Walmart's RFID Mandate - Everything You Need to Know in 2025
In the early 2000s, Walmart reshaped the retail landscape by becoming the first major retailer to mandate the use of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology across its supply chain. This groundbreaking move in 2003, aimed to improve inventory accuracy, reduce theft, and enhance overall efficiency. Walmart's forward-thinking strategy sparked a ripple effect throughout the industry, setting a standard that continues to revolutionize retail in 2025.
Today, leading retailers like Lowe's, Zara, Macy's, and Nordstrom have followed suit, implementing RFID mandates to streamline operations and meet consumer demands for accurate, seamless shopping experiences. In 2025, Walmart's RFID mandate is once again expanding to new departments and working toward all products being RFID tagged in the near future.
Walmart RFID Overview
- Walmart started rolling out RFID technology in it's stores in the early 2000's.
- Walmart's first supplier RFID mandate was implemented in 2010 for their top suppliers.
- Walmart announces expansion of their RFID mandate to all apparel products in 2020.
- Walmart apparel suppliers are required to have all apparel tagged by 2022.
- In 2022 - 2023, Walmart had an additional expansion of their RFID mandate to include top line categories - Home, Sporting Goods, Electronics, Toys, Hardlines, ETS, and Home.
- In early 2024, Walmart mandated all of the following departments to be compliant with their RFID mandate - Apparel, Automotive, Books, Cameras and Supplies, Crafts, Electronics, Hardware, Home Goods, Lawn and Garden, Media and Gaming, Paint, Sporting Goods, Stationary, and Toys.
- In 2025, Walmart is not only expanding the RFID mandate once again, but also requiring some previously mandated categories to update their RFID tags with a new Spec. See all the departments that must comply with an RFID mandate below.
RFID Mandated Departments by 2025
Apparel
D23 - Men's Apparel
D24 - Boy's Apparel
D25 - Shoes
D26 - Baby & Toddler Apparel
D29 - Intimate Apparel
D31 - Accessories
D32 - Jewelry
D33 - Girl's Apparel
D34 - Women's Apparel
D41 - Team Sports Merchandise
Home
D14 - Kitchen
D17 - Home Decor
D20 - Bath & Shower
D22 - Bedding
D71 - Furniture
D74 - Home Management
ETS
D05 - Media & Gaming
D06 - Cameras & Supplies
D7 - Toys
D21 - Books
D72 - Electronics
D87 - Wireless Devices
Hardlines
D03 - Stationary
D9 - Sporting Goods
D10 - Automotive
D11 - Hardware
D12 - Paint
D16 - Lawn & Garden
D19 - Art and Adult Craft
D19 - Fabric and Sewing
D19 - Floral
Need One-on-One Help Complying With A Walmart RFID Mandate? We've Got You.
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How To Comply With Walmart's RFID Mandate
If your company was recently asked by Walmart to comply with their RFID mandate, or to update your previously compliant RFID tags, here are the main 5 steps to follow to help you get started complying with Walmart's RFID requirements.
Step 1:
When you receive the Walmart RFID playbook, check the column “Inlay Spec” next to the Department and Category/Subcategory that your product(s) resides in. This should be a letter, or a letter and number. This letter or letter/number combination will tell you the RFID tags that approved for your product and product packaging. Ensure that you choose the right Department/Subcategory that correlates to your products and/or your product packaging.
For some products, there are multiple options in terms for packaging, for example, in Home, Department D74 Home Management – there are two different ways to package Hangers –
- With a Belly Band, or
- Boxed
While both of these packaging styles use the same Spec (Y2), some may not, so be sure and choose the correct one for your company.
Step 2:
Use your letter or letter/number combination to research the tags that will work for your product and packaging. For instance, if your products were assigned Y2, a popular new Spec that is replacing W1, W2, W3, and W4 – take a look at our Y2 RFID tags, approved by the Auburn RFID Lab’s ARC Program. To see tags that comply with each Walmart Spec, click on one of the links below.
Step 3:
Contact an RFID retailer and request samples of RFID tags in your approved Spec. Some will have sample packs that you can customize based on your size requirements and budget. Additionally, if these samples can be pre-printed and encoded according to Walmart’s standards, that can save you time and money when getting them approved. To learn more about why these tags need to be printed and encoded – jump to our FAQ.
Step 4:
One you have received your printed and encoded RFID tag samples, test them on your product to ensure they fit properly on all packaging and or sizes. Choose the RFID tag that fits your product(s) the best and works for your companies budget as well. In each Walmart RFID Playbook, the requirements for where to place the label are toward the end. If your product is not specifically covered, use the generic “Tagging Requirements” section to find the best place on your product to tag with the RFID tag. For specialty products with unique packaging, the RFID Lab will work with you to ensure your tag is placed correctly.
Once chosen, you will need to fill out an online form to send your selected tags to the Auburn RFID Lab. If you need help with this process, we can guide you through every step of the way.
Step 5:
After your form has been filled out for the ARC Program, send your printed & encoded RFID tags to the Auburn RFID Lab for them to be approved. To learn more about how to send these tags or what to do if your Walmart RFID tags are rejected – jump to our FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions about Walmart's RFID Mandate
- Walmart's RFID Program
- Auburn RFID Lab
- RFID Tags for Walmart
What does Walmart use RFID for?
Walmart uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for supply chain visibility and inventory tracking and management. Walmart benefits immensely from requiring suppliers to tag their goods with RFID technology, revolutionizing how products are managed from the supply chain to store shelves. By using RFID tags, Walmart can streamline stocking processes, as employees can quickly and accurately track inventory levels without the need for manual counts.
This enhanced visibility extends to online stock availability providing customers with accurate, real-time updates, which boosts trust and drives online sales.
Additionally, RFID tags make receiving and processing shipments far more efficient—items are scanned automatically as they arrive, reducing labor and ensuring that shelves are replenished faster. This efficiency not only enhances the in-store experience but also strengthens Walmart’s ability to meet growing consumer expectations for speed and accuracy in both physical and online retail.
How does Walmart's RFID program help Walmart suppliers?
With RFID, Walmart has the ability to take inventory counts on a daily basis, making product loss and theft easily to identify and correct. In addition, if specific products are selling quickly, daily inventory makes it easy for Walmart to see the increase in demand and place additional orders for supplier's products. This ensures that supplier's products are always on the shelf for consumers.
Which type of RFID does Walmart use?
Walmart uses Passive UHF RFID technology. Passive UHF RFID has a primary frequency range of 860 – 960 MHz and has a read range of around 20 feet in distance. Learn more about Passive UHF RFID in our article, “What is Passive RFID?”.
Does RFID replace Barcodes at Walmart?
Walmart uses RFID technology for inventory management purposes, but RFID tags do not replace pricing barcodes seen in store. Walmart still uses barcodes to checkout in stores.
How long has Walmart being mandating RFID?
Walmart’s first RFID mandate was in 2010 for select suppliers.
How do you learn about your product’s requirements from Walmart?
Typically, Walmart will email your company with the latest version of the Walmart RFID playbook. The specific playbook will depend on the department your product(s) resides in.
Have the Walmart Specs changed in 2024-2025?
In 2024, Walmart required 9 additional product categories to be tagged:
• Cameras & Supplies
• Media & Gaming
• Automotive
• Crafts
• Stationary
• Hardware
• Paint
• Lawn and Garden
• Books
And in 2025, even more categories will need to be compliant, extended through most, if not all, of General Merchandise. Additionally, Walmart is mandating all products that currently use Specs W1, W2, W3, and W4 to change to an updated Spec by August 1, 2025.
Besides tagging products, what else does Walmart require from it’s suppliers?
Walmart asks that suppliers not only tag their products, but also verify that the encoded RFID tag is correct before sending to Walmart stores. To verify each RFID tag, a USB reader or handheld RFID reader work well for verifying before shipment. To learn about RFID software for product/shipment verification, check out Avancir's capabilities.
What is the Auburn RFID Lab?
The Auburn University RFID Lab is an RFID testing facility that specializes in researching Radio Frequency Identification and its current and future businesses cases. To get a full introduction to the Auburn University RFID Lab and the ARC Program, checkout our article and video Introduction to the Auburn University RFID Lab.
What is the ALEC Program?
The Auburn RFID Lab’s ALEC Program was created to ensure that RFID tags placed on retail items by suppliers meet the industry and specific retailer's requirements.
What is the ARC Program?
The Auburn RFID Lab’s ARC Program was created to ensure that RFID tags placed on retail items meet the retailer’s performance requirements for successful RFID tracking and management.
What is a Spec?
A Spec is a document that contains the RF performance requirement for a specific use case.
The specific use case generally refers to:
- Type of packaging
- Product material
- Shelving
- Inlay positioning
- RFID hardware positioning
What is ARC Quality Certified?
The RFID Lab offers ARC Quality Certification on RFID tags and inlays which is a certification that is earned based on a tag's performance and quality. These aspects are heavily tested per inlay, and the RFID Lab also ensures that the tag manufacturer has a well implemented Quality Management System (QMS) for the design and manufacturing. To learn more, visit the RFID Lab's website.
What is the relationship between Walmart and Auburn’s RFID Lab?
Walmart has a collaborative relationship with the Auburn University RFID Lab, leveraging its expertise to advance RFID research and implementation in retail. The Auburn RFID Lab is a leading academic facility specializing in the study of RFID and related technologies, and Walmart works closely with the lab to refine its use of RFID across its supply chain. This partnership helps Walmart test and validate RFID solutions, ensuring they are effective at improving inventory management, reducing shrinkage, and enhancing operational efficiency.
The lab also conducts studies on industry-wide RFID standards, which supports Walmart’s efforts to align its suppliers with best practices for tagging and tracking goods. By collaborating with the Auburn RFID Lab, Walmart remains at the forefront of innovation, driving the broader adoption of RFID technology in retail.
Why do I have to send my tags to the Auburn RFID Lab?
The RFID Lab and major retailers have partnered to make these new RFID mandates successful and beneficial for all parties involved. The RFID Lab validates that each supplier’s tags meet the Specs put in place for Walmart. This ensures that all of a supplier’s tagged products are in working order upon arriving at Walmart securing a seamless integration from thousands of suppliers to each retail store.
What’s the Auburn RFID Lab address?
Auburn University RFID Lab
Attn: Walmart Home Supplier Validation
1550 E Glenn Ave
Auburn, AL 36849 USA
How long does it take the ARC Program to approve or reject my tags?
Auburn’s ARC Program typically allows for 10 business days of time to look over and approve or reject a Walmart supplier’s submitted RFID tags.
Why would the ARC Program reject my Walmart RFID tags?
In our experience, there are a few main reasons that RFID tags are rejected by the Auburn RFID Lab.
- Tag isn't permalocked
- Tag isn't printed with correct information (most commonly the EPC symbol)
- The RFID tag doesnt comply with the required Spec
- Details on submission form don't match that of the tag
What happens if my RFID tags get rejected?
If your RFID tags are rejected, typically the Auburn RFID Lab will let you know why they were rejected. Most often, companies will then work with an RFID tag provider or printing and encoding service to re-print and encode additional samples to re-submit. If you need help because your RFID tags were rejected by the Auburn RFID Lab, give us a call or chat with us! We’ve helped hundreds of suppliers submit their sample tags – with a 99% approval rating!
How do I find tags for a specific Walmart Spec?
Take a look at our ARC Certified RFID tags, organized by Spec so that you can get a good idea about tag size and cost - two of the biggest parameters when choosing an RFID tag within a specific Spec for Walmart.
What needs to be printed and encoded on my RFID tags for Walmart?
On each product’s RFID tag, the following information must be included:
• Barcode/UPC #
• EPC Logo
• Item Description
Additional information can be included as needed. Other specifics about the label and information will depend on the type of label – whether it’s a sticker label, a hangtag, or a specially made tire label tag.
Each RFID tag should be encoded via the SGTIN-96 encoding standard set by GS1. In order to determine what will be on each tag, simply take the product’s UPC and add it’s Unique Serial Number to get the information to encode on the EPC memory bank.
How does Walmart want me to place my RFID tags on products?
Placement depends on your product’s size, shape, and packaging. Take a look at the RFID Lab's Tag Placement Guide for a better idea for your specific product. In this guide, there is more information about each type of packaging – whether you use belly bands, backer cards, polybags, or heat shrink wrap, this guide will help you tag each product.
What does packaging have to do with my Walmart compliant RFID tag?
There are a lot of different packaging types, and it is essential to place each RFID tag in the most optimal place for being read. If a tagged product will be sitting on a metal shelf, the optimal place for the RFID tag will not be on the bottom of the product, because metal interferes with reading RFID tags. It’s also imperative not to cover text and images on the product so that customers can accurately read and see all available information.
To read more about Tagging Requirements, take a look at your individual Walmart playbook, or check out the RFID Lab’s Placement Guide.
What is the difference between a UPC and an GTIN?
A UPC provides the GTIN in barcode format, so the number under the barcode is generally referred to as the GTIN, or Global Trade Identification Number.
What is a SGTIN-96?
A SGTIN-96 – verifiable with Vulcan RFID Read & Write Software – is a serialized GTIN, which means that a serialized and unique item code is added to your product’s GTIN. For more in depth information on the SGTIN-96, check out our article "What is the SGTIN-96?".
How Can I Use RFID In-House?
If you have to comply with an RFID mandate from Walmart and all of your products are tagged with an RFID tag – have you thought about using the technology in house? Optimize your RFID investment, learn how to use your tagged products to gain greater visibility into your operations and improve efficiency across your business. After all, half of the work is already done! By adding RFID hardware in house, you create the ability to:
• Track and manage your inventory
• Prevent loss/theft
• Track manufacturing processes
• Verify shipment picking/packing
For more information on how you can implement RFID to create more efficiency in-house, contact us!
Walmart RFID Tag Samples
Before ordering a large roll of RFID tags, it’s best to grab samples of a few compliant RFID tags so that you can see how they fit on your product or product packaging. It’s important to ensure the RFID tag has a space on the product that doesn’t cover up any text or images, and is placed in a readable location when displayed on Walmart’s shelves.
Our ARC Certified RFID Tag Sample Pack is customized specific to your department, products, and packaging. Simply fill out the on-page form during purchase so that we can have all of your information printed and encoded on RFID tags that comply with your department’s Spec.
For more information, chat with us now!
Additional Resources
RFID in Retail Articles
- Revolutionizing Retail: The Implementation of RFID in Target Stores
- Nordstrom & Macy's: RFID Tag Mandates for Suppliers
- Lowe's RFID Mandate for Retail Inventory Management
- Walmart & RFID: The Relationship that put RFID on the Map
- RFID In Retail: How it is Used and Retail RFID Examples
- Retail Inventory Management with RFID
ARC Approval Process Checklist
This checklist contains information about the ARC Approval Process, including required information so that you have all the details before the submission process.
RFID Retail Mandates Infographic
In this infographic we walk suppliers through what they need to know about these mandates and the easiest way to meet the requirements in a few easy steps.
Retail RFID Available Services
At atlasRFIDstore, we provide a variety of services for retail suppliers that must conform with an RFID Tag Mandate. Check out all of our available services below.