Reference

RFID Reader Types

Every type of RFID reader explained - from fixed portal readers that scan hundreds of pallets per hour to finger-mounted ring scanners for hands-free picking. Each profile covers how the reader works, which industries use it, indoor vs outdoor suitability, connectivity, and what it costs.

UHF frequency allocations by region

UHF RFID readers do not all operate on the same frequency. Each country or region allocates a different slice of the 860–960 MHz band, with different power limits and channel plans. A reader bought in the US will not legally operate in Europe without being reconfigured or replaced. The map below shows the major regional allocations - this is critical when specifying readers for international deployments.

North America902–928 MHzFCC Part 15.247 - up to 4 W EIRP, FHSS across 50 channels
Europe865.6–867.6 MHzETSI EN 302 208 - up to 2 W ERP, narrower band than US
China920.5–924.5 MHzMIIT regulations - 2 W ERP, overlaps upper US band
Japan916.8–920.8 MHzARIB STD-T106 - replaced older 952–954 MHz allocation
India865–867 MHzDoT WPC - 4 W EIRP, similar to European allocation
Australia / NZ920–926 MHzACMA - 4 W EIRP, FHSS
Brazil902–907.5 / 915–928 MHzANATEL - follows FCC with a gap for cellular
South Korea917–923.5 MHzKCC - 4 W EIRP
Fixed portal readerFixed / mounted
UHF3–12 m per antennaIndoor & outdoor

Fixed portal readers are the workhorses of RFID infrastructure. Mounted at dock doors, warehouse gates, or production line transition points, they interrogate e...

$1,500–$5,000 per reader (antennas separate)IP52–IP65 depending on model
Overhead / ceiling readerFixed / mounted
UHF4–14 m depending on antenna patternIndoor only

Overhead readers mount on ceilings or overhead structures to create wide read zones covering aisles, checkout areas, or open floor spaces below. They are the re...

$2,000–$6,000 per unitIP50–IP54
Conveyor / tunnel readerFixed / mounted
UHF0.5–3 m (focused within tunnel)Indoor only

Conveyor readers are designed for high-speed automated reading on belt conveyors, sorters, and packaging lines. Antennas surround the conveyor in a tunnel or ar...

$3,000–$8,000 per tunnel systemIP50–IP54
Handheld gun readerHandheld / mobile
UHF3–15 m depending on output powerIndoor & outdoor

The handheld gun reader is the RFID equivalent of the barcode scanner gun - a rugged pistol-grip device with an integrated UHF antenna that workers aim at tagge...

$2,500–$5,500 per unitIP64–IP67
Mobile sled readerHandheld / mobile
UHF2–8 mIndoor only

A mobile sled turns an existing smartphone or tablet into a UHF RFID reader. The sled clips onto the back of a phone or connects via a grip case, adding a compa...

$800–$2,500 per sledIP30–IP54
Wearable ring scannerHandheld / mobile
UHFUHF: 0.5–3 mIndoor only

A wearable ring scanner is a finger-mounted RFID reader that leaves both hands free for picking, packing, and handling items. The reader sits on one or two fing...

$1,500–$3,500 per unitIP54–IP65
Desktop HF / NFC readerDesktop / benchtop
HF0–10 cm (contact to near-contact)Indoor only

A desktop HF reader is a small flat pad or puck that reads and writes HF (13.56 MHz) and NFC tags placed on or near its surface. Plug it into a laptop via USB a...

$50–$500 per unitIP20–IP30 (office equipment rating)
Desktop UHF reader / encoderDesktop / benchtop
UHF0.1–1 m (deliberately limited for encoding)Indoor only

A desktop UHF reader is a compact benchtop device for reading and encoding UHF RFID tags one at a time. Unlike portal or handheld readers that are built for vol...

$300–$1,500 per unitIP20–IP30
Smart antenna (integrated reader + antenna)Integrated / embedded
UHF3–9 mIndoor & outdoor

A smart antenna combines a UHF reader and antenna into a single compact enclosure - no separate antenna cables, no multi-port reader, just one device that mount...

$500–$2,000 per unitIP52–IP67
OEM reader moduleIntegrated / embedded
UHFDepends on antenna design - module provides RF powerIndoor & outdoor

An OEM reader module is a bare circuit board that provides RFID read/write capability for embedding into another product. These are the building blocks that go ...

$50–$400 per module (volume pricing available)N/A - module only; enclosure determines IP rating
Forklift-mounted readerVehicle-mounted
UHF3–10 mIndoor & outdoor

A forklift-mounted reader attaches to the overhead guard or mast of a forklift truck, reading pallet tags as the driver picks, moves, and drops loads. The drive...

$3,000–$7,000 per forklift (reader + antennas + mount)IP65–IP67
Vehicle access / toll readerVehicle-mounted
UHF5–15 m at highway speedOutdoor only

Vehicle access readers are outdoor-rated, high-speed readers designed to identify vehicles at gates, toll plazas, parking structures, and secure perimeters. The...

$5,000–$20,000 per laneIP66–IP68
Drone-mounted readerSpecialty
UHF2–8 m (downward from drone altitude)Indoor & outdoor

A drone-mounted RFID reader is a lightweight UHF reader and antenna payload that attaches to a commercial drone, enabling autonomous aerial inventory counts in ...

$10,000–$50,000 per system (drone + reader + software)IP50–IP54 (weight constraints limit ruggedisation)
RFID printer / encoderSpecialty
UHFNear-contact (tag passes over encoder inside printer)Indoor only

An RFID printer/encoder is a thermal label printer with a built-in RFID reader/writer that prints and encodes RFID labels in a single pass. As each label advanc...

$1,500–$8,000 per printerIP20 (office/industrial equipment)
Rugged outdoor fixed readerFixed / mounted
UHF5–15 mOutdoor only

Rugged outdoor readers are weather-sealed, wide-temperature fixed readers designed for year-round operation in exposed environments - container yards, rail term...

$3,000–$8,000 per reader (outdoor antennas and cabling additional)IP66–IP68
LF animal / livestock readerSpecialty
LF5–30 cm (ear tag)Outdoor only

LF animal readers are designed specifically for reading low-frequency RFID tags implanted in or attached to livestock and companion animals. They read the FDX-B...

$300–$3,000 per reader (stick reader to panel system)IP67–IP69K (wash-down rated)