How much does an RFID tag cost?

RFID tags that are affordable, reliable, and effective

Price points vary depending on the application requirements

$1.00 per tag

Tags that cost less than $1.00 are passive tags. These can be LF, HF or UHF tags. The UHF tags are the lowest cost by the shear volume of tags these tags used by Wal-mart and DOT suppliers used to track cases and pallets of goods. They typically have a range of 3-10 feet in open air. The UHF tags are affected by liquids and metals. Most have a directional reading range and typically have lower cost readers. For more information, contact Matrix.

$5.00 per tag

Tags that cost around $5.00 in quantities of 10K or more are semi-active (or semi-passive) tags that contain an inexpensive coin cell battery. They can be battery assisted UHF tags that have up to a 30-100ft read range. They show improvements around liquids and metal due to the higher signal strength. They can also be ISM band tags in the 315-433MHz range. These tags generally have a LF wake up receiver that keeps them in shut down mode until the LF signal is received and tells it to transmit its ID number at 315-433MHz. These have a 35ft transmit range and are typically used to track people through doorways without swiping a card and also for high value items such as laptops with security issues.

For example, the Veterans Hospital uses these tags to secure its laptops and computers containing sensitive patient information. They are also use in vehicles to open gates in parking garage without forcing the car to stop and swipe a card. For more information, contact Matrix.

$10.00 per tag

Tags that cost around $8-$10 each are semi-active tags that are sealed and can be attached to metal surfaces. They can be either UHF or 315-433MHz ISM band tags. The 433MHz range can be used for international applications.

$50.00 per tag

Tags that cost more than $50 each are battery operated tags that incorporate sensors that can data log and provide bi-directional communications. Automatic re-transmissions can occur for reliable data transmission. For example, we manufacture the Wyze-Temp® sealed temperature sensor with a high performance, high temperature battery for the commercial cooking market and it’s suited for other wash down applications as well. Other sensors can be incorporated upon request.

$75.00 per tag

2.4Ghz WiFi tags are another example. These are commonly used in hospitals that already have a wireless infra-structure for laptops. They are typically used to track expensive equipment throughout a hospital using Real Time Location Software (RTLS). These tags require a lot of power to transmit data due to the high data rate, therefore battery life can be an issue.