Yes, RFID tags can be read through clothing-in most cases, clothing does not block RFID signals.
Why RFID Works Through Clothing?
Most clothing materials (cotton, polyester, wool, denim, leather, etc.) are non-conductive and RF-transparent, meaning they do not significantly absorb or block radio waves used by RFID systems.
By RFID Frequency Type
LF (125 kHz)
Read range: a few centimeters
Easily readable through clothing
Common in access control, animal tags
HF / NFC (13.56 MHz)
Read range: up to ~10 cm
Readable through clothing
Very common in RFID garment tags, wristbands, tickets
UHF (860–960 MHz)
Read range: up to several meters
Readable through clothing
Widely used in apparel retail, inventory, anti-theft
Practical Apparel & Retail Examples
RFID care labels sewn inside garments are read while clothes are:
Folded
Packed in cartons
Worn on the body
Retail gate readers can detect UHF RFID tags inside jackets, bags, or stacked clothes
What Can Affect Readability
Although clothing itself is not a problem, performance can be affected by:
Metal components (zippers, buttons, foil prints)
Liquids (heavy moisture, sweat-mainly for UHF)
Tag orientation and antenna design
Human body proximity (water content can slightly detune UHF tags)