What is a Custom NFC Sticker?
A custom Near Field Communication (NFC) sticker is an adhesive NFC tag made to order with user-specified printed artwork, shape, size, and materials. Products include printed options with preset configurations and online checkout, fully custom options requiring a quote, and limited pre-printed designs with general-use artwork or QR codes. Most are layered products with a paper or synthetic face, aluminum antenna, adhesive backing, and optional ferrite or epoxy layers. Silicone NFC stickers in this category are fully sealed and highly durable. Unlike blank NFC stickers, which have white printable surfaces, custom NFC stickers are pre-printed during manufacturing.
Custom NFC stickers are used as scannable proxies for physical objects like product packaging, retail displays, and signage. They are used by businesses and manufacturers needing NFC functionality with custom logos, QR codes, serialized elements, or specific print effects.
How to Choose a Custom NFC Sticker
- Printed vs. Custom: Printed stickers offer standard shapes, sizes, materials, and finishes with website pricing and checkout. Custom stickers require a quote and allow greater selection of sizes, materials, adhesives or alternate backings, and finishes or effects such as reflective.
- Sticker Type: Paper face materials suit indoor applications. Synthetic materials provide better moisture resistance. Ferrite-backed stickers are needed for use on metal. Window stickers can be printed on both the adhesive and non-adhesive side with UV resistant finishes. Silicone housings are waterproof and durable for harsh environments but in a thicker profile.
- Shape and Size: Popular round, square, and rectangular options are listed with printed products. More sizes in these standard shapes are available with custom products by quote with potential to create new shapes or sizes with a mold fee. Very large stickers do not always improve read range because the NFC antenna size—not the sticker size—determines performance. Avoid using stickers that are too small, especially on metal surfaces, as they have limited read range. Use the largest size that fits your application constraints.
- Availability: All custom and printed NFC stickers are made to order with 500-unit minimums and 3 to 4 week lead times. Pricing decreases with volume. Pre-printed products are stocked but limited and may not be replenished.
- NFC Chip Type: NTAG213 is most common for compatibility and cost. NTAG216 offers more memory for larger data needs. NTAG 424 DNA is used in secure, authentication-based applications.
Customizing a Custom NFC Sticker
- Printing Method: CMYK digital printing is used for low volumes and variable data that requires special colors or complex QR codes. Offset printing with CMYK matching is used for high volumes. Silicone stickers support 1 to 2 color Pantone silkscreen printing or engraving with optional color fill. Engraving is the most durable.
- Finish Options: Glossy and matte are standard finishes for printed products. Specialty finishes—foil, metallic, holographic, and reflective—are available through custom products and require a quote.
- Variable Elements: Variable data may include QR codes, serial numbers, or barcodes. Black QR codes on a white background with quiet zone spacing provide the best scan performance. Minimum QR code size should be at least 20 mm (0.8 inches) for reliable scans. Simple variable data may be printed in a secondary step; complex variable elements—such as data in special colors, branded QR codes, or Flowcode designs—may require digital printing.
- Encoding: Tags can be pre-encoded by GoToTags or encoded later using the GoToTags Desktop App.
Recommendations
- Provide vector graphic print-ready artwork in appropriate resolution and CMYK color format.
- Use NTAG213 unless your project needs more memory or authentication.
- Accept samples from existing production runs rather than requesting custom samples to avoid delays and additional costs.
- Use the self-checkout printed products unless you need additional material or size options.
- For short timelines or low volumes, consider using blank NFC stickers with color inkjet printing.
- Include visual cues in artwork to guide NFC interaction.
- Use standard black QR codes with quiet zones for best scan performance.
- Test NFC and QR functionality on sample materials with real devices before full production.
