The Problem
Standard NFC tags stop working when placed on metal surfaces. The metal interferes with the antenna, dramatically reducing or eliminating read range. This catches many first-time buyers by surprise.
Who This Is For
- Anyone planning to tag metal equipment or assets
- Businesses tracking metal inventory or tools
- Marketers placing tags on metal products
- Users who had tags fail on metal surfaces
Quick Decision Rules
- 1Metal surfaceMust use anti-metal/on-metal tags
- 2Non-metal but near metalStandard tags usually work
- 3Mixed deploymentConsider anti-metal for flexibility
- 4Cost-sensitiveTest standard tags on thin metal first
- 5Critical applicationAlways use verified anti-metal tags
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using standard tags on metal and expecting them to work
- Assuming all anti-metal tags perform equally
- Not accounting for the thicker profile of anti-metal tags
- Placing tags on curved metal without testing first
- Using cheap generic anti-metal tags for critical applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Metal surfaces create eddy currents that absorb the RF energy from the reader. This disrupts the electromagnetic field needed for the tag antenna to receive power and communicate.