Key Takeaways
- Pick frequency first
- Then material
- Cost last
01Pick frequency first
UHF (860-960 MHz) is the workhorse for retail, logistics and manufacturing — long range, bulk read, cheap tags. HF (13.56 MHz) suits jewellery, pharma and payments where secure close-read matters. LF (125-134 kHz) is reserved for animal ID and access control.
02Then material
Metal surfaces require anti-metal tags (ferrite backing). Garments need washable woven labels. Jewellery uses tiny ceramic tags. IT assets use PCB-embedded tags. Chemicals need high-temp, corrosion-resistant encapsulation.
- Anti-metal: metal shelving, IT chassis, tooling
- Woven: apparel, linen, uniforms
- Ceramic: jewellery, watches, premium goods
- PCB: IT assets, equipment, pallets
03Cost last
UHF wet inlays are the lowest cost, anti-metal tags are moderately priced, and ceramic tags are the highest. Pick the cheapest tag that survives your environment — over-spec'd tags silently extend ROI payback. A common mistake: using low-cost generic tags on metal shelving, only to retrofit the entire store after read failures.
