Standard RFID labels struggle on metal: the surface detunes the antenna and kills read range. If you track tools, machines or IT hardware, you'll hit this fast. Here's what actually works.
Why metal breaks ordinary tags
A passive UHF tag harvests power from the reader's radio waves. Put it flat on metal and the surface reflects and cancels that energy — so the tag either reads at a few centimetres or not at all.
Use on-metal tags
On-metal tags include a spacer or ferrite layer that lets the antenna work against a conductive surface. They cost more than paper labels but read reliably where it matters.
Mind the mounting
- Leave the recommended air gap where the tag specifies one.
- Keep tags away from sharp bends and heat sources.
- Test read range on the actual asset before you commission a whole fleet.
Mix technologies deliberately
You rarely need RFID on everything. Many teams put on-metal RFID on high-value equipment and cheap QR labels on furniture — all in one register.
For a full comparison, see our guide on RFID vs NFC vs QR and the definition of EPC.