Traceability, Serialization & Lot Genealogy worked example

RFID Tag Cost at 99% first-pass read-verify yield: a worked example

This scenario runs the rfid tag cost calculation on the strong side: 99% first-pass read-verify yield, with every other input held at its documented default. A traceability engineer sizing the consumable and capital cost of adding item-level RFID to a serialized SKU before committing to the program.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Units to be RFID tagged: 50,000 units (unchanged)
  • RFID inlay price each: 0.12 $/tag (unchanged)
  • First-pass read-verify yield: 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 97)
  • Reader and middleware fixed setup: 8,500 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total tag spend = tagged units x tag price each x read-verify yield% + reader setup) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 14,440 $ for total rfid tag cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.29 $ / piece for rfid tag cost per unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 5,940 $ for variable rfid tag cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 8,500 $ for fixed rfid tag cost adder.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where first-pass read-verify yield sits at 97% and the headline result is 14,320 $, this scenario comes in 0.84% above the baseline at 14,440 $.
  • Use it when building the business case for an RFID program or comparing tagging cost against barcode labeling for a SKU or facility. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total rfid tag cost: 14,440 $ (headline result)
  • Rfid tag cost per unit: 0.29 $ / piece
  • Variable rfid tag cost: 5,940 $
  • Fixed rfid tag cost adder: 8,500 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live RFID Tag Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.