Hang tag
Labels & stickers
What is it?
An RFID hang tag is a cardstock tag with an embedded UHF inlay, attached to a product with a string, pin, or plastic fastener. They are the most visible form of RFID in retail – the swing tags attached to garments in stores like Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo. The hang tag serves as both the price/brand tag and the RFID carrier.
How it works
A dry or wet inlay is laminated inside a folded cardstock tag. The outer surfaces carry printed branding, pricing, and barcode information. The RFID inlay inside encodes the SGTIN (Serialised Global Trade Item Number) that uniquely identifies each individual garment. Because the tag hangs free from the product, it gets excellent read range – nothing blocks the antenna.
Use cases
- Retail apparel tagging
- Footwear
- Accessories and luxury goods
- Home textiles
Pros
- Excellent read performance – hangs free from product
- Dual-purpose: branding + RFID + barcode
- Easy to attach and remove
- No impact on the product itself
Cons
- Easily removed – not suitable for loss prevention alone
- Adds to per-garment cost
- Can be swapped between items (fraud vector)
- Waste – discarded after purchase
Specifications
| Power type | Passive – powered by reader signal |
|---|---|
| Frequency | UHF (860–960 MHz) |
| Read range | 5–12 m |
| Lifespan | 2–5 years (typically removed before end of life) |
| Price range | $0.10–$0.40 per unit |
| Environmental rating | Indoor retail only |