This document compares the key characteristics of RFID technologies operating at different frequency ranges: LF (125-134 kHz), HF (13.56 MHz), and UHF (860-960 MHz). LF has the shortest read ranges, smallest tags, and lowest data transfer rates, but can read tags through liquids and metals. HF has greater read ranges and faster data transfer than LF, while UHF has the longest read ranges, largest tags, and fastest data transfer rates, but performance is impacted by liquids and metals. The document provides an overview of the standard frequencies, operating modes, applications, performance capabilities, and cost differences between LF, HF, and UHF RFID technologies.

1. 1
DDeessccrriippttiioonn LLFF HHFF UUHHFF NNoottee
FFrreeqquueennccyy
125 KHz
134,2 KHz
13,56 MHz 860 to 960 MHz
OOppeerraattiinngg MMooddeess
Inductive coupling using
magnetic field
Inductive coupling using
magnetic field
Inductive coupling using
electromagnetic field
RRaannggee ffrreeqquueennccyy wwoorrllddwwiiddee
Same frequency
worldwide
Same frequency
worldwide
Different frequencies
inside range defined
(see Note)
Example:
Italy UHF da 865,6 a 870 MHz
China: UHF da 916 a 928Mhz
Corea UHF da 910 a 914 Mhz
Japan UHF da 959 a 956 Mhz
USA UHF da 902 a 928 Mhz
UUssee ooff ppoowweerr iinn ddiiffffeerreenntt
ccoouunnttrriieess
Uniformed in almost
worldwide
Uniformed
worldwide
Different from Country to
Country
SSttaannddaarrdd ffoorr ddaattaa aanndd
ccoommmmuunniiccaattiioonn eettcc..
None for 125Khz,
Standard only for
animal application
(134,2KHz)
Yes, (worldwide) Yes, (worldwide)
SSttaannddaarrdd AApppplliiccaattiioonn aanndd uussee Partial Yes Yes See Normat ve
RReeffeerreennccee
SSttaannddaarrddss RRaaddiioo
ETSI EN 300 330 ETSI EN 300 330 ETSI EN 300 220
ETSI EN 302 208
SSttaannddaarrdd NNaammee
ISO 11784 e ISO
11785 (animal
Application)
ISO 15693
ISO 14443 A/B ISO
18000-3
EPC
ISO 18000-6A 6B
EPC 1,19- C1G1 - C1G2 –
ISO 18000 6C
MMaaxx RReeaaddiinngg ddiissttaannccee
Less than 80 cm Less than 150 cm Less than 11 mt Depending tag size and power
contro er
GLOBAL TAG BENCHMARK FREQUENCIES
Main different about frequencies LF, HF and UHF in RFID Technology

2. 2
Description e
DDaattaa ttrraannssffeerr rraattee
Tipically 2 max 4
Kbit/sec.
Typically 28Kbit/sec.
Up to 848 Kbit/sec with e-
passport Reader
(13,56Mhz))
From 40Kbit/sec to 320
Kbps
AAnnttiiccoolllliissiioonn
FFuunnccttiioonn
No Yes
AApppplliiccaattiioonn ffiieellddss
Time and Attendance,
Access Control, Process
Management Logistics
and Production, carbon
fiber injection
Time and Attendance,
Access Control, Ticketing,
Document and Library
Management, Archive and
Asset Management,
Logistics and Production
Management, Plant
Maintenance, NFC
Applications as micro-
payment
Process Management
Logistics and Production,
Asset Management,
Container Tracking, Vehicle
Access Control, Waste-Bin
Management, Retail
inventory.
SSiizzee TTaagg
Minimum: diameter
8mm.
Minimum: 4x4mm.
Maximum: A5
Minimum: 3x4mm.
Maximum: 100x30mm
The tags are made with LF
antenna coil, Hf tags are made
with a loop antenna, while the
UHF tag with dipole antenna
OOppeerraattiioonn iinn tthhee pprreesseennccee ooff mmeettaall
ssuurrffaacceess oorr lliiqquuiiddss ((TTAAGG
ttrraannssppoonnddeerr))
Suitable for liquids
No good for Metal
(needed on-metal Tag,
but reduce reading
distance)
Very good with
carbon fiber
Suitable for liquids
No good for Metal
(needed on-metal Tag,
but reduce reading
distance)
No good for Liquid
No good for Metal (needed
on-metal Tag, but don’t
reduce reading distance)
Liquids (the human body s
composed of more than 60%
liquids) absorb the
electromagnetic field UHF. The
metals deform the electro-
magnetic field LF and HF and
UHF to reflect and shield.

3. 3
Description e
AAnntteennnnaa ooppeerraattiioonn iinn tthhee pprreesseennccee
ooff mmeettaall ssuurrffaacceess
adequate adequate Good
MMeemmoorryy TTaaggss
Typically Read only From 64 bit to
8Kbyte .
From 64 bit to 1024bit
(actually is available up to
512bit)
The capacity of 8 Kbytes s
referred to the standard
HF ISO 14443.
The capacity of 1024 bits UHF
refers to the roadmap stated by
some manufacturers
PPoossiittiioonniinngg ooff tthhee ttaagg oonn tthhee
ppeerrssoonn
almost irrelevant almost irrelevant The tag must not cling to
the body, and must be
visible from the electro-
magnetic field
With HF technology, the success
rate of detection is close to
100% and does not require
special conditions of placement
of tags. With UHF techno ogy,
the success rate can be affected
by many factors
PPrriiccee ffoorr ttrraannssppoonnddeerr iinn EEuurroo
From 0,20 to 5,00 From 0,12 to 5,00 From 0,08 to 10,00 The price depends on the
characteristics of the chip
(capacity, sensitivity, etc.), the
type of coating and the
quantity.
PPrriiccee ffoorr ccoonnttrroolllleerr pprrooxxiimmiittyy
rraannggee
low low high
PPrriiccee ffoorr ccoonnttrroolllleerr LLoonngg rraannggee High High High
PPrriiccee ffoorr GGaattee
SSoolluuttiioonn
Very high Very high Medium
DDaattaa TTrraannssffeerr Not good Good Very Good