What is a Blank NFC Badge?
A blank Near Field Communication (NFC) badge is an NFC card with a pre-punched hole that does not include any printing. These badges are constructed from rigid, durable, waterproof Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) material in standard CR80 (credit card) size with the NFC chip and antenna embedded within the badge material.
NFC badges serve as digital proxies for individuals in access control, event management, and healthcare identification systems, while their blank surfaces allow for customization with stickers or handwritten information. Their unprinted surface provides flexibility for organizations that need to quickly deploy identification solutions.
How to Choose a Blank NFC Badge
- Material: White PVC offers the fewest limitations for design methods. Colored PVC shows scratches more easily and limits artwork options.
- Availability: White glossy PVC badges in CR80 size with a 15 x 3 mm punch hole centered on either the short or long edge are maintained in stock in large volumes for immediate shipping. Colored PVC has a longer lead time with higher minimum order quantities. Non-standard sizes and hole configurations can be special ordered. Entirely new designs require a new mold fee.
- NFC Chip Type: NXP NTAG213 suits most applications. Specialized chips include NTAG215/NTAG216 for data storage and ICODE SLIX for extended range.
Customizing a Blank NFC Badge
- Quick Printing: Blank NFC badges do not support in-house printing services because the pre-punched hole would damage the printer. Use hole-punchable NFC PVC cards for printing with a fast turnaround.
- Premium Customization: For premium designs, see Custom NFC Badges for premium CMYK printing, silkscreen, engraving, and hot stamping options. PMS color matching is available only with silkscreen printing and is limited to 1-2 colors.
- Encoding: Tags can be pre-encoded by GoToTags during purchase or self-encoded later using the Desktop App.
Recommendations
- Use permanent markers for quick visual differentiation between badges.
- Confirm printer compatibility with 0.8-0.9 mm card thickness before printing.
- Print before punching holes to prevent printer damage and maintain print quality.
- Avoid damaging the embedded antenna when punching holes.
- Test NFC badges in the intended environment with the actual reading devices before full deployment.
