RFID Labels and Stickers: Dry Inlays, Wet Inlays, Paper Labels and Laundry Tags
RFID labels are thin tags with a chip and antenna that can be read wirelessly without line of sight. They are used for inventory management, retail, logistics, libraries, asset tracking, document management and laundry operations. This category covers RFID inlays, paper labels and specialised tags.
Types of RFID labels
- Dry inlays: chip and antenna on a plastic film without adhesive, used for inserting into products, cards or packaging.
- Wet inlays: inlays with an adhesive backing, ready to stick onto items or to be converted into labels.
- Coated paper labels: printable labels with an RFID inlay inside, which can carry barcodes and text as well as RFID data.
- Laundry tags: durable, flexible tags designed to withstand washing, drying and ironing, used by hotels, hospitals and industrial laundries.
Frequencies
UHF labels (860 to 960 MHz) are read at distances of several metres and are used for inventory and logistics, allowing many items to be scanned at once. HF labels (13.56 MHz), including NFC labels, are read at short range and used for libraries, product authentication and smartphone interaction. Check the frequency used by your reader.
Chip and memory
Each label uses a specific chip with a unique ID and, often, user memory. Chip type affects read range, memory size and security features. Match the chip to your system's requirements.
Choosing labels for your application
- Surface material: metal and liquids interfere with RFID; use on-metal labels for metal items.
- Size: larger antennas give longer read ranges.
- Printing: coated paper labels can be printed with RFID-enabled printers.
- Durability: laundry tags and protected labels for harsh environments.
Practical tips
Test a sample of labels on your actual products and with your readers before large orders. Placement affects performance, so experiment with label position. Encoding and printing in one step with an RFID printer speeds up labelling.
RFID labels can significantly speed up stocktaking and reduce errors compared with barcode scanning.
Related categories: Consumer Electronics, RFID Tags, Smart Cards, Live Equipment