Key takeaways
- US readers commonly use 902–928 MHz; EU high-power lower-band readers use four channels in 865–868 MHz. A band label alone does not establish permitted power or channel access.
- China's current RFID rules cover 920–925 MHz, but the 2 W ERP limit applies only to 920.5–924.5 MHz; the outer portions have a 100 mW ERP limit.
- ERP and EIRP are different: 2 W ERP is about 3.3 W EIRP. Also distinguish either radiated quantity from conducted reader output.
- Asia-Pacific has multiple channel plans and station classes. A US, EU or global hardware label does not replace the destination's configuration and approval requirements.
- Before ordering, identify the installation country, approved reader and antenna configuration, channel plan, radiated power and tag tuning.
A UHF RFID reader needs a configuration permitted in the country where it operates. The United States uses 902–928 MHz, while the familiar European lower-band plan sits in 865–868 MHz. China, Japan and Australia have different plans again. Start with the installation country, then match the reader’s channels, power and antenna configuration to the applicable rules.
Regulatory sources checked: 2026-10-01. This guide summarizes the official sources linked below. The country table is a selection of markets with identified source documents, rather than a worldwide authorization list. A reader’s radio approval and the conditions for operating it are separate checks.
Short answer: FCC 902–928 MHz vs ETSI 865–868 MHz
United States. For FHSS, FCC §15.247 separates cases by 20 dB channel bandwidth. Below 250 kHz: at least 50 frequencies and no more than 0.4 s occupancy per frequency in 20 s. At 250 kHz or more: at least 25 frequencies and 0.4 s in 10 s. The bandwidth maximum is 500 kHz. Peak conducted output is limited to 1 W with at least 50 channels, or 0.25 W otherwise; antenna gain above 6 dBi requires a corresponding output reduction.
European Union. The harmonised lower-band conditions permit 2 W ERP interrogator transmissions only at 865.7, 866.3, 866.9 and 867.5 MHz. Each of these reader channels is 200 kHz wide. The EU’s 2025 lower-band decision and ETSI EN 302 208 define the relevant conditions. In the lower band, the standard limits continuous transmission on a channel to 4 s and requires at least 100 ms before returning to that channel.
The EU upper-band allocation is 916.1–918.9 MHz, with interrogator transmissions at 4 W ERP only at 916.3, 917.5 and 918.7 MHz, and bandwidth no greater than 400 kHz. Use the consolidated Decision 2018/1538, including its 2025 amendment. National conditions needed to protect railway communications and other authorized uses must still be checked; a standard covering 915–921 MHz does not permit arbitrary transmission throughout that span.
| Parameter | US FHSS under FCC §15.247 | EU lower-band RFID | EU upper-band RFID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reader band | 902–928 MHz | 865–868 MHz; four specified high-power centers | 916.1–918.9 MHz; three specified centers |
| Channels | Hopping requirements depend on 20 dB channel bandwidth | 200 kHz channels centered at 865.7 / 866.3 / 866.9 / 867.5 MHz | Up to 400 kHz centered at 916.3 / 917.5 / 918.7 MHz |
| Power basis | Conducted output and antenna-gain conditions | Up to 2 W ERP | Up to 4 W ERP |
| Practical check | Approved hopset, output and antennas | Channel access and conformity for the selected configuration | National spectrum-use conditions and conformity |
Country and region frequency table
Read the power column together with the conditions column. Conducted output, ERP and EIRP are not interchangeable. Where the reviewed source does not establish a single power ceiling for every station class, the table does not supply one. The lookup above filters this same table.
| Country / region | Reader band (MHz) | Power basis / limit | Conditions and official reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 902–928 | Up to 1 W conducted for a ≥50-channel hopset; antenna-gain conditions apply | FCC §15.247; see the bandwidth-dependent hopping cases above |
| Canada | 902–928 | ≥50 hopping channels: 1 W conducted / 4 W EIRP; fewer: 0.25 W / 1 W EIRP | ISED RSS-247, issue 4, §6.2.2; Canadian certification is a separate requirement |
| European Union, lower band | 865–868 | 2 W ERP on four specified channels | Decision (EU) 2025/105; centers 865.7 / 866.3 / 866.9 / 867.5 MHz |
| European Union, upper band | 916.1–918.9 | 4 W ERP on three specified channels | Consolidated Decision 2018/1538; check national spectrum-use conditions and railway protection |
| United Kingdom | Lower high-power portion 865.6–867.6; upper 916.1–918.9 | 2 W ERP lower / 4 W ERP upper, within applicable channels | Ofcom IR2030, RFID entries; upper centers 916.3 / 917.5 / 918.7 MHz, not the entire 915–921 MHz span |
| China, mainland | 920–925 | 2 W ERP at 920.5–924.5; 100 mW ERP at 920–920.5 and 924.5–925 | MIIT technical requirements; hopping with maximum 2 s dwell per channel; type approval required |
| India | 865–868 | Confirm the applicable RFID category and channel-specific limits | DoT’s published rules collection, G.S.R. 853(E), 10 December 2021; confirm the reader’s RF test report and WPC ETA |
| Japan | 916.7–920.9 for premises-station equipment; 916.7–923.5 for specified low-power equipment | Station-class specific; no universal maximum stated here | ARIB STD-T106 and STD-T107; establish the station category and its applicable approval/operating procedure |
| Hong Kong | 865–868 and/or 920–925 | Confirm the band-specific limits in the current specification | OFCA HKCA 1049, issue 2, March 2026; do not apply mainland China’s configuration automatically |
| Australia | 918–926 at lower power; 920–926 for the higher-power RFID entry | 1 W EIRP / 4 W EIRP respectively | LIPD Class Licence 2025, Schedule 1, Table 5 and clause 27; power above 1 W must be necessary for satisfactory system performance |
Countries absent from this table need a separate check with their regulator. Do not copy a neighboring country’s setting or assume that an old allocation summary establishes today’s registration, licensing or equipment-approval process. For Singapore, consult IMDA’s radio-equipment standards and the current TS SRD. For Taiwan, check the current NCC specification and the installation category: older summaries labeling peak reader-output limits as ERP should not be used to calculate an antenna budget.
China’s 2024 transition and site conditions
MIIT notice No. 76 of 2024 took effect on 1 November 2024. It stopped new 840–845 MHz type-approval applications, while allowing equipment already approved for that band to remain in sale and use until retirement. It did not impose an immediate blanket ban on all existing equipment in that band.
The 920–925 MHz regime requires equipment type approval. Ordinary station licensing is exempted under the notice, but installation within 33 m of a railway track’s center line needs consent from the specified railway authority. This is an example of why equipment approval and site-specific operating conditions must be checked separately.
Power limits and what they mean for read range
EIRP measures radiation relative to an isotropic antenna; ERP uses a half-wave dipole reference. In logarithmic units, EIRP (dBm) = ERP (dBm) + 2.15 dB. Thus 2 W ERP is approximately 3.3 W EIRP, and 4 W ERP is approximately 6.6 W EIRP. Neither number is the conducted setting shown in a reader’s menu.
For a simple single-antenna link budget:
EIRP (dBm) = reader conducted output (dBm) − cable loss (dB) + antenna gain (dBi)
A 30 dBm output, 1 dB cable loss and 6 dBi antenna gives 35 dBm EIRP, approximately 3.16 W. Subtracting 2.15 dB gives 32.85 dBm ERP, approximately 1.93 W. This calculation compares radiated quantities; it does not replace conducted-power limits, emissions tests or the antenna configuration covered by the equipment’s approval.
Power affects the forward link that energizes a passive tag. In a free-space approximation, range changes roughly with the square root of radiated power. Actual installations add reflections, tag orientation and material loading, so a power calculation alone is not a read-range prediction.
- Compare the same units. A 2 W ERP ceiling and a 4 W EIRP ceiling are fairly close; two figures both written as “4 W” can differ materially if their references differ.
- Check the actual channel. China’s outer portions and its middle portion have different ERP limits. A broad band label hides that distinction.
- Plan readers together. A site’s reader configuration needs to meet channel-access conditions as well as work around neighboring readers. Increasing output can worsen interference without fixing tag placement.
For the other factors that set range, see UHF RFID read range: what sets it and how to increase it.
Can a US-band reader read an EU-band tag?
It may, if the complete tag supports the reader’s operating frequencies and protocol. GS1 Gen2 defines the air interface, but a protocol name does not establish that every tag antenna performs across every regional band. A regional inlay may have poor sensitivity elsewhere; a globally specified inlay is a candidate for testing across several markets.
The reader remains the transmitter whose configured channels and power need to meet local requirements. Some European upper-band frequencies lie inside the US range, but that overlap does not make an unrestricted US hopset suitable for Europe.
| Scenario | RF compatibility | Regulatory check |
|---|---|---|
| US-configured reader with an EU-tuned tag in the US | Depends on the tag’s actual operating range and tuning | Reader and antenna must meet US requirements |
| EU-configured reader with a US-tuned tag in the EU | Same need to verify sensitivity in the selected band | Use the approved EU configuration and applicable channels |
| Reader brought across a border | Hardware coverage alone is insufficient | Check destination configuration, approval and site conditions |
| Globally specified tag in several markets | Test the complete tag on each mounting surface and band | Each reader installation still needs its own regulatory check |
Metal and liquids can alter the tag’s RF behavior. An on-metal design should be tested on the intended surface, with the reader settings allowed at that installation. Test candidate RFID tags on the real item before issuing a production order.
Wideband readers and region settings
A hardware frequency range is an engineering specification. The permitted operating configuration includes the channel list, access method, output limit and supported antennas. Reader software may call this a region setting, but selecting a country in a menu does not create an equipment approval.
- Review the approved configuration. Ask for documentation covering the exact model, radio variant, firmware settings and antennas. Follow any conditions on configuration access and antenna replacement.
- Check the destination separately. FCC documentation does not establish ISED, EU or another market’s conformity. A test report and a marketing claim about global coverage are also different documents.
- Include the antenna and cable. Check the antenna’s gain and match across the required band, then use the actual cable loss in the power budget. Stay within the approved configuration.
- For OEM integrations, establish responsibility. When embedding a UHF reader module, check which approval conditions carry through and what the finished product still needs. Module documentation should be reviewed before changing its antenna or radio settings.
These checks apply to integrated long-range readers and fixed multi-port readers alike. Product suffixes such as US, EU or GL describe ordering configurations; they are not country-wide authorizations. For form-factor selection, see how to choose a UHF RFID reader.
Ordering checklist: band, certifications and import paperwork
Use this list before you send an RFQ or release a purchase order:
- Name the country and site of installation, which may differ from the purchaser’s country.
- Obtain the permitted channel plan and access conditions, rather than only a broad frequency range.
- Calculate ERP or EIRP in the regulator’s required units, and check conducted output and approved antenna conditions too.
- Select and test tags and antennas for that band on the actual mounting surface.
- Request approval and conformity documents covering the exact reader variant and integration.
- Confirm how the region setting is controlled and who verifies it at commissioning.
- Check whether the installation category, location or power level creates additional consent or licensing conditions.
- Confirm import classification, labeling, manual language and any battery-shipping paperwork with the parties responsible for those requirements.
| Market | Documentation or procedure to check |
|---|---|
| United States / Canada | FCC equipment authorization / ISED certification for the supplied configuration |
| European Union | CE marking and EU Declaration of Conformity under the Radio Equipment Directive; applicable spectrum conditions |
| Great Britain | CE or UKCA route under current UK radio-equipment guidance; Northern Ireland has separate rules |
| China, mainland | MIIT radio equipment type approval; any railway-proximity consent required by the 2024 notice |
| India | WPC Equipment Type Approval and applicable import conditions; licence-exempt spectrum does not remove the equipment-approval check |
| Japan | Exact station class, conformity documentation and the procedure applicable to that class; no blanket high-power or low-power shortcut |
| Australia | Conformity obligations and all conditions of the applicable LIPD class-licence entry |
Next steps
Tell us the installation country, the reader type and what the tags will be attached to. Add any required station class, channel plan or approval document to the request. We can then confirm the available band variant and documentation for your project. Request a quote or a sample.
Sources
Checked 2026-10-01. Read the linked conditions and their current amendments when specifying an installation.
- United States and Canada: FCC §15.247 and ISED RSS-247, issue 4.
- European Union: Decision (EU) 2025/105, consolidated Decision 2018/1538, and ETSI EN 302 208 V3.4.1.
- United Kingdom: Ofcom IR2030 and Great Britain radio-equipment regulations guidance.
- China: MIIT notice No. 76 of 2024 and its technical requirements.
- India: DoT rules collection containing G.S.R. 853(E), 2021 and WPC ETA service guidance. The band is identified here; channel-specific power conditions must be confirmed from the applicable RFID category.
- Japan: ARIB STD-T106 and STD-T107.
- Hong Kong and Australia: OFCA HKCA 1049, issue 2 and Australia’s LIPD Class Licence 2025.
- Protocol scope: GS1 EPC UHF Gen2 air interface. Protocol interoperability does not establish national permission or whole-tag performance.
Frequently asked questions
What frequency does UHF RFID use in the United States?
The US RFID band is 902–928 MHz. Check the FCC §15.247 configuration approved for the reader, including hopset, conducted output and antenna-gain conditions.
What UHF RFID frequency is used in Europe?
The harmonised lower band is 865–868 MHz, with 2 W ERP interrogator transmissions restricted to channels centered at 865.7, 866.3, 866.9 and 867.5 MHz. The EU upper-band rules specify three centers in 916.1–918.9 MHz at up to 4 W ERP, subject to applicable conditions.
Can I use a 915 MHz US reader in Europe?
A US configuration does not establish EU compliance. A reader hopping throughout 902–928 MHz would use frequencies outside the EU RFID channel plan. The reader needs the destination's permitted configuration and conformity documentation.
Do I need different RFID tags for the US and Europe?
A tag may support both regional bands, but this depends on its complete RF design and published operating range. Check the tag specification and test it on the real mounting surface in each intended band.
What UHF RFID frequency does China use?
Current MIIT rules cover 920–925 MHz. The middle 920.5–924.5 MHz portion permits up to 2 W ERP; the two outer portions are limited to 100 mW ERP. New 840–845 MHz type approvals stopped from 1 November 2024, while previously approved equipment may continue to its end of life.
Is 868 MHz or 915 MHz better for RFID?
Choose the channel plan permitted at the installation site first. Power limits, tag tuning, mounting material and reader configuration determine performance; the nominal frequency alone does not determine range.
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