripe card is potential waiting to be activated. The encoding process - writing data to the stripe - must be done with equipment capable of writing to HiCo-rated media. Using a LoCo encoder on a HiCo card will typically fail to write data reliably. Matching your card printer's encoding head to your card type is non-negotiable for a functional program.
Card printers from Evolis, Zebra, and Fargo - all available through CPE - include optional HiCo magnetic stripe encoding modules. Buying cards and printer equipment together from the same strategic partner eliminates compatibility guesswork and keeps your program running without interruption.
Oersteds Explained: A Number That Matters
Oersteds are the unit of measurement for coercivity. A standard LoCo card reads at around 300 Oe, while HiCo cards register at 2750 Oe. Some specialty applications use ultra-high coercivity cards at 4000 Oe, though these are less common in standard business card programs. The jump from 300 to 2750 Oe represents a roughly 9x increase in magnetic resistance - which translates directly to dramatically longer stripe reliability in the real world.
When a card reader consistently fails to read a card, demagnetization is among the first suspects. Switching from LoCo to HiCo cards has solved stripe-read failures for countless organizations without requiring any changes to hardware, readers, or back-end systems - as long as the encoding equipment is properly rated.
Where HiCo Magnetic Stripe Cards Are Used Most
The versatility of HiCo magnetic stripe cards is one of their most compelling qualities. A single card format - the CR80 standard size, 3.375 x 2.125 inches, 30 mil thick - can serve wildly different purposes depending on what data is encoded on its stripe. This is why blank HiCo cards are such a powerful tool for organizations that want design control and flexibility.
Industries that rely heavily on HiCo magnetic stripe cards include retail, healthcare, hospitality, higher education, corporate access management, and membership-based organizations. Each use case places different demands on a card - frequency of use, environmental exposure, cardholder demographics - and HiCo's durability profile meets most of them head-on.
Loyalty and Gift Card Programs
Plastic loyalty cards that live in wallets and get swiped weekly need stripes that hold up over time. Research consistently shows that retailers switching from paper punch cards to plastic loyalty cards see meaningful increases in repeat visits and average transaction value. Retailers who make the switch to plastic gift cards often report sales increases in the range of 35-50% - a statistic that underscores the physical card's power as a sales and retention tool.
Gift cards carry loaded value - sometimes significant dollar amounts - and card read failures carry real financial consequences. HiCo encoding gives gift card programs the reliability they demand. Cards swiped dozens of times across different locations and point-of-sale terminals perform consistently, protecting both the business and the cardholder's experience.
Employee ID and Access Control Cards
Employee badge programs often combine printed photo identification with magnetic stripe encoding for door access or time-and-attendance tracking. HiCo magnetic stripes endure daily use across badge readers, time clocks, and access panels without degradation. An employee badge is one of the most frequently used cards in any wallet - sometimes swiped dozens of times per day - and HiCo is the only practical choice for this level of sustained use.
Organizations managing sensitive areas - server rooms, executive floors, healthcare records facilities - need access card reliability as a matter of security and compliance. A card that fails to read forces workarounds and manual overrides that introduce security vulnerabilities. HiCo magnetic stripe cards close that gap.
- Daily badge-in at building entrances and secure zones
- Time and attendance tracking at shift start and end
- Cafeteria and vending machine payment systems
- Library checkout and resource access systems
- Parking garage entry and validation
Membership Cards for Clubs, Gyms, and Associations
Membership organizations - from fitness clubs to professional associations to private dining clubs - use magnetic stripe cards to verify membership at check-in, gate access, or benefit redemption. A plastic membership card signals legitimacy and permanence that paper simply cannot convey. Members who carry a well-made card feel connected to the organization it represents.
HiCo encoding ensures that a membership card purchased in January is still reading cleanly in December, even after spending months in a gym bag, a car console, or a stuffed wallet alongside other cards and magnetic items. For organizations that renew memberships annually, card longevity across the full membership cycle is an operational priority worth planning for.
HiCo vs. LoCo: Making the Right Choice for Your Card Program
Both HiCo and LoCo magnetic stripe cards serve legitimate purposes - the choice comes down to application, expected card lifespan, and how the card will be carried and used. Choosing the wrong format can result in frustrated cardholders, operational headaches, and unnecessary replacement costs. Understanding the distinction upfront saves time and money across the life of a card program.
LoCo cards are not inferior in every context. For short-term applications - hotel key cards programmed for a two-night stay, event wristband alternatives, or conference day passes - LoCo's lower coercivity and often slightly lower price point make it a practical fit. The key is matching the technology to the timeline and use case, not defaulting to one type for everything.
When LoCo Makes Sense
Hotel key cards are the textbook LoCo application. They're encoded at the front desk for a specific stay duration, used for a few days, then deactivated or discarded. The magnetic field resistance needed to survive two nights in a hotel room is far lower than what a gym membership card needs to survive two years of daily gym visits. Using HiCo cards in a high-volume, disposable-card environment adds cost without adding benefit.
Short-run event credentials, temporary contractor access cards, and day-pass systems are other situations where LoCo cards can perform adequately. If the card's useful life is measured in hours or days, LoCo's lower resistance threshold is rarely a practical limitation.
When HiCo Is the Clear Winner
Long-term programs - loyalty cards, membership cards, employee badges, student IDs, transit passes, retail gift cards - demand HiCo. These cards will encounter magnetic interference repeatedly over their lifespan. Every swipe through a compromised stripe is a customer service problem waiting to happen. HiCo's resistance to demagnetization isn't a luxury feature; it's operational insurance.
Organizations with distributed card programs - franchises, multi-location retailers, regional membership clubs - benefit especially from HiCo reliability. When card readers across dozens of locations are involved, the consistency of HiCo encoding reduces field support calls, card replacement requests, and member frustration. Standardizing on HiCo across a distributed network is one of the highest-ROI decisions a card program manager can make.
Buyer Tips: Questions to Ask Before Ordering
- How frequently will cards be swiped per day or week?
- What is the expected active lifespan of each card?
- Is the card reader system rated for HiCo or LoCo encoding?
- Will cards be carried alongside other magnetic items?
- Does the card printer you're using have a HiCo encoding module?
- Is the card program single-location or distributed across multiple sites?
Answering these questions before placing an order - rather than after receiving cards that don't perform as expected - is the mark of a well-run card program. CPE works with clients to review these factors as part of building a long-term supply and equipment relationship, not just a one-time transaction.
Blank HiCo Cards vs. Custom Printed: Which Path Is Right for You?
One of the most common questions buyers bring to CPE is whether to order blank HiCo magnetic stripe cards for in-house printing or to invest in fully custom-printed cards. Both approaches serve real business needs - the right answer depends on volume, design change frequency, and available infrastructure. Neither option is universally superior; it's a question of fit.
Blank CR80 HiCo cards give organizations maximum flexibility. Print a new card design any time, encode on demand, and manage your own inventory without waiting on outside print runs. For programs that frequently update card designs - seasonal promotions, rotating employee photos, individualized member names - in-house printing with blank stock is often the most efficient model.
The Case for Blank HiCo Stock and In-House Printing
In-house card printing with blank HiCo stock dramatically reduces per-card cost at scale, especially when card designs change frequently. A desktop card printer from Evolis, Zebra, or Fargo combined with a supply of blank HiCo cards gives small and mid-size organizations enterprise-level card production capability. Cards are printed on demand - no minimum order requirements per design, no waiting on vendors.
Organizations printing employee badges particularly benefit from this model. A new hire can have a printed and encoded badge in hand within minutes. A lost card can be reprinted and re-encoded the same day. The agility of in-house printing removes the operational friction of external print queues and minimum order thresholds.
Combining HiCo Stripes with Other Card Technologies
HiCo magnetic stripe cards don't have to work alone. Many organizations layer magnetic stripe encoding with other card technologies - smart chips, RFID, barcode, or printed QR codes - to create multi-function cards that serve several systems simultaneously. A single card can function as an employee ID, a building access card, and a cafeteria payment card all at once.
Combination cards carrying both a HiCo magnetic stripe and a proximity chip are common in corporate environments where both legacy swipe readers and newer contactless readers coexist. CPE supplies combination-technology cards to organizations navigating technology transitions - bridging older magnetic stripe infrastructure with newer contactless systems without requiring an all-or-nothing replacement cycle. To discuss what's possible for your specific setup, reach out directly at 312-555-4821.
Managing Card Inventory at Scale
For organizations printing 500-5,000 cards per month, inventory management becomes a meaningful operational function. Blank HiCo stock should be stored flat, away from strong magnetic fields and direct heat, to preserve the stripe's integrity before encoding. Proper storage extends the useful life of unencoded HiCo stock significantly and prevents costly pre-encoding degradation.
Ordering in larger quantities - cases of 500 or 1,000 cards - typically reduces per-card cost and reduces the frequency of reordering, freeing up administrative time. CPE works with program managers to establish standing order schedules that keep inventory flowing without excess stock tying up budget or storage space.
Card Printers That Work With HiCo Magnetic Stripe Cards
A HiCo magnetic stripe card is only as effective as the printer used to encode it. Not every card printer includes a magnetic stripe encoding module, and among those that do, not all are configured for HiCo by default. Confirming your printer's encoding capability before ordering HiCo stock is one of the most important steps in setting up a reliable card program.
CPE carries a curated lineup of card printers from three of the industry's most trusted manufacturers: Evolis, Zebra, and Fargo. Each brand offers models with optional or integrated HiCo magnetic stripe encoding, along with a range of printing speeds, ribbon types, and connectivity options to match programs from small-office scale to high-volume production environments.
Evolis Printers for HiCo Encoding
Evolis printers are known for their compact form factor, user-friendly operation, and strong reliability record in low-to-mid volume environments. Models like the Primacy 2 and the Avansia support HiCo magnetic stripe encoding as an optional module, making them well suited for organizations printing employee badges, membership cards, and loyalty cards in-house. Evolis printers are a popular choice for organizations new to in-house card printing because of their intuitive setup and dependable day-to-day performance.
Paired with blank HiCo stock from CPE, an Evolis printer gives organizations the ability to print full-color, personalized cards with encoded magnetic stripes in a single pass. Ribbons, cleaning kits, and replacement parts are all available through the same source - keeping the supply chain simple and the program running smoothly.
Zebra and Fargo for Higher Volume Programs
For organizations printing hundreds or thousands of cards per week, Zebra and Fargo printers offer the speed, durability, and advanced encoding features that high-volume programs demand. Zebra's ZC series and Fargo's HDP series are engineering-grade tools built for sustained production environments. Both support HiCo magnetic stripe encoding and integrate with card management software used in enterprise identity and access control programs.
Organizations with large employee populations, regional distribution needs, or multi-site card issuance operations find that Zebra and Fargo printers reduce the per-card production time and maintenance burden compared to consumer-grade alternatives. Investing in the right printer for the right volume tier is one of the clearest ways to protect the long-term economics of an in-house card program.
Ribbons, Supplies, and Ongoing Support
A card printer without the right supplies is a production delay waiting to happen. CPE stocks printer ribbons, cleaning kits, card carriers, card sleeves, and other consumables that keep card printers running at peak performance. Using manufacturer-recommended ribbons and cleaning kits extends printer head life and reduces the risk of encoding errors on HiCo stripes - errors that are often subtle and only discovered when a card fails to read in the field.
Cleaning kits are particularly relevant for HiCo encoding programs. Debris on a printer's encoding head can cause inconsistent stripe writes, leading to cards that appear visually perfect but fail at point of swipe. A regular cleaning schedule - typically every 1,000 cards - is a simple preventive measure that organizations often overlook until a problem surfaces.
Why Businesses Across the USA Trust Chicago Pipe Essentials
Over 25 years. More than 100,000 customers. Over 50 million cards shipped. These aren't marketing numbers - they're the accumulated result of consistent follow-through on product quality, supply reliability, and genuine partnership with clients of every size. From a small dental practice printing 50 patient cards a month to a regional retail chain ordering tens of thousands of loyalty cards per quarter, CPE scales to meet the program, not the other way around.
What distinguishes CPE from commodity card suppliers is the depth of product knowledge brought to every client interaction. Recommending the right card type - HiCo versus LoCo, blank versus pre-printed, single technology versus combination - requires understanding how card programs actually work in practice. That understanding accumulates over decades of real-world client programs, not product data sheets.
A One-Stop Shop for Card Programs of Every Scale
Card programs require more than cards. They require printers, ribbons, encoding equipment, carrying accessories, and sometimes card mailing and affixing services for large distributions. Sourcing all of these from a single strategic partner eliminates the coordination overhead of managing multiple vendors and ensures that every component is matched to the others - cards to printers, ribbons to card stock, cleaning kits to printer models.
CPE serves as that single source - stocking blank PVC cards, HiCo and LoCo magnetic stripe cards, RFID and proximity cards, smart chip cards, clear and frosted specialty cards, colored stock, and an extensive printer and supplies catalog. Whatever the card program requires, it's available without leaving the relationship.
Specialty Cards Beyond the Standard Stripe
Beyond HiCo magnetic stripe cards, CPE offers advanced card technologies for organizations with specialized requirements. Casino player cards, hotel key card programs, RFID cards using MIFARE DESFire contactless technology, proximity access cards, custom die-cut shapes, and luxury metal cards in stainless steel, brass, and gold are all part of the catalog. Whether the need is a premium VIP card experience or a high-security contactless access credential, the right product exists within the CPE lineup.
Organizations that start with a simple HiCo magnetic stripe card program often grow into more sophisticated card technologies as their programs mature. Having a supplier that can grow with that evolution - from basic to advanced, from small volume to mass production - is a strategic advantage worth considering from day one of a card program's life.
Getting Started: From First Order to Ongoing Program
Starting a card program with CPE begins with a straightforward conversation about what the program needs to accomplish, what equipment is already in place, and what volume looks like today versus where it's expected to go. The goal isn't to sell the most expensive solution - it's to match the right card product, printer, and supply configuration to a program that will run reliably and economically for years.
Reorders are simple, delivery timelines are consistent, and product quality is maintained across every batch. Organizations that have been ordering from CPE for five, ten, or fifteen years return because the experience of working with a knowledgeable, reliable card supplier is genuinely hard to replicate elsewhere. That track record is the most honest recommendation available.
Ready to find the right HiCo magnetic stripe cards for your program? Chicago Pipe Essentials is standing by to help - call 312-555-4821 today and talk to a card program specialist who knows the product, the technology, and your industry.
From blank HiCo stock to fully equipped card printing systems, Chicago Pipe Essentials has spent over 25 years making card programs work. Don't settle for a commodity supplier when a strategic partner is a phone call away at 312-555-4821.