How to make an NFC tag
- Pick the product: a keychain, a stick-on disc or tile, a bank-card-size NFC card, or a table stand for a counter or table.
- Start from a purpose – follow, review, menu, Wi-Fi, contact… – then change the icon and text. Upload your own logo if you like, or put a QR code on the front for "tap or scan".
- Choose how the sticker goes in: embedded (pause and drop it in) or a back pocket (glue it in afterwards).
- Download the STL, or the 2-colour ZIP for AMS / MMU printers, and write your link to the sticker with a phone app such as NFC Tools.
What to write on the tag
The print shows the icon and text – the sticker holds the link. Write one URL record with the NFC Tools app (or any NFC writer):
| Purpose | What to write |
|---|---|
| Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, LinkedIn | Your profile or channel link, copied from the app’s "Share profile" button |
| WhatsApp chat | https://wa.me/ + your number with country code, e.g. https://wa.me/919876543210 |
| Google review | The "Ask for reviews" link from your Google Business Profile |
| Menu, shop or website | The page link – a short link is easier to change later |
| Wi-Fi | A "Wi-Fi network" record (network name, password, security) instead of a URL |
| Save contact | A "Contact" (vCard) record with your name, phone and email |
| Pay (India) | A upi://pay?pa=yourid@bank&pn=Your%20Name link – opens the UPI app on Android |
Tip: point the tag to a link you control (your website or a short link). If your handle or menu changes, you update the link – not the tag.
Recommended print settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | PLA or PETG (not metal- or carbon-filled – they block NFC) |
| Layer height | 0.2 mm (0.12–0.16 mm for QR codes and small text) – set the same value under Finish |
| Walls / infill | 3 walls, 15–20% infill |
| Supports | None – embedded tags print face-up, back-pocket tags face-down, stand parts flat |
| Pause (embedded) | Bambu Studio / OrcaSlicer: right-click the layer in the preview → Add pause. PrusaSlicer: the + on the layer slider → Add pause print. Cura: Extensions → Post Processing → Pause at height. |
Tips for tags that get tapped
- Put the icon where the sticker is – the generator centres the sticker behind it, so "tap the icon" always works.
- Table stands: a Ø35 mm sticker gives the most forgiving tap. Add a QR code for anyone without NFC.
- High contrast reads best across a room: white on black, gold on navy, or black on white.
- Test with an iPhone and an Android phone before you print a batch.
Frequently asked questions
Which NFC stickers do I need?
Any 13.56 MHz NFC Forum Type 2 sticker: NTAG213 (enough for a link), NTAG215 or NTAG216. Round Ø25 mm stickers suit keychains and cards; Ø29 and Ø35 mm have a bigger antenna for longer reading range. Stick-on paper tags are about 0.2–0.4 mm thick; "on-metal" tags are thicker, so raise the pocket depth to 1.2 mm.
How do I put a link on the NFC tag?
Install a free app such as NFC Tools, choose Write → Add a record → URL, type your link (for example your profile link or your Google review link) and hold the phone over the sticker. Do it before you embed the sticker, then test it with a second phone. Optionally lock the tag in the app so nobody can overwrite it.
Do iPhones and Android phones read it?
Yes. iPhone XS and newer read NFC tags in the background – just hold the top of the phone near the tag. Android phones read them whenever NFC is switched on (it usually is). Older phones without NFC can use the QR code option instead, which is why "tap or scan" stands are popular.
Can I use a platform logo on my tag?
The built-in icons are our own generic designs. If you want an official platform logo, most platforms publish brand resources you may use to promote your own profile – download that logo file and upload it here, and follow the platform’s brand guidelines (no changes to the logo, enough clear space). For a business, uploading your own logo is often the most professional choice.
Embedded or back pocket – which should I choose?
Embedded seals the sticker inside: the tag prints face-up, you pause the print at the height shown in the stats, drop the sticker in and resume. It looks cleanest and the sticker can’t be picked off. Back pocket needs no pause: the tag prints face-down with a smooth front and you glue the sticker into the pocket on the back afterwards.
Will the plastic block the signal?
No – NFC reads easily through 1–2 mm of PLA or PETG, and the sticker sits right behind the icon so people know where to tap. Avoid metal-filled or carbon filaments and don’t mount tags directly on metal (use an on-metal tag for that).
How do I print the two colours?
For raised (embedded) designs, change filament at the height shown in the stats – the icon, text and frame come out in the second colour. For back-pocket tags, the first layers form the front: change filament after the design depth shown and the design fills with the second colour. With an AMS or MMU, use the 2-colour ZIP instead.
Is it free?
Yes. Design and download as many NFC tags as you like with no account – everything runs in your browser, and uploaded logos never leave your device.
Need a code without the sticker? Try the QR code generator or the name keychain generator.