What Is a LoCo Magnetic Stripe Card? Everything Explained

Table of Contents [Hide]

Magnetic stripe technology has quietly powered billions of card transactions, access events, and loyalty swipes for decades - yet most people never stop to ask what actually separates one stripe from another. If you have landed here wondering what a LoCo magnetic stripe card is, you are in exactly the right place. Understanding the difference between LoCo and HiCo encoding could save your organization money, prevent equipment headaches, and help you build a card program that actually performs.

CPE has supplied magnetic stripe cards to businesses across the United States for over 25 years, and one of the most common questions that comes up - from retailers, membership clubs, hotels, and event organizers alike - is this one. Let's get into the details, because the answer matters more than most buyers initially expect.

Feature LoCo Magnetic Stripe HiCo Magnetic Stripe
Coercivity Level 300 Oersteds 2750 Oersteds
Durability Moderate High
Magnetic Field Sensitivity More Sensitive Less Sensitive
Common Applications Hotel keys, gift cards, short-term use ID cards, loyalty cards, long-term use
Encoding Equipment Required LoCo or dual-head encoder HiCo encoder or dual-head encoder
Cost Relative to HiCo Slightly lower Slightly higher

At its core, coercivity is the measure of a magnetic material's resistance to demagnetization. A magnetic stripe card stores encoded data in a layer of iron-based magnetic particles aligned in specific patterns. The coercivity rating - measured in Oersteds (Oe) - tells you how strong an opposing magnetic field must be to scramble or erase that data. This number is everything when it comes to choosing the right card for your application.

LoCo, which stands for Low Coercivity, operates at approximately 300 Oe. That lower resistance to magnetic fields means the stripe can be encoded and re-encoded using relatively modest equipment, but it also means the stripe is more vulnerable to accidental erasure from everyday magnets. HiCo, by contrast, operates at roughly 2750 Oe, making it far more resistant to the kind of casual demagnetization that happens in wallets, purses, or near magnetic clasps.

When a LoCo card is encoded, the encoder head generates a magnetic field strong enough to align the particles in the stripe - but only barely stronger than the 300 Oe threshold of the medium itself. This relatively low encoding field is why standard LoCo encoders are simpler and often less expensive than their HiCo counterparts. The tradeoff is that the resulting encoded data is also held in place with comparatively less magnetic force.

This matters in practice. A hotel key card left near a smartphone - which does emit low-level magnetic fields - or slipped into a wallet beside a magnetic money clip could potentially lose its programming. LoCo cards are purposely designed for short-lived or controlled-environment use, where that sensitivity is acceptable and the ease of re-encoding is actually an advantage.

The distinction shows up sharply when you compare use cases side by side. A hotel issues LoCo key cards because guests only need them for a few days, and the hotel programs them fresh for every new check-in. The ability to quickly overwrite a LoCo stripe is a feature, not a flaw. A hospital issuing staff ID cards, on the other hand, needs HiCo - those cards live in badge holders through MRI hallways, near monitors, and alongside all manner of electromagnetic activity.

Gift cards present an interesting middle ground. Retail gift cards often use LoCo stripes when the card is swiped at a point-of-sale reader and the balance tracked in a database. The card itself does not store balance data magnetically in most modern systems - the stripe simply carries an account number. In those setups, LoCo performs perfectly well, and retailers who switch from paper gift certificates to plastic gift cards routinely see sales increases of 35-50%, regardless of whether the stripe is LoCo or HiCo.

Magnetic stripes on CR80 cards typically contain up to three data tracks. Track 1 holds alphanumeric data at 210 bits per inch. Track 2, the most commonly used, holds numeric data at 75 bits per inch and is the track that most point-of-sale systems read. Track 3, less commonly used today, also holds numeric data. LoCo cards can support all three tracks, though many organizations only encode the track their system reads.

Understanding which tracks your card readers and software reference is important before ordering. CPE can help you determine the right configuration so your cards work seamlessly with your existing infrastructure from day one. Getting the track configuration right before you print thousands of cards is one of those details that separates a smooth card program launch from a costly do-over.

LoCo cards are not a compromise - they are a deliberate, purpose-built choice for specific applications. Knowing where they shine helps you deploy them confidently and avoid overpaying for HiCo in situations where LoCo is perfectly appropriate. The applications below represent the most common and successful uses among CPE's customer base of over 100,000 businesses and organizations nationwide.

What makes LoCo particularly attractive for high-turnover programs is the economics. When cards are issued frequently, replaced regularly, or used for a short duration, the slightly lower cost of LoCo stock adds up to meaningful savings at volume. A hotel chain issuing hundreds of key cards per week will notice the difference over a year.

This is perhaps the single most recognized application for LoCo magnetic stripe cards. Hotels encode room access data onto LoCo stripes because the card needs to work reliably for a guest's stay - typically one to fourteen days - and then be wiped and re-encoded for the next guest. The property's lock system reads the stripe and grants or denies access based on the encoded room number, check-out date, and access level.

The ability to quickly re-encode LoCo stripes at the front desk without needing a high-powered encoder is a genuine operational advantage. Front desk staff can issue a replacement key in seconds. Speed and simplicity at the point of issuance is exactly what hospitality operations require, and LoCo delivers precisely that.

Retail gift card programs represent one of the highest-ROI applications for any plastic card format. When a business moves from paper gift certificates to a properly structured plastic gift card program, the results speak for themselves. Cards get kept longer, displayed at point of purchase more effectively, and gifted more often. The physical permanence of a plastic card changes customer behavior in measurable ways.

LoCo stripes are common in gift card applications where the magnetic stripe carries only an account identifier linked to a balance held in the retailer's POS system. Because the card itself does not magnetically store the dollar amount - only a unique ID number - occasional demagnetization risk is less critical. A replacement card can be issued and the balance transferred. For these programs, LoCo is an economical and fully functional choice. Call 800.835.7919 to discuss setting up a gift card program that works end to end.

Conventions, trade shows, corporate events, and sporting venues often issue credential cards that need to work for one to five days. LoCo magnetic stripe cards fill this role admirably. They can be pre-encoded in batches, distributed at registration, and used throughout the event for access control, session tracking, or cashless concession payments in a closed-loop system.

After the event concludes, the cards are collected and either discarded or re-encoded for a future event. The short lifecycle makes the lower durability of LoCo entirely irrelevant - the stripe only needs to survive days, not years. For event-scale card programs, LoCo often delivers the best balance of functionality and cost efficiency of any magnetic stripe option available.

The choice between LoCo and HiCo is not about which technology is superior - it is about matching the card's characteristics to your program's actual requirements. Both formats use standard CR80 dimensions (3.375 x 2.125 inches, 30 mil thickness, conforming to ISO 7810 standards), meaning they work in the same printers and card readers. The difference lives entirely in the stripe's magnetic properties.

A useful rule of thumb: if your cards will be used daily by the same person for months or years, live in wallets exposed to varied environments, or need to survive near other magnetic sources, choose HiCo. If your cards are issued for short periods, will be re-encoded frequently, or used in controlled environments, LoCo is likely the smarter purchase. CPE stocks both formats and can help you make the right call for your specific program.

Employee ID cards with magnetic access encoding, student ID cards, transit passes, and long-term membership cards all favor HiCo. These are cards that a person might carry daily for a year or more, repeatedly swiped hundreds or thousands of times across readers, stored in proximity to phones, keys, and other cards. HiCo's resistance to accidental demagnetization is not optional in these contexts - it is essential.

Organizations in healthcare, education, corporate security, and government services routinely choose HiCo for their permanent population of cardholders. The slightly higher per-card cost is an easy investment when a card failure means a denied employee, a locked-out student, or a disrupted access control event.

If you run a hotel, manage recurring events, operate a gift card program, or issue short-term visitor passes, LoCo is almost certainly the right choice. The ability to re-encode a LoCo card quickly, combined with its slightly lower cost, makes it the operationally savvy selection for any program where cards turn over regularly.

  • Hotel key cards issued and re-encoded for every new guest
  • Event credentials used for multi-day conferences or trade shows
  • Gift cards where the stripe carries only an account reference number
  • Visitor management passes for temporary facility access
  • Promotional cards with a short redemption window
  • Casino player tracking cards in controlled indoor environments

Some card programs require flexibility. Dual-head encoder printers can handle both LoCo and HiCo cards without reconfiguration, making them ideal for organizations that run multiple card types. CPE stocks compatible printers from Evolis, Zebra, and Fargo - all of which offer magnetic stripe encoding modules as either built-in or add-on features.

Combination cards that pair a magnetic stripe with an RFID chip or smart chip are increasingly popular for access control applications that need multi-technology compatibility. A card might use its LoCo stripe at a legacy point-of-sale reader and its MIFARE DESFire chip for contactless door access - all in one CR80-format card. This kind of multi-layered functionality is where modern card programs are heading, and CPE supplies the full spectrum of combo card formats.

Owning the right card printer is the difference between a card program that runs smoothly in-house and one that requires outsourcing every update. For organizations issuing LoCo magnetic stripe cards, the printer must include or support a magnetic stripe encoding module. Not every base-model printer includes this - it is often specified as an upgrade at the time of purchase, so knowing your requirements upfront matters.

Plastic Card ID carries a curated lineup of professional card printers engineered for business card programs. Whether you print 50 cards a month or run production-scale issuance in the thousands, there is a printer model calibrated for your volume and budget.

Evolis is a globally recognized brand in card printing, and their desktop and mid-volume printers are popular choices for small to mid-size organizations issuing LoCo magnetic stripe cards. Models like the Evolis Primacy 2 and Zenius offer optional magnetic stripe encoding modules that support both LoCo and HiCo, giving programs the flexibility to evolve over time without replacing equipment.

Evolis printers are known for their user-friendly design and reliable ribbon consumption, which keeps total operating costs predictable. For organizations printing between 50 and 500 cards per month, Evolis desktop printers represent an excellent balance of capability and investment. Contact CPE to discuss which Evolis model fits your program's specific volume and encoding needs.

Zebra and Fargo printers serve the mid-to-high volume segment with exceptional durability and throughput. The Zebra ZC300 series and Fargo HDP5000 are workhorses designed for organizations printing hundreds to thousands of cards per month. Both support magnetic stripe encoding modules and are compatible with LoCo card stock.

Fargo's HDP (High Definition Printing) technology prints the card image onto a retransfer film before applying it to the card surface, resulting in edge-to-edge coverage and higher image quality than direct-to-card printing - an advantage for branded card programs where visual quality reinforces professional credibility. Call 800.835.7919 to get expert guidance on matching the right printer to your LoCo card program.

A card printer is only as good as the supplies running through it. CPE stocks genuine and compatible ribbons for Evolis, Zebra, and Fargo printers - YMCKO and YMCKOK panels that deliver full color with protective overlay. Cleaning kits, including cleaning cards and swabs, extend printer life and maintain print quality over thousands of card cycles.

Card carriers, sleeves, and lanyards round out the program supply catalog. Whether you are issuing hotel key cards in paper sleeves or distributing event credentials with badge holders, having the right accessories on hand from the same supplier that provides your cards and printer simplifies procurement considerably. Everything your card program needs, available from one trusted source.

A successful card program is more than just the cards themselves. It is the printer, the supplies, the encoding, the software, the accessories, and the knowledge to make it all work together. Many organizations start with a simple need - hotel key cards, a gift card promotion, an event credential - and grow into more sophisticated programs as they experience firsthand how plastic cards drive measurable business results that paper alternatives simply cannot match.

Plastic Card ID functions as a strategic partner in this process, not just a catalog vendor. With over 50 million cards sold and more than 100,000 satisfied customers across the United States, the experience and inventory depth to support programs at any scale is genuinely there. Whether you are issuing 50 cards a month or tens of thousands, the team at CPE has likely seen a program like yours and helped it succeed.

Before placing an order, it pays to think through your card specifications carefully. What data will the stripe encode? Which track or tracks does your reader use? Will cards be printed in-house or pre-printed? Do you need cards pre-encoded, or will you encode them on-site? Are cards issued individually or in bulk batches? Answering these questions before ordering prevents costly mismatches between your cards and your system.

CPE is available to walk through these questions with you, drawing on decades of experience helping organizations of all sizes get their card programs right. The goal is always a program that runs smoothly from day one and scales gracefully as your needs evolve.

Blank CR80 LoCo magnetic stripe cards give organizations with card printers the maximum flexibility at the lowest per-card cost over time. You control the design. You control the print timing. You encode what you need, when you need it. No waiting for a third-party print run to be approved, produced, and shipped.

This in-house control is why blank magnetic stripe cards are among the most popular products in CPE's catalog. The combination of design freedom, encoding flexibility, and cost efficiency makes blank LoCo cards the workhorse of countless hotel, retail, event, and visitor management programs across the country. Quantities are available from small starter packs to bulk case quantities, so you order what makes sense for your current volume without overcommitting.

For organizations that mail cards to members, cardholders, or customers, CPE offers card affixing and mailing services that take the fulfillment burden off your team. Cards are affixed to mailers or carriers and sent to recipients directly - a genuine end-to-end solution that turns a card program into a seamless membership or loyalty experience without internal logistics overhead.

  • Cards affixed to personalized letter mailers for membership programs
  • Bulk mailing to customer lists for gift card promotions
  • Event credential distribution to pre-registered attendees
  • Employee ID card issuance mailed to distributed teams

Buyers across industries consistently ask similar questions when they are evaluating LoCo magnetic stripe cards for the first time. The following answers reflect real conversations CPE has had with customers over 25 years of supplying magnetic stripe cards to businesses and organizations nationwide.

Most magnetic stripe card readers are compatible with both LoCo and HiCo cards. However, some older readers - particularly those calibrated specifically for HiCo sensitivity - may have difficulty reading LoCo stripes reliably. If you are introducing LoCo cards into an existing system, it is worth testing a sample set with your readers before committing to a full order. Compatibility testing is a simple step that prevents a significant problem down the road.

Modern multi-format readers, which are standard in most current point-of-sale and access control systems, handle both formats without issue. When in doubt, CPE can advise on compatibility based on your reader hardware specifications.

LoCo magnetic stripes can typically be re-encoded hundreds of times before the magnetic medium degrades to the point where it holds data unreliably. For hotel key card applications, where a card might be re-encoded for dozens of guests over its usable life, this is more than sufficient. The re-encoding lifespan of a LoCo card far exceeds the practical lifespan of the card itself in most real-world applications.

Physical wear on the card - scratches to the surface, damage to the stripe from repeated swipes - will typically limit the useful life of a card before the magnetic medium itself fails from re-encoding. This is yet another reason LoCo is a practical and economical format for high-turnover card programs.

If a LoCo card stripe is accidentally demagnetized - by exposure to a magnetic field stronger than its 300 Oe coercivity - the data it carried is lost. The card cannot be read by a card reader until it is re-encoded. In hotel applications, the front desk simply issues a new key card. In gift card applications, a replacement card can be issued with the account balance intact in the system database.

Demagnetization is rarely catastrophic when the card program is designed with it in mind. Programs built around LoCo cards should have a simple replacement or re-issuance workflow - and most do, because the programs best suited to LoCo are already designed for short-term or replaceable card use. Educating cardholders to keep key cards away from strong magnets also significantly reduces demagnetization incidents in practice.

Ready to find the right magnetic stripe cards for your program? The team at CPE is standing by to help you choose the correct card type, encoding format, and printer for your specific application. Whether you are starting your first card program or scaling an existing one, expert guidance is just a phone call away.

Magnetic stripe technology - LoCo or HiCo - remains one of the most reliable, cost-effective, and universally compatible card technologies in use. When you understand what a LoCo magnetic stripe card is, how it differs from HiCo, and where it performs best, you can make confident purchasing decisions that save money and prevent program failures. That knowledge, combined with a supplier who has spent over 25 years in the industry, is a powerful combination.

Plastic Card ID stocks blank LoCo magnetic stripe cards, pre-encoded formats, combo cards, card printers, ribbons, and every accessory your card program requires - all available for shipment to businesses and organizations across the United States. From 50 cards to tens of thousands, from a single card printer to a full program buildout, CPE delivers the inventory, expertise, and service that serious card programs depend on.

Contact Plastic Card ID now at 800.835.7919 to speak with a card program specialist, request samples, or place your order. The right cards for your program are ready and waiting.

HiCo Magnetic Stripe Cards Explained: What You Need to Know

Previous Page

Blank RFID Plastic Cards: Complete Buyer's Guide

Next Page