A Guide to Loyalty Card Punches

A loyalty card gives customers a visible record of their progress toward a reward. The punch that marks that progress should be durable, easy to position, and recognizable to employees. OnlineRiver’s loyalty punch range brings together individual shapes, letters, numbers, compact tools, longer-reach models, and custom options for businesses that want a practical way to record qualifying purchases or visits.

A recognizable mark for your business

The shape you choose can connect your rewards program to what you sell. A coffee cup suits a café, scissors complement a salon, and a paw works naturally for pet services. A distinctive cutout also gives employees a reference when checking completed cards. It can help distinguish your program’s marks from ordinary round holes, although any physical rewards system still needs consistent redemption rules and control of its tools.

Construction for regular use

Our standard 1½-inch-reach loyalty punches feature hardened-steel construction with a nickel-plated finish and are made in the USA. These models handle cardstock, film, and thin plastic up to 24 mil, or 0.024 inch, with a stated capacity of up to ten sheets of copy paper. Material thickness matters: the paper capacity should not be treated as the capacity for stacked plastic cards. For thicker plastic, select an appropriate model from our plastic card punch range. Standard punch specifications

Reach and placement

Punch reach is the distance from the material’s edge to the center of the hole. Our range includes compact 1-inch models, standard 1½-inch models, and longer 2-inch and 2½-inch options. Choose the reach to match the location of the reward spaces on your card. The standard models’ open-front design lets employees see the punching area, helping them place each mark within its intended space. Browse punch models

Shape size and card design

Most individually listed designs are approximately ¼ inch. Smaller options include approximately ⅛-inch shapes for cards with limited marking space. Design the card around the actual cutout: leave enough room between reward spaces, keep essential text clear of the punching area, and confirm dimensions for the selected design before printing a large card order. Similarly named shapes may have different outlines, so the product image and design number are useful ordering references.

Stock designs and custom choices

Our In Stock Unique Shapes selection offers 160 designs, while the Built-to-Order Shapes catalog provides more than 1,500 choices. The range also includes a custom-shaped punch option listed with a minimum order of twelve. When selecting from a numbered chart, provide the exact design number. Confirm availability and timing for your chosen configuration, especially when adding accessories or ordering for a scheduled promotion. Built-to-order selection, custom-shaped punches

Accessories and everyday operation

An optional removable reservoir collects punch clippings, and an optional steel chain with an S-hook helps keep the tool at its workstation. Support the equipment with a clear staff procedure: define what earns a punch, when the reward becomes redeemable, and how completed cards are collected or canceled. These operating details make the program easier to administer consistently.

To choose your punch, start with the card material, required reach, and preferred shape. Then confirm the cutout size, quantity, accessories, and delivery requirements with OnlineRiver at 203-801-5900.

Final Shape List

The following list covers the individually named designs in our loyalty card punch category. Similar names are retained where separate designs are listed. Additional numbered designs are available through the stock and built-to-order catalogs.

• Food and beverages: Apple, Beer Mug, Bell Pepper, Candy, Cheeseburger, Chef’s Hat, Chili Pepper designs, Coffee Cup, Coffee Mug, Coffee Pot, Coffee Press, Cupcake, Drumstick, Goblet, Hamburger, Ice Cream Cone, Mango, Milkshake, Muffin, Mushroom, Pepper, Pineapple, Popsicle, Smoothie, Snow Cone, Soda Bottle, Soda Float, Tea Cup, Teapot, Wine Glass.

• Animals and animal symbols: Bald Eagle, Bass Fish, Bird, Buffalo, Butterfly, Calf Head, Cat Head, Chick, Chicken, Dinosaur, Dog, Dog Bone, Dolphin, Flying Bird, Flying Duck, Goldfish, Horse Head, Kitten, Longhorn, Owl, Paw, Phoenix, Pony Head, Rabbit Head, Swan, Teddy Bear, Turtle, Whale, Wild Cat, Wishbone, Wolf.

• Plants and nature: Cactus, Christmas Tree, Clover designs, Flame, Lightning Bolt, Marijuana Leaf, Palm Tree, Rose, Small Flower, Tropical Palm, Tulip, Waning Moon, Waxing Moon.

• Transportation: Airplane, Boat, Buggy, Car, Chevy, Christmas Train, Cruise Ship, Hot Rod, Motorcycle, Rocket Ship, Submarine, Train, Truck.

• Tools and everyday objects: Anchor, Axe, Barn, Bell, Cottage, Cowboy Boot, Crown, Hammer, Hand, Hatchet, High Heel, House, Mustache, Nail, Pipe, Propane Tank, Revolver, Scissors, Shears, Tooth, T Shirt, Wrench.

• Sports music and activities: Barbell, Bowling Pin, Dance Figure, Dumbbell, Golf Flag, Guitar, Hockey Stick, Music Note, Musical Note.

• Geometric shapes and symbols: Abstract designs, Ace of Spade, Arrow, Arrowhead, Checkmark, Club, Comma, Diamond, Flared Cross, Flag, Heart, Hexagon, Holy Cross, Jewish Star, Little Star, Money Sign, Ornate, Pac Man, Pentagon, Perfect Heart, Plus Sign, Shooting Star, Small Club, Small Pentagon, Small Square, Spade, Sparkle, Square, Star, Sun Star, Triangle, Valentine Heart, X Shape, Rectangle, and the “Looks Like a President” design.

• Letters and numbers: A through Z and 0 through 9.