UK's Leading Time & Attendance
FREE shipping over £50
If you've recently inherited a clocking in system or you're researching a new one for your business, you may have come across the term 'ATR card'. These small but vital pieces of card sit at the heart of countless time and attendance setups across the UK, yet very few buyers actually understand what they do or why they matter. This guide walks through everything you need to know about ATR cards and how they fit into modern employee time tracking.
What Is an ATR Card?
ATR stands for Automatic Time Recording. An ATR card is a printed time card used with mechanical or semi-automatic time recorder machines. Each employee is issued their own numbered ATR card at the start of a pay period. When they arrive at work, they insert the card into the time recorder, which prints the exact time and date in the appropriate column. At the end of the week or month, the totalled card becomes the source document for payroll.
ATR cards are still in regular use across UK factories, construction sites, garages, bakeries and small workshops. They're reliable, simple, and don't require any computer setup or software training, which is why thousands of businesses continue to choose them over more complex digital alternatives.
How ATR Cards Work in Practice
The process is refreshingly simple:
- Each employee is given an ATR card printed with their name or number.
- On arrival, they slot the card into the time recorder, which prints the in time.
- The same card is used to print breaks, lunches and the out time.
- At the end of the pay period, hours are totalled (either by hand or automatically depending on the model).
- The card goes to payroll for processing, then a fresh card starts the next period.
Most modern recorders, such as the Acroprint RJ-385 and 3300NX, can even print daily and weekly totals directly onto the card, removing the manual maths and dramatically reducing payroll errors.
Different ATR Card Sizes and Formats
One of the most common questions our customers ask is whether their old machine takes a standard ATR card. The answer is: not always. ATR cards come in dozens of different sizes, with widths ranging from 66mm to 106mm and heights from 140mm to over 230mm. Some are single-sided for weekly use, others are double-sided to cover fortnightly or monthly pay cycles. They can also be numbered, bar-coded, corner-clipped or unclipped depending on the machine.
The good news is that we stock more than 150 compatible formats. If you're not sure which type fits your recorder, you can browse our full range of clock cards and time cards or call our team with your machine make and model.
ATR Cards vs Biometric Clocking: Which Is Right for You?
ATR cards have served UK businesses well for over 40 years, but they do have limitations. The biggest is buddy punching, where one employee clocks in a colleague who isn't actually there. Lost or damaged cards also slow down payroll, and manual totals leave room for errors.
For businesses that want to remove these issues entirely, biometric options are now extremely affordable. A fingerprint clocking in machine ties every clocking to the individual employee, so there's no way to clock for someone else. Facial recognition clocking machines take this a step further with contactless, AI-powered verification.
That said, ATR cards remain a great choice if:
- You don't have reliable Wi-Fi or power at the clocking point
- Your team is happy with the current process
- You only have a handful of employees
- You want zero software or training
Keeping ATR Cards Organised
One practical tip: invest in a proper clock card rack. A wall-mounted rack keeps cards visible, prevents loss, and lets supervisors see at a glance who is in and who is out. Our clock card racks come in metal and plastic finishes with 24 or 25 slots, sized to match every standard ATR card on the market.
Replacement Ribbons Keep Your Recorder Working
Finally, don't forget the ribbon. Even the most reliable time recorder will eventually produce faint prints if the ribbon isn't replaced. We stock cartridges and spools for every major brand, from Acroprint and Amano to Seiko and Simplex. Browse our time recorder ribbons to find the right match.
Conclusion
ATR cards remain a trusted, low-tech way for thousands of UK businesses to track employee hours. They're affordable, durable and easy to use. If you'd like advice on the best ATR card for your time recorder, or you're ready to upgrade to a biometric or cloud-based system, call our team on 0800 808 7733 or use our contact form. We've been helping UK businesses get clocking right since 1985.