Card Inlays — RFID Prelam & Inlay Sheets from a Shenzhen Factory
Prelaminated RFID card inlays — the semi-finished chip and antenna core that card factories laminate into finished cards. LF, HF, UHF, dual-frequency, combi and dual-interface formats in 2×5 to 6×8 layouts, 100% electrically tested before shipment to protect your lamination yield.
- Exact quote within 24h
- Free samples — DHL 2–5 days
- Proof sign-off before production
Decide Faster
Pick your fit in 3 questions
Pick by Frequency
Which band does your card program use?
Frequency decides the antenna geometry and the chip family embedded in the inlay.
Pick by Interface
Single chip, dual chip, or contact + contactless?
The card architecture decides whether you need a standard, combi or dual-interface inlay.
Pick by Format
What does your lamination line need?
Layout and shape are matched to your press, punch tool and card design.
9 products found
RFID Card Inlay
An RFID card inlay is the semi-finished core component used by card factories worldwide to produce c...
HF Card Inlay (13.56 MHz)
The HF card inlay is the 13.56 MHz prelam that card factories laminate into contactless smart cards ...
UHF Card Inlay (860–960 MHz)
The UHF card inlay is the 860–960 MHz prelam used to build long-range contactless cards for parking,...
LF Card Inlay (125 kHz)
The LF card inlay is the 125 kHz prelam for low-frequency access and identification cards. Its anten...
Dual-Frequency Card Inlay (Combi Prelam)
The dual-frequency card inlay is a composite prelam packed with two RFID chips of different frequenc...
Dual-Interface Card Inlay (CPU Prelam)
The dual-interface card inlay is a prelam built specifically for dual-interface CPU chip cards that ...
Combi Card Inlay
The combi card inlay carries two or even three RFID chips on a single substrate, offering HF+LF, HF+...
Irregular Card Inlay
The irregular card inlay is the semi-finished core for non-standard RFID cards — mini cards, keychai...
Prelam Inlay Sheet (Standard Prelam)
The prelam inlay sheet is the standard prelaminated core a card factory laminates, die-cuts and prin...
Tell them apart
Six inlay families, and how to recognise each one
Most inlay mix-ups happen at the sheet, not on the datasheet. Here is what each family looks like when it lands on your press.
LF inlay — 125 kHz
Round multi-turn wound coils
TK4100 / EM4200 / T5577 · 0.50–0.55 mm · 2×5 and 5×5 layouts
HF inlay — 13.56 MHz
Rectangular loop with a COB die in one corner
MIFARE / DESFire / NTAG · 0.40–0.50 mm · 73×44 mm standard antenna
UHF inlay — 860–960 MHz
Dipole arms, not a coil
UCODE 8/9 · Monza R6/M730 · multi-metre read range
Dual-interface inlay
Antenna terminals landing at a module window
ISO 7816 contact + ISO 14443 contactless · 0.40 ± 0.02 mm
Combi / composite inlay
Two or three chips sharing one nest
LF+HF, HF+UHF, HF+HF · antennas spaced to avoid interference
Irregular / non-ISO inlay
Anything that is not a CR-80 rectangle
Mini, keyfob and epoxy formats · coil 10–40 mm · 0.35–0.50 mm
Inside the factory
How a card inlay is built — six stages, five QC gates
Nothing on an inlay line is finished by hand. Copper wire is implanted automatically so turn spacing stays constant, and chip-to-antenna joints are spot-welded rather than soldered by an operator — hand-soldering is where static damage and short chip life come from.
Where the inlay sits inside the finished card
A contactless card is seven laminated layers, and only three of them come from us — the antenna core plus its two cover sheets. Your printing and overlay layers go on the outside, which is why inlay thickness and flatness decide your lamination yield.
Dual-interface builds add an ISO 7816 module on top of this stack — see all four bonding methods (soldering, conductive adhesive, landing pad, close coupling) on the dual-interface card inlay page.
Quality control
What "100% electrically tested" actually means here
Every inlay is read back individually — chip response and antenna resonance — and marginal units are marked before they reach your press. The rest of the bench runs to a fixed sampling schedule.
Chip read/write test
100% of unitsEvery inlay is read back on a multi-chip test platform before the sheet is released.
Antenna resonance
Setup + in-processA vector network analyser confirms HF inlays land on 14.3 ± 0.3 MHz.
Thickness
Per sheet lotDigital height gauge — thickness drift is what jams a lamination press.
Bond strength
Per shiftPush-force testing catches a drifting weld before it becomes a field failure.
Joint inspection
Per shiftStereo microscope check on chip-to-antenna joints and wire dressing.
Incoming material
Every lot (IQC)Substrate identity, density and thickness verified before a sheet is punched.
RFID Card Inlay Buying Guide
A card inlay (also called a prelam or inlay sheet) is the pre-laminated layer that holds the RFID chip and antenna before a card factory laminates, die-cuts and prints the finished card. Buyers usually compare frequency, chip family, layout format, thickness and QC testing before sampling. RFIDAK has produced RFID card inlays in Shenzhen since 2008, delivering LF, HF, UHF, dual-frequency, combi and dual-interface prelam with 100% electrical performance testing before shipment so card factories can protect lamination yield.
Card Inlay Types by Frequency & Interface
| Inlay Type | Frequency | Typical Chips | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF card inlay | 13.56 MHz | MIFARE, NTAG, ICODE, Fudan | Access, transit, payment, NFC |
| LF card inlay | 125 kHz | TK4100, EM4200, T5577 | Access control, time attendance |
| UHF card inlay | 860–960 MHz | UCODE, Impinj Monza | Parking, vehicle, long-range ID |
| Dual-frequency / combi | LF+HF, HF+UHF | Two chips per unit | Migration, multi-application cards |
| Dual-interface inlay | 13.56 MHz + contact | CPU / Java Card | EMV banking, government eID |
| Irregular inlay | LF / HF | Mini COB / MOA4 | Keychain, epoxy, mini cards |
How to Choose the Right Card Inlay
When specifying inlays for your card production line, work through these five factors:
- Frequency & chip: match the inlay to your finished card — LF 125 kHz for TK4100/EM access, HF 13.56 MHz for MIFARE/NTAG payment and transit, UHF for parking and long-range.
- Interface: single-chip, combi (2–3 chips), or dual-interface CPU that meets both ISO/IEC 7816 (contact) and ISO/IEC 14443 (contactless).
- Layout: pick a sheet format your press and punch tool accept — 2×5 (10/sheet) up to 6×8 (48/sheet), or a custom layout up to 640×520 mm.
- Material & thickness: PVC, PET, PC or PLA substrate; typical HF inlay 0.40–0.50 mm, LF 0.50–0.55 mm, dual-interface down to 0.35 mm.
- Quality control: insist on 100% electrical testing plus crossline and blackmark printing for press alignment to keep lamination scrap low.
Weighing chip security? See our Mifare Classic vs DESFire comparison, the RFID frequency guide for LF / HF / UHF selection, or the full RFID card inlay overview for layouts, chip options and lamination integration.
Common Applications
Card inlays are the core component behind access cards, hotel key cards, transit and payment cards, campus and ID cards, and dual-interface banking cards. They let card factories and ID issuers laminate, print and personalize finished cards in-house while controlling cost and quality. If you need ready-to-use cards instead of the raw inlay, start with the finished RFID cards category.
FAQ
Card inlay questions buyers ask before ordering
What is a card inlay (prelam)?
A card inlay, or prelam, is a pre-laminated sheet that holds the RFID chip and antenna. Card factories laminate it between printed PVC/PET layers, then die-cut and personalize the finished card.
Which inlay do I need for my cards?
Match the inlay to your finished card: HF 13.56 MHz for MIFARE/NTAG access and payment, LF 125 kHz for TK4100/EM access, UHF for parking and long-range, dual-frequency or combi for multi-application, and dual-interface for CPU banking cards. Send us your card spec or reader and we will match it.
What layouts and sizes are available?
Stock layouts run from 2×5 (10 inlays per sheet) up to 6×8 (48 per sheet), with custom layouts and sheet sizes up to 640×520 mm. Crossline and blackmark printing for press alignment is standard.
Are the inlays tested before shipment?
Yes. RFIDAK electrically tests 100% of inlays for chip response and antenna resonance before shipment, so marginal units are caught before lamination instead of after.
Can you make combi and dual-interface inlays?
Yes. We produce combi inlays with 2–3 chips (LF+HF, HF+UHF) and dual-interface CPU inlays supporting both ISO/IEC 7816 contact and ISO/IEC 14443 contactless communication, using tin-slice, conductive-adhesive or pickline processes.
What is the difference between an inlay and a finished card?
An inlay is the raw chip and antenna subassembly before lamination and printing. A finished card has those steps done. Buyers with card-printing equipment buy inlays; buyers who need ready-to-use cards buy finished cards.
Keep Researching
Guides that help you shortlist card inlays faster
Need card inlays matched to your lamination line?
Share your chip model, layout format, thickness and substrate. We can recommend the right inlay, send a sample sheet, and quote in sheets or pieces.
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