The prices of RFID tags range from $0.05 to more than $100 per unit. Passive inlays are cheaper, whereas active, sensor, and industrial RFID tags are more expensive due to additional features.
The following price ranges should be used for preliminary budget estimation only. They don’t represent any fixed JLTRFID pricing. Your actual cost depends on many factors.
What Does the Price of an RFID Tag Include?
These are different products, so the cost depends on which items are included.
Inlays consist of a chip, an antenna, and a substrate. Wet inlays have adhesive, labels have face stock and a liner, and hard tags have protective housings suitable for metal, outdoor, and industrial applications.
Printed, EPC-encoded, serialized, tested, and packaged tags are examples of other finished products that can be quoted. Compare price quotes only after clarifying the product form and the services included.
How Much Do Passive RFID Tags Cost?
Passive RFID tags don’t contain a battery, so they’re cheaper than active tags. The price is determined by frequency, chip, materials, size, and form factor.
Passive UHF RFID Inlays
Passive UHF inlays are priced at around $0.05-$0.15 each for large order volumes. They’re appropriate for apparel, carton, logistics, and inventory applications that require large quantities. The simplicity of the design helps keep the cost per unit down.
Printable UHF RFID Labels
Printable UHF RFID labels cost $0.08-$0.50 or more. These labels include a printable face material. Higher-quality adhesion, color printing, EPC encoding, and specific roll formats result in increased costs.
HF RFID Tags
HF RFID tags cost around $0.10-$2.00 or more. The chip type, amount of memory, security level, and format determine the cost. Libraries typically employ thin HF labels, whereas access systems use cards or key fobs.
NFC Tags
Simple NFC tags may be priced at around $0.10 each in large quantities. Advanced NFC tags or those with additional memory may cost $2.00 or more. A basic NFC tag used to link to a website is cheaper than a tag designed to perform tasks such as authentication, encryption, secure data handling, or increased memory.
LF RFID Tags
LF RFID tags are priced at around $0.50-$5.00 or more. Animal ID tags, glass tags, and industrial LF tags are often costly because of their coil antennas and unique designs.
On-metal RFID Tags
On-metal RFID tags cost $0.50-$10.00 or more. Metal will interfere with a normal UHF antenna; thus, the design of the tag involves using a spacer. This design is required for servers, equipment, tools, and all-metal assets.
Laundry and Rugged RFID Tags
Laundry and rugged RFID tags cost around $1.00-$15.00 or more. These tags are often more expensive due to their ability to withstand high temperatures, water, detergent, pressure, oils, impacts, ultraviolet radiation, and repeated wash cycles.
How Much Do Active RFID Tags Cost?
The cost of an active RFID tag is estimated to be between $15 and $50. Some of the more expensive tags are those that contain sensor technology, long-life batteries, and robust packaging. Active RFID tags come with their own battery and transmitter, providing longer-distance transmission and frequent updates of location and sensor data.
Battery-Assisted Passive (BAP) tags are typically available in the range of $5 to $20. Active RFID tags are used for expensive assets that justify the cost of the tags and are therefore mostly found in hospitals, factories, and the transportation industry for mobile equipment.
Passive vs. Active RFID Tag Cost
| Influence | Passive RFID | Active RFID |
| Average cost | A few cents up to several dollars | Around $15-$50+; higher for specialized tags |
| Battery | Not required | Required |
| How it tracks | Reading at predetermined locations/areas | Frequent location updates
|
| Maintenance | Minimal | Replacement of batteries/tags |
| Ideal for | Bulk inventory & access control | Valuable assets & real-time tracking |
Use passive UHF technology for inventory counting, reading portals, and predetermined locations. Use active RFID technology if you require a longer read distance, frequent location updates, and/or sensors.
The value of the asset will determine the choice. Active RFID costing around $30 can be useful for expensive assets if it saves time or prevents loss. However, it won’t be useful for inexpensive assets.
What Factors Affect RFID Tag Prices?
The price of an RFID tag depends on its chip, memory, security, antenna, size, materials, order quantity, printing, coding, and customization.
The surface on which the tag is attached and the surrounding environment influence the choice too. Applications involving metal, liquids, high temperatures, chemicals, and frequent washing demand more specialized tags than applications involving dry cardboard.
Frequency only doesn’t determine the price. A simple UHF label may be cheaper than an LF tag, while an on-metal UHF tag can be quite expensive.
How Much Do RFID Tags Cost in Bulk?
The price of an RFID tag decreases as the order quantity increases, since manufacturing costs are shared across a greater quantity of products.
| Quantity | Typical Stage | Pricing Approach |
| 1-100 | Samples | High unit price |
| 100-1,000 | Pilot | Low savings |
| 1,000-10,000 | Small rollout | Good unit price |
| 10,000-100,000 | Medium volume | Good tiered price |
| 100,000+ | High volume | Low unit price |
| 1,000,000+ | Enterprise volume | Ideal for annual pricing |
There are no universal MOQ limits for all RFID tags. There are predefined sizes and materials; thus, samples can be produced in small quantities. If the size or material changes, additional production costs are needed; therefore, the MOQ increases.
Sample prices are high because of the smaller number of units involved in inspection, packaging, handling, and order preparation. Annual requirements will have stable specifications that allow for tiered pricing. Additional deliveries increase costs due to additional packaging, storage, and production runs.
Tooling, engineering, artwork, and some testing costs don’t change regardless of the order quantity.
Standard vs. Custom RFID Tag Cost
Standard RFID tag costs are lower since the design, tooling, and production processes are already available.
Customized RFID tags are more expensive because changes need to be made to the antenna, size, chip, adhesive, material, case, mounting, and packaging. Printing a logo does not add much to the cost, but making an antenna or mold will.
Select the custom development option if standard tags don’t meet your needs.
RFID Tag Prices by Application
| Application | Most Common Tag Type | Cost Category | Primary Cost Factor |
| Apparel retail | Passive UHF label | Low | Volume |
| Cartons & Logistics | Passive UHF label | Low | Standard label surface |
| Metal Objects
| On-metal UHF tag | Medium to high | Design for metal surfaces |
| Library | HF label | Low to medium | Label thinness and chip |
| Smart packaging | NFC tag | Low to medium | Memory and security features |
| Industrial laundry | Laundry tag | Medium to high | Resistance to heat and washing |
| Animal Identification | LF ear or glass tag | Medium | Specific housing |
| Real-time tracking | Active tag | High | Battery and transponder |
Different applications need different tags. A standard label for cartons is low cost, but it won’t provide reliable reading on metal objects.
Hidden Costs Beyond the RFID Tag Price
The unit cost may not include printing, encoding, data connection, packing, freight charges, customs fees, label application, checking, and tag replacement.
An inappropriate choice of tags results in additional costs like the manual checks for failed scans, label reapplication due to inadequate adhesive, and printer incompatibility.
These additional costs lie outside the initial tag quotation.
RFID Tag Cost vs. Total RFID System Cost
The price of an RFID tag is the cost of the tag only. An RFID project includes other items too, such as readers, antennas, printers, software, implementation, installation, testing, and maintenance.
Plan for each differently. A price quote for 100,000 RFID labels is not the price of an RFID system.
RFID Tags vs. Barcodes: Which Costs Less?
| Influence | Barcodes | RFID |
| Label price | Cheaper | More expensive |
| Line-of-sight requirement | Must be seen directly | Doesn’t need to be seen directly during routine scans |
| Bulk scanning | No | Yes |
| Data storage capacity | Very limited | Much greater on many tags |
| Labor intensity
| Higher if scanning is done individually | Lower if bulk scanning works with the process |
| System price | Lower | Higher |
| Ability to automate | Lower | Higher |
Barcodes are cheaper when personnel have to scan individual items.
RFID is more expensive at first, but bulk scanning can reduce labor requirements for retail inventory counts, warehouse work, and other intensive processes.
How to Estimate Your RFID Tag Budget
It’s important to begin with the right tag and its estimated quantity.
Budget for tags = unit price × order quantity
Now include printing, encoding, packaging, shipping, tax, and replacement costs.
In reusable tags, the formula is:
Cost per use = tag cost and maintenance cost / number of successful uses
This gives you a better way to compare laundry tags, tools, returnables, and other long-life tags.
Example RFID Tag Budget Calculations
These are budgeting examples based on the reference ranges provided above, not on price quotes from suppliers.
Apparel RFID Label Project
For 100,000 printable RFID labels at a cost of $0.08-$0.50 per label, the price of the tags is about $8,000-$50,000, excluding printing, encoding, packing, and transportation costs.
Metal Asset Tracking Project
For 5,000 RFID on-metal tags at $0.50 to $10.00 per tag, the tag price is about $2,500-$50,000. A wide price range is provided because thin printable metal tags cost less than sturdy tags designed to withstand impact, oil, and outdoor conditions.
Industrial Laundry Project
For 10,000 laundry tags at a cost of $1.00 to $15.00 per tag, the initial cost is about $10,000-$150,000. If reusable laundry tags, the cost per wash should be considered. The more cycles a tag can endure, the lower its price per wash becomes.
How to Choose the Most Cost-effective RFID Tag
Begin by assessing the asset, the surface material, read distance, reader, attachment method, and the environment in which the tag will be used.
Next, remove any unnecessary features, like the additional memory, security, special materials, or printing.
Test the tags before large-scale production if they’ll operate on metal, near liquids, in high temperatures, around chemicals, or with a different reader configuration. Consider the cost only after they perform suitably.
What Information Is Needed for an Accurate RFID Quote?
Provide details about the application, RFID frequency, material of the assets, tag size, reading distance, reader used, operating conditions, chip or memory requirements, tag printing and encoding, required quantities, packaging, and the destination country.
If you currently use RFID, provide details of the reader and tags being used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest type of RFID tag?
Standard passive UHF inlays are considered one of the most affordable RFID tag types because of their simple and batteryless design.
How much does a passive RFID tag cost?
A passive RFID tag costs between $0.05 and several dollars. Basic UHF inlays are cheaper than other passive RFID tags. Rugged and on-metal RFID tags cost more because of their specific construction.
How much does an active RFID tag cost?
Active RFID tags typically cost around $15-$50 or more. Sensor and industrial active RFID tags cost even more because they have a battery and a transmitter and are covered with additional protective layers.
How much do UHF RFID labels cost?
Printable UHF RFID labels typically cost between $0.08 and $0.50 or more. Additional charges may relate to printing, EPC encoding, specific adhesives, roll format, and order volume.
How much do NFC tags cost?
Affordable NFC tags may cost around $0.10 in volume orders. Advanced NFC tags with secure data features and high memory capacity may be two or even three times as expensive.
How much do on-metal RFID tags cost?
On-metal RFID tags cost $0.50 to $10 or more. A specific design protects the antenna from interference from metal, while size, housing, mounting method, and read range affect the price.
How much do RFID tags cost in bulk?
The price of RFID tags decreases as the order volume increases. Customization, packing, and other factors influence the final price quote.
Why do small RFID orders cost more?
Small orders cost more because the increased costs incurred for production, testing, packaging, and processing are distributed among fewer units. That is why sample pricing is higher than bulk pricing.
Are RFID tags more expensive than barcodes?
Yes, RFID tags are more costly per label but have the capability of reading several labels together without any need for a line of sight.
How much do custom RFID tags cost?
There’s no standard price for customized RFID tags. The prices depend on the antenna design, its size, the chip used, the materials used, housing, tooling, testing, and quantity. Customized antenna or mold designs cost more than just the customization of a logo.
Conclusion
The cost of RFID tags change from a few cents to over $100, depending on factors like the type of tag, the asset, the reader, the environment, and order quantities.
Send your application details, reader type, required read distance, the material of the assets, and desired order quantity to JLTRFID. We can guide you on appropriate tags and pricing.
