Guides & Resources
Everything you need to order the right key card
Written for hoteliers, not engineers. These guides answer the real questions behind a key card order — which chip your lock reads, why the industry is leaving magnetic stripe behind, what makes a card feel premium, how many to keep on hand, and what a lost card actually reveals. Accurate, jargon-free, and grounded in how American hotels really run.
- 8 in-depth guides
- Real specs, no jargon
- Lock-by-lock compatibility
- Independent & accurate
Where do I start? If you do not yet know which card your hotel needs, begin with the compatibility guide — it walks you through identifying your lock and matching it to the right 13.56 MHz chip. From there, the chip-security, sustainability, design and ordering guides help you decide what to actually order. American Hotel Cards is an independent supplier of compatible cards; lock brand names are trademarks of their owners.
Which Key Card Works With Your Lock?
Match your lock brand to the exact chip and card spec it needs.
Read the guide
MIFARE Classic vs DESFire for Hotel Cards
Which 13.56 MHz chip your locks read — and why it matters for security.
Read the guide
RFID vs Magnetic-Stripe Hotel Keys
Why U.S. hotels are retiring magstripe — and how to switch cleanly.
Read the guide
The Sustainable Hotel Key Card Guide
Wood, bamboo, rPVC and seed paper compared on cost, look and footprint.
Read the guide
How to Order Hotel Key Cards
From identifying your lock to artwork, encoding and reorders — step by step.
Read the guide
Custom Key Card Design & Printing
Bleed, color, foil and finish specs that make a card feel premium.
Read the guide
How Many Key Cards Does a Hotel Need?
A simple formula by room count, occupancy and loss rate.
Read the guide
Lost Key Cards & Hotel Security
What a lost card can (and can’t) reveal — and how to stay secure.
Read the guideNext steps
When you are ready to order
The guides answer the "which" and "why". These take you to the "how" — your locks, our cards, and a free sample pack in your hand.
Find your lock
Match your VingCard, Saflok, Onity, SALTO or other lock to the exact card it reads.
All lock systemsBrowse the cards
RFID, NFC, wood, bamboo and recycled key cards plus wristbands and accessories.
View productsAsk us directly
Send your lock model or a photo and we will spec the right card before you order.
Contact usStill not sure?
Tell us your lock — we will do the matching
You do not need to know your chip type or read any spec sheet. Send us your lock brand and model, or just a photo, and we will confirm the exact card your readers expect — then send a free sample pack so you can feel the stock and check the fit.
Or email sales@americanhotelcards.com