Membership card template: what to put on it, with examples
A good membership card template answers one question at a glance: is this person a member, and until when? Here is what to include, what to leave out, and examples you can copy for your own club.
- Every template needs five fields: club, member name, number, tier and expiry date.
- Put the expiry date where a volunteer can read it in one second.
- Use the back of the card for rules, contacts and benefits.
- A digital template in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet updates itself when a member renews.
The five essential fields
Whatever your club, start with these five pieces of information:
- Club name and logo: at the top, so the card is recognised instantly.
- Member name: first name and surname, as on their ID if you check identity.
- Membership number: unique and permanent, for example TC-00871.
- Tier: adult, youth, senior, family, student, supporter.
- Expiry date: “Valid until 31/12/2026”. This is the field your volunteers look at most.
Useful optional fields
- Member since: members like to see their seniority, and it is handy for loyalty benefits.
- Photo: for gyms, pools and places where cards could be shared.
- Team or section: U12, women’s team, Tuesday choir.
- QR code or barcode: to scan the card instead of reading it.
- Emergency contact: for youth clubs and outdoor activities.
What to put on the back
The back is the right place for anything a member might need but does not check every day: the club address and opening hours, a contact email or phone number, the main house rules, partner discounts, and a link to the club website. Keep it short: five or six lines at most.
Choose your activity, type your club’s name, and add the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Free, no sign-up.
Examples by type of club
Sports club (football, basketball, tennis)
Front: club logo, member name, number, tier (player, youth, supporter), season and expiry date, QR code. Back: training ground address, coach contact, “card required for access to the changing rooms”.
Gym or fitness club
Front: logo, name, photo, plan (monthly, yearly, off-peak), expiry date, QR code for the entrance. Back: opening hours, rules for the equipment, how to freeze a membership.
Association or non-profit
Front: name of the association, member name, number, category (active member, supporter, honorary member), valid until. Back: purpose of the association, date of the general meeting, contact.
Student society
Front: society name and crest, member name, academic year, member type, QR code for parties. Back: partner bars and discounts, social media, committee contact.
Design rules that work
- Use two colours from your logo, not five.
- Make the member name and expiry date the largest text.
- Keep a margin of at least 3 mm around text on printed cards.
- Test readability: hold the card at arm’s length. Can you read the date?
- Do not put important text inside a photo or a pattern.
Printed template or digital card?
Free templates for Word, Canva or Google Docs are fine for a small club or a one-off event: you type the names, print, cut and laminate. They show their limits after the first season, because a printed card cannot change. A member who renews needs a new card, and a laminated card looks valid whether or not this year’s fee was paid.
A digital card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet uses the same fields, but the expiry date updates itself when you renew a member. MPass gives you 90 ready-made designs, one per activity, so you only add your logo. You can create a test card in one minute, with no sign-up. Need the exact print dimensions? See our membership card size guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a free membership card template?
Word, Canva and Google Docs all have free templates you can print. For a digital card, MPass offers 90 ready-made designs for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, free for up to 50 active cards.
Should a membership card have a photo?
Only if cards could be shared between people, for example in a gym or a pool. For most clubs, the name and an expiry date are enough.
What is the best way to show the expiry date?
Write it in full on the front, in large text: “Valid until 30/06/2027”. On a digital card, it updates automatically when the member renews.
Choose your activity, type your club’s name, and add the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Free, no sign-up.
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