Best 6 Business Card Laminators: Leave A Professional Impression On Clients

Do you want to make glossy business cards and now you’re searching for the right laminator?

Then you’re in the right place. Here you can read the reviews of 6 laminators that can make business cards for you. To get more information, read the guide of the business card laminators and discover the best pick in conclusion.

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Can You Laminate A Business Card?

Yes, you can laminate them. As a matter of fact, you should laminate them if you want them to be long-lasting and professional-looking. The plastic film will be a protectant around the paper so the card does not deteriorate over time.

What Is Laminated Paper Made Of?

Lamination paper can have one or multiple layers. Usually, it has a particle- or fiberboard base with layers of kraft paper on top. This kraft paper is also absorbent.

Minimal Inlet Size

Since the average dimensions of the business cards are 8×5 cm which means about 3×2 inches, almost all the inlets of the laminators can support this size. The minimal length of the inlets is about 9 inches so you can find the right laminator easily on the market. Models suitable for business cards can even have an inlet of 4.5 inches, also suitable for laminating badges.

Thick Material

The most common material for business cards is cardstock which is about 0,2 to 0,5 mm thick. Naturally, a business card machine for laminating should thus support thick materials. For instance, some models can even support up to 30 mil thickness. A mil is equal to a thousand of an inch (1 mil = 0.001mm).

Pouch Size

For business cards, you will need smaller pouches than usual. The pouches that are about 3 inches big are the right choice. You can purchase them online along with a laminator.

Why Should I Laminate Business Cards?

If you are still not convinced whether you should laminate your business cards or not, these reasons might help you make up your mind:

• Not easily bent – by putting lamination over the cards, they will not bend as easily as paper will without lamination
• Printing will not wear off – with lamination over the printing, the letters will not wear off and fade
• They stick out to clients – the feel of a laminated business card is different than un-laminated ones so your business card will stick out in the sea of un-laminated ones thanks to the thicker stock
• Represent business standard – by making even your business cards look professional, these cards will tell a story of how professional and keen to detail your business standards are

Why Should You Buy This Laminator?

If you invest in such a laminator, you will not have to pay money to other businesses to laminate these cards for you. Instead, you can oversee the project completely and make it exactly how you want it.

Practical Buying Guide

How can you know which laminating machine is the right one for making business cards? There are many details and features you have to keep in mind. We break them down below to help you make the right choice.

Frequency Of Use

Are you going to be making tens or hundreds of business cards? How often will you be using the laminator? If you need one to make many business cards, we suggest looking up heavy-duty ones. That way, you will be able to laminate them faster and the machine will be able to stay on for longer.

Hot & Cold Lamination

To get the best machine on the market, you should look for models that allow you to laminate both with heat and with pressure (called cold lamination). Moreover, that way you will be able to even laminate photos and other items that are sensitive to heat.

Speed

Laminators are not fast machines, but you should still avoid really slow models. For instance, do not pick those that laminate under 10 inches per minute. For faster lamination, pick a model that laminates 20 to 30 inches per minute.

Warm-Up Time

Laminators need time to heat up before you can use the hot setting on them. Those that heat up fast usually take around 1 minute to do it. On the other hand, some slower models will sometimes take even up to 10 minutes to heat up. For frequent use, the 1-minute warm-up will be a better choice. Once the machine warms up, the indicator llight will alert you.

Run Time

If they work with heat, laminators need to be turned off after some time to prevent fire. Most of them can only stay on for 20 to 30 minutes (run time). However, this might not be enough for laminating many business cards. If you want a model that runs for longer, look for those that can run for up to 2 hours even.

Jam Release Technology

To quickly release jams, which can occur in laminators, look for jam release. It will help you release a jam by pressing a button.

What Are The Types Of Lamination Paper?

You can choose between three different types of lamination paper:

1. Silk
2. Gloss
3. Matte

Matte and gloss are the most popular options that you can choose. For business cards, you should choose gloss. This type is most common for things that will be handled frequently. Also, gloss makes a visual impact on the person. Finally, it is also cheaper than matte.

Pouches & Sheets

Pouches are usually thicker than sheets. Pouches are also a good choice for business cards as they even come in business card sizes. On the other hand, with sheets, you can laminate larger papers. However, if you want to laminate multiple cards at once, you can place them into sheets and then trim around each card after lamination.

Best 6 Business Card Laminators

EasyIDea ML450T ID Card Laminator

Supports ID Cards
This business card machine has a classic neutral color design and small size. The inlet is wide enough to hold the business card. You can laminate also ID cards since the machine supports thicker materials. The laminator is practical to make employee cards as well.

Two Thickness Settings
This machine is purposed primarily for ID cards so it offers double options for laminating. You can choose the settings for laminating the materials of up to 10 mils and the materials of 10-30 mils. The thickness of 30 mils is the maximal supported size. To make business cards, you need the first option.

Plastic Or Teslin Paper
This laminating machine supports any materials. You can make your business cards even from plastic since the machine can laminate plastic credit cards. To make the best business cards, you can print your information and logo on Teslin paper and laminate it using this machine.

Cooling After A While
This laminating machine has a limited run time. You can use it for about 2 hours in continuity.  After that, the machine requires cooling. It’s not recommended to use it for more than 2 hours. Following these terms, you can increase the life of the laminator.

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Brainstorm ID ID-Lam 45 Card Laminator

Provides Glossy Look
The Brainstorm model is a business card pouch laminator which means it makes the business cards look glossy using the appropriate pouches. The pouch protects the cards and makes them resistant to water, oil, and more. You can use the pouches of the thickness of up to 10 mils.

Two Temperature Settings
There are two settings that depend on the pouch you use. To adjust the temperature according to the thickness of the pouch, you need to choose 7 mils or 10 mils options. The machine regulates the temperature to be optimal for the type of pouch you’ve chosen.

Basic And Additional Modes
This laminator is designed to make cards from Teslin paper. You can use it not only for business cards but also for ID cards, thickets, and more. The maximal length of the cards can be 4,5 inches. The thermal mode is basic but you can choose also the cold laminating method.

Double Roller Pressure
The thermal system is the best to use because the heat will stick the pouch to the business card firmly. Inside the machine, there are 2 rollers that press the pouch to the card making it protected. The thermal system has a preheating time of about 5 minutes.

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Tamerica TCC330 Professional Laminator

Wide Entry For Multiple Cards 
The Tamerica model is a heavy-duty laminator which means it has durable and resistant construction. The inlet has a length of 13 inches so you can laminate more than one business card at the time. If you use a standard size business card, you can place about 4 cards along the inlet.

Delivering Orders Quickly 
The thermal system of this business card heavy-duty laminator provides the speed of 660 mm per minute approximately. The high speed makes the laminating process quick which makes your business effective. You can deliver orders to your customers quickly so your shop will get a good reputation.

Silicon-Made Rollers 
Before you start to laminate, you need to wait for about 3-5 minutes until the machine gets heated. The preheated machine works better preventing bubbles. This commercial laminator uses 4 rollers that are made of silicon. The multiple roller design ensures the optimal pressure so the business cards will have maximal protection.

Metal Cover Design
While the rollers are made of silicon, the machine is covered with a metal material. It makes the laminator strong enough to support the cards of various thicknesses. You can laminate all types of materials using the pouches of 3-5 mils thick.

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Merece SL299 Laminating Machine

White Top Surface And Base
The Merece business card laminating machine has an average design of a home laminator. The top surface is white which makes the buttons and indicator lights visible while the base is black. There are two indicator lights that show when the laminator is ready for work.

Plenty Of Cards At Once
The laminator has a small length of 9 inches. It’s small size but big enough to support a lot of business cards of standard size at the time. The laminator comes with the trimmer and rounder. You can use these accessories to improve the design of your business cards.

Cold Mode For Sensitive Cards
Except for the accessories, you will get also the pouches you can use for business cards. The pouches have paper format sizes so you need to cut them. There are two options for laminating. If you think the card material is too sensitive for heat, you can use the cold mode.

Best Protection With Heat
The standard mode is thermal which is the best way to stick the pouch to the business card and make it protected. Using the thermal system, you need to wait for about 3 minutes before you begin laminating. The laminating speed is 280 mm per minute.

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Eficentline YE381 Laminator Machine

Wide Inlet Design
The Efficentiline business card laminating machine is suitable for home or office like the previous two models. However, this one has a bigger size. The length of the inlet is big enough to hold the paper of A3 format maximally. It can save you time because you can make multiple business cards at once.

50 Pieces In The Package
You will get not only the laminator but also the pouches and other additional accessories. In the package, there are 50 pieces of the pouches. The pouches usually don’t stick in the machine but it happens, you can press the ABS button and fix the error easily.

Intelligent Heat System
The thermal system is intelligent which means it has a temperature control function. The temperature adjusts automatically according to the thickness of the pouch and business card. The hot laminating machine includes 2 rollers that provide strong pressure combined with the heat.

Precise White Scale
This machine has a black design and includes the white scale on the top surface. The scale can help you to position the pouch properly. The scale shows the inches and degrees. On the top, there are also red and green indicator lights and programmable buttons.

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Texet LMA4-V Laminator

Designed For A4 Format
The Texet laminator has a black exterior and the size suitable for A4 format maximally. That means you can laminate more than one card per time if the business card has common dimensions. It’s practical for use at home or in the office. You can transport it easily from the office to the home.

Also For Photos And More
You can laminate various types of materials. It’s practical to make glossy business cards but you can protect also the papers and photos. The machine has a power of 220 Watts and it’s compatible with the electric outlet of 220 or 240 V. The motor makes it fast laminating.

Incredible Speed Of Thermal Model
The laminating speed is high considering it’s a standard laminator. With a speed of 300 mm per minute, you can laminate for a long time. After that, the machine needs cooling of about 4 hours. It’s a thermal laminator so it needs about 3-5 minutes for preheating.

Both Thin And Thick
The machine supports the materials that are up to 0,45 mm thick. That means the business cards are suitable. You can use any thinner or thicker pouches depending on the thickness of the card.  The machine has a simple design made of one button and one indicator light.

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How Do I Laminate My Business Card?

To use a laminator and laminate a business card, you will have to prepare everything and then follow some steps:

1. Step 1 – Choose the thickness you want. Place the printer business cards inside the pouches of the thickness you want.
2. Step 2 – Turn the laminator on and let it heat up. Run the pouches through the laminator. In the laminator, insert the sealed edge first.
3. Step 3 – Leave the laminated pouches on the table to cool down.

How To Laminate Cards Without A Laminator?

If you want to laminate business cards but have no access to the machine, there is a solution for that. Enter: self-sealing pouches. These are specifically made for laminating business cards.
Here is what to do:

1. Place the card inside the pouch.
2. Remove the lining so that you can apply the laminate.
3. Apply the laminate while making sure to apply pressure to remove air from the pouch.

The Importance Of Business Cards

Some statistics show us why you might want to consider having business cards even in the digital age:

• Companies’ sales increase by 2.5 percent for every 2,000 business cards that are distributed.
• Cheap looking business cards repel 61% from doing business with a company.

Tips For Designing

There are also statistics that show which design on business cards works better for companies, improving their business. One stat shows that business cards with color are kept 10 times longer than those that do not have colors on them. So how should you design your business card? Make sure to include the following:

• Colors – use the colors of your brand if none other on the fonts
• Logo – include the logo of your brand

Final Verdict

To laminate business cards for a professional look, you will need a machine with an inlet size suitable for business card pouches, laminating even thickness up to 15 mil, and choose glossy finish. The best option for buying is the Merece thermal laminator since it’s made not only for business cards but also for other materials and you can get it for an acceptable price.