Hard Tags vs Soft Labels: Which Security Tags Does Your Store Need?
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Every EAS (electronic article surveillance) system relies on two kinds of tags: reusable hard tags and single-use soft labels. Both trigger the alarm at your security gates, but they suit very different products. Choosing the right mix keeps merchandise protected without slowing down your checkout.
What are hard tags?
Hard tags are rigid plastic tags that lock onto merchandise with a pin or a lanyard. They are removed at checkout with a magnetic detacher and reused again and again.
Best for: clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, bottles (with bottle tags) and eyewear (with eyewear tags).
- Reusable, so the cost per use is very low
- Highly visible, which deters shoplifters
- Harder to remove without a detacher
What are soft labels?
Soft labels are thin adhesive stickers with a built-in antenna. At checkout they are switched off with a deactivator (decoder), so the customer can leave without setting off the alarm.
Best for: packaged goods, cosmetics, groceries, pharmacy items, books and jewelry (with jewelry labels).
- Fast to apply, ideal for high-volume products
- Discreet; barcode-style labels blend into packaging
- Single-use, so you will need a steady supply
Side-by-side
| Hard tags | Soft labels | |
|---|---|---|
| Reusable | Yes | No |
| Checkout tool | Magnetic detacher | Deactivator / decoder |
| Best for | Clothing, shoes, bags, bottles | Packaged goods, cosmetics, groceries |
| Visibility | High (deterrent) | Low (discreet) |
The most important rule: match the frequency
Tags and labels only work with gates of the same technology. 58kHz AM tags work with AM gates; 8.2MHz RF tags work with RF gates. Mixing them means the gate will not alarm. Read our AM vs RF guide if you are not sure which system you have.
Most stores use both
A typical clothing store uses hard tags on garments and soft labels on accessories like socks or packaged items. A supermarket mainly uses soft labels, with bottle tags for wine and spirits. Plan for one detacher and one deactivator at each checkout.
Shop tags and labels
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