Confirmed per project
Lead times are confirmed in the quotation against the actual specifications of your project — quantity, finishes, encoding, packaging — not against a generic template estimator. What the quote says is what production delivers.
Card production lead times & express delivery
Working-day estimates by product, with express options on standard configurations
Production lead times for every product category — from 4 to 10 working days depending on the configuration, plus express options from 2 to 4 working days on standard specs. Lead times are confirmed in the quotation against your actual project — not against a generic estimator.
Paper from 4 working days
PVC from 6 working days
Express 2-4 days available
Tracked EU delivery
Why our lead times work for B2B
Production lead times built around real project deadlines
Express on standard
Express production from 2 to 4 working days available on standard configurations of paper and PVC cards. Mention your deadline in the quote request and we confirm feasibility before pricing the express premium.
Tracked EU dispatch
Tracked shipping across the European Union and the UK after production. UK customs and duties handled in-house — paperwork managed without extra coordination on your side.
Got a deadline? Talk to us first
Confirm your lead time before you order
Tell us your project and the deadline — we confirm production feasibility, express options if needed, and total time including shipping. The quote returns within 24 hours, with no commitment on your side.
- 24-hour quote response
- Production timeline confirmed against your specs
- Express 2-4 days available on standard configurations
- Tracked EU and UK delivery
- International shipping on request
- No commitment, no automated estimator
Get your quote in 24h
4–6 working days
Paper cards — standard
Coated, uncoated and recycled paper cards with standard finishing (gloss/matte lamination, rounded corners, simple variable data). Express from 2 to 4 working days available on most standard configurations, subject to specs and quantity.
6–10 working days
Paper cards — premium finishes
Paper cards with foil stamping, embossing/debossing or spot UV varnish. Additional press passes and finishing operations extend the cycle. Final lead time confirmed in the quotation against the exact finish combination and quantity.
6–10 working days
PVC cards — standard
PVC loyalty, gift, membership, student, business, magnetic stripe and smart cards. Lead time depends mainly on the quantity to print and the encoding requirements. Express from 2 to 4 working days available on standard configurations, subject to specs and quantity.
6–10 working days
Custom packaging
Die-cut sleeves, folded card holders, retail hanger backers, printed envelopes and rigid presentation boxes. Tooling setup, die-cutting and folding extend the cycle beyond simple cards. Final lead time confirmed in the quotation.
2–10 working days
Badge holders & lanyards
Range varies by configuration. Plain stock holders dispatch in 2 to 5 working days; custom-printed lanyards and pre-assembled event kits extend to 7-10 working days. Final lead time confirmed in the quotation depending on type, personalisation and quantity.
Express 2–4 days
Express production
Express production from 2 to 4 working days on standard configurations of paper and PVC cards — without complex finishing. An express premium applies depending on the urgency level. Mention your deadline in the quote request and we confirm feasibility upfront.
What affects lead time
4 factors that decide your production cycle
Lead times are not arbitrary — they reflect the actual production steps required by your specifications. Understanding the factors helps you optimise the timeline before quoting.
1. Quantity
Larger runs require more press time. A 100-card order produces faster than a 10,000-card order. The quote returns the lead time scaled to your quantity, with the ability to split into staggered batches if needed.
2. Finishes & combinations
Each finish (foil stamping, spot UV, embossing, edge painting) requires a dedicated press pass. The more finishes layered on the card, the longer the cycle — typically 1 to 3 additional working days per premium finish.
3. Personalisation volume
Variable data per card (photos, names, sequential numbers, encoded chip UIDs) requires per-card processing. Light variable data (numbering only) has minimal impact; heavy variable data (photo + multi-field merge + chip encoding) extends the cycle.
4. Proof approval timing
Production starts only after written sign-off on the digital proof. The clock starts there — not at order placement. Fast proof approval shortens the perceived total time. Multiple revision rounds delay the start.
After production — shipping
Tracked delivery across Europe and the UK
Shipping starts from the day production ends. Tracked dispatch across the European Union and the UK with 1 to 3 working days transit on standard parcels — France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany typically receive within 2 working days; Spain, Italy, Austria, Portugal and Ireland within 2 to 3 days; the UK within 2 to 3 working days with UK customs handled in-house (duties, VAT and customs paperwork managed on your behalf).
Wider European coverage includes Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and the Baltic states — typically 3 to 5 working days transit. Norway, Iceland and the Balkans available on request. International shipping outside Europe is arranged on a project basis — mention your delivery country in the quote request and we confirm transit time and duties handling upfront.
Total time = production + shipping. A standard PVC card project shipping to France typically takes 8 to 12 working days from proof approval. The same project to Spain takes 8 to 13 working days. Express production cuts the production half to 2 to 4 working days, bringing total time to 4 to 7 working days for most EU destinations. Full geographic coverage details on our custom card printing page.
Tight deadline? Talk to us first
Tell us your target date and we confirm production feasibility, express options and total time-to-delivery within 24 hours — before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about lead times & delivery
Practical answers on production cycles, express options, finish impact, proof timing and shipping across Europe.
What is the standard production lead time for paper cards?
4 to 6 working days from proof approval for paper cards in standard configuration — coated, uncoated or recycled stocks with simple variable data and standard finishes (gloss/matte lamination, rounded corners). Lead time can be confirmed faster after we see the quantity and exact specs in your quote request.
Why do paper cards with premium finishes take longer?
Foil stamping, embossing/debossing and spot UV varnish each require a dedicated press pass on top of the main printing — and edge painting on triplex stocks requires post-cut finishing. Paper cards with one or more premium finishes typically run between 6 and 10 working days from proof approval. The exact lead time is confirmed in the quotation against the specific finish combination, stock and quantity.
What is the standard lead time for PVC cards?
6 to 10 working days from proof approval for PVC cards in standard configuration — including loyalty, gift, membership, student, business, magnetic stripe and smart cards. The variation within this range depends mainly on the quantity to print and the encoding or personalisation volume per card. Confirmed in the quotation against your specs.
What is express production and when is it available?
Express production runs from 2 to 4 working days on standard configurations of paper and PVC cards — without complex finishing (no foil, no edge painting, no triplex), without heavy variable data and on quantities compatible with our express press slots. An express premium applies depending on the urgency level. Mention your deadline in the quote request and we confirm feasibility and the express price upfront.
What is the lead time for custom packaging?
6 to 10 working days from proof approval for custom packaging (die-cut sleeves, folded holders, retail hanger backers, printed envelopes, rigid presentation boxes). Tooling setup, die-cutting and folding add process steps beyond simple card printing. The exact lead time depends on the format, the finishes and the quantity — confirmed in the quotation.
Why does badge holder lead time vary from 2 to 10 days?
Three factors. Plain stock holders (rigid transparent, flexible PVC pocket, vinyl sleeve) without printing dispatch in 2 to 5 working days. Custom-printed lanyards (sublimated flat polyester, woven jacquard) take 7 to 10 working days from proof approval because of the printing and weaving production. Pre-assembled event kits (holder + lanyard + printed badge sorted by attendee list) sit at the upper end of the range.
How long is shipping after production ends?
Tracked shipping across the European Union and the UK with 1 to 3 working days transit on standard parcels. France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany typically receive within 2 working days; Spain, Italy, Austria, Portugal and Ireland within 2 to 3 days. The UK within 2 to 3 working days with UK customs handled in-house. Wider European destinations (Nordics, Eastern Europe) typically take 3 to 5 working days.
How is the total time-to-delivery calculated?
Total time = production lead time + shipping time. A standard PVC card project shipping to France typically takes 8 to 12 working days from proof approval (6-10 production + 2 shipping). The same project shipping to Spain takes 8 to 13 days. Express production cuts the production half to 2-4 days, bringing total time to 4 to 7 working days for most EU destinations.
When does the lead time clock actually start?
Production starts only after written sign-off on the digital proof — not at order placement. The clock for production lead time starts there. Fast proof approval shortens the total perceived time-to-delivery. Multiple revision rounds delay the start. We send the proof within 24 to 48 hours after order confirmation; most clients approve within 1 working day.
Tight deadline? Confirm express feasibility now
Get a tailored quote with confirmed lead times within 24 hours, or send us a message to ask about your specific deadline.