How to choose the right time card

The right time card is the one your clock was built for. A card that is a little too wide, too short or printed for the wrong pay period can jam the clock or print in the wrong place. These steps find the right one quickly.

1. Start with your time clock

The surest way is by clock model. The make and model are usually on the front of the clock or on a label on the back or bottom. Look it up in Cards by clock: each clock's page lists every card we sell that fits it.

2. Or match the card you already use

If you have a card on hand, look for the part number printed on it, usually along the bottom edge or the top. Type that number into the search box at the top of any page.

Cards from TOPS and Adams carry their own numbers. Our time card cross reference lists the cards we carry that replace them.

3. Check the size

If you have no number to go on, measure a card: width first, then height, in inches. Cards by size groups every card by its exact dimensions. Fractions matter here: a 3-3/8" card and a 3-1/2" card are not interchangeable.

4. Pick the pay period

Cards are printed for the way you pay:

• Weekly: one week per card.
• Bi-weekly: two weeks per card.
• Semi-monthly: twice a month, usually the 1st through the 15th and the 16th through the end of the month.

Some cards are made for job and labor tracking rather than pay periods: see Job labor tracking time cards.

5. Match the print style

How the card goes into the clock and where the clock prints are set by the clock, not by preference:

• Top load cards drop into a slot on top of the clock.
• Side feed and front load cards slide in from the front or side.
• Left hand print cards are for clocks that print along the left side of the card.

Each card's page also says whether it is printed on one side or both. If the card you use now has a printed back, choose a double-sided card.

6. Choose how many

Most cards come by the box or by the case. Each card's page lists both, with the part number and price for each, so you can compare before you order.

Still not sure?

Call 800-605-7308 with your clock model or the number on your card, and we'll tell you which card fits. You can also email [email protected].