Can I wash an NFC tag ?

Yes, there are some types of NFC tags that can be washed.

We generally call these 'garment tags' and there are two types - hard disc tags and garment labels.

Hard disc tags typically have a diameter of 20-22mm (approximately 3/4 inch). They are constructed from rigid PPS plastic, rendering them exceptionally durable and well-suited for industrial laundry settings such as those in hotels and healthcare facilities.

Garment labels are designed to be flexible and can handle a limited number of domestic washes, typically up to about 100 cycles. Garment labels are widely favored for a wide range of clothing applications due to their cost-effectiveness, ease of integration, and reliable scanning capabilities. Notably, some garment labels have been subjected to testing according to ISO6330, an internationally recognised textile standard.

We stock a good range of the most popular garment NFC tags but can also make a variety of other options. If you have a project in mind, then talk to us today.
Seritag - 11 Jan 2023

Our company has used a lot of the garment tags and I can give some advice for people visiting this question. We've used Seritag's 29mm 'garment' 25mm 'garment' labels and the 20mm hard disc tag. The 29mm scans the best. The 25mm does fail occasionally but we've seen less than 1 in 200/300 perhaps. The 20mm is the most durable but it's not easy to include in clothing.

On balance we'd recommend the 29mm garment or 20mm PPS.
Reader - 09 Apr 2024