Types of asset tags and prices
Nine types of asset tag, manufactured in Nairobi, Kenya and shipped countrywide. Anodised aluminium, metal barcode labels, QR, tamper-evident, riveted, RFID and polyester, each one branded with your logo, numbered to your register, and priced on this website before you ask anyone for a quote.
Contents
How to choose an asset tag
Most organisations buying asset tags in Kenya are doing it for one of three reasons. An auditor has raised a query about the fixed asset register. A new finance system needs clean opening balances and every asset needs a unique identifier. Or equipment has gone missing and nobody can prove what was there in the first place.
All three end at the same place: every asset needs a permanent, machine-readable number that matches a line in your register. That is what an asset tag is for. The rest (material, adhesive, size, barcode or QR) is a set of engineering decisions downstream of that one requirement.
We manufacture all nine tag types in Nairobi. Production runs up to 200 tags same day, up to 1,000 in two working days, and up to 5,000 in three to five working days, all from artwork approval rather than order date. Minimum order is 100 pieces on every tag type.
What an asset tag has to carry in Kenya
Kenyan tender specifications are consistent about this, and private-sector buyers want the same things. Every tag we produce carries four elements as standard, with full-colour logo printing included at no surcharge:
- Your organisation's logo, printed in full colour.
- A unique asset number, sequential, in your own numbering convention: we print to match the register your finance team already works from, so nothing has to be re-keyed.
- A machine-readable code (Code 128, Code 39, QR or Data Matrix) encoding that number.
- Your organisation's name.
Optional additions at no extra cost: a department or cost-centre code, a "Property of …" line, a location or building code, a return-if-found instruction, or a funding-source line for donor-funded equipment.
The nine asset tag types, compared
| Tag type | Best for | Environment | From price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium barcode asset tags | General fixed assets, IT, furniture, plant | Indoor and outdoor, 9+ years | KSh 50 excl. VAT |
| Aluminium QR code asset tags | Teams scanning with a smartphone | Indoor and outdoor | KSh 55 excl. VAT |
| Acetone-activated aluminium tags | Assets that must keep their identity | Indoor, outdoor, industrial | KSh 60 excl. VAT |
| Tamper-evident asset tags | Theft, transfer and custody risk | Indoor and sheltered | KSh 55 excl. VAT |
| Polyester / vinyl asset labels | High-volume indoor rollouts, curved items | Indoor and sheltered | KSh 35 excl. VAT |
| Riveted asset tags | Oily, vibrating and field equipment | Harsh, outdoor, wash-down | Quote on request |
| RFID asset tags | Large populations counted often | Indoor and industrial | Quote on request |
| On-metal RFID tags | RFID mounted directly on metal | Industrial, indoor and outdoor | Quote on request |
| Stainless steel asset tags | Marine, chemical, extreme heat | Extreme, decades-long life | Quote on request |
Aluminium Barcode Asset Tags
Hard-wearing aluminium barcode tags for clear, dependable asset identification.
Aluminium QR Code Asset Tags
Durable aluminium QR code tags that connect physical assets to digital records.
Acetone-Activated Asset Tags
Asset tags designed for a permanent bond where removal resistance matters.
Tamper-Evident Asset Labels
Labels that provide visible evidence when an identification mark has been disturbed.
Polyester & Vinyl Asset Labels
Versatile printed labels for controlled indoor applications and everyday equipment.
Riveted Asset Tags
Robust asset tags mechanically fixed for equipment operating in demanding conditions.
RFID Asset Tags
RFID tags for faster, contactless identification across asset populations.
On-Metal RFID Tags
Purpose-built RFID tags for reliable reads when mounted directly on metal assets.
Stainless Steel Asset Tags
Resilient stainless steel tags for harsh conditions and long service life.
Matching the tag to the Kenyan environment
Kenya puts specific demands on an asset tag, and a specification written for a temperate climate will not survive here.
Altitude and UV. Nairobi sits at 1,795 metres and UV intensity is high year-round. Printed polyester and thermal labels fade visibly within a year outdoors. Anodised aluminium holds for nine years or more, because the print sits in the anodised layer rather than on top of it.
Coastal salt. Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Malindi are corrosive environments. Adhesive fails faster, and the tag itself must be anodised aluminium or stainless steel. We specify acetone-activated bonding as standard for coastal installations.
Dust and long dry seasons. In Turkana, Marsabit, Garissa and much of the north, airborne dust abrades a printed surface and contaminates any adhesive applied without proper surface preparation. Riveted tags are the reliable answer for field equipment in these counties.
Temperature. Our aluminium tags are rated -40°C to +120°C, which covers everything from a cold room in a Naivasha flower farm to an engine bay on a Mombasa Road truck.
Rural humidity and rain. Western Kenya and the highlands see sustained wet seasons. Indoor polyester is fine. Anything exposed needs aluminium.
Choosing the right asset tag in five steps
- 1
Start with the environment
Indoor and sheltered assets can use polyester or vinyl labels. Anything exposed to sun, rain or industrial conditions should be anodised aluminium or stainless steel.
- 2
Then look at the surface
Smooth and flat suits adhesive aluminium. Curved or narrow suits polyester. Oily, textured or vibrating surfaces need riveted tags.
- 3
Decide what failure you are protecting against
If the risk is the tag falling off, choose acetone-activated. If the risk is someone moving the tag to another asset, choose tamper-evident.
- 4
Match the scanning method to your team
Barcode suits teams with scanners, QR suits teams with phones, and RFID only earns its cost above roughly 2,000 assets counted more than once a year.
- 5
Finish with size and budget
39 × 13 mm is the anchor price; larger sizes are priced by area. Use the calculator on any product page to see the full figure including VAT before you ask for a quote.
Published prices, no quote form required
| Tag type (39 × 13 mm) | From price |
|---|---|
| Aluminium Barcode Asset Tags | KSh 50 excl. VAT |
| Aluminium QR Code Asset Tags | KSh 55 excl. VAT |
| Acetone-Activated Aluminium Asset Tags | KSh 60 excl. VAT |
| Tamper-Evident Asset Tags | KSh 55 excl. VAT |
| Polyester / Vinyl Barcode Asset Tags | KSh 35 excl. VAT |
Every price on this site is the real price. Ask five asset tagging companies in Nairobi what a tag costs and you will get five quote forms and no numbers. We publish the full ladder by product and size, so you can build a budget, raise a requisition and compare suppliers before you speak to anyone. If procurement needs a formal quotation on letterhead, we send one the same day, but you should not need one simply to find out a price. See the full asset tag price list.
Supplying asset tags for tenders and institutional procurement
Much of the asset tagging work in Kenya is procured through formal tender. If you are writing a specification, our ready-to-use asset tag specification gives you the clauses, materials and register fields to paste straight into your document.
If you are evaluating bids, our compliance documents (Certificate of Incorporation, KRA PIN, valid Tax Compliance Certificate, CR-12 issued within three months, business permit, audited accounts and reference letters) are current and shared directly with your procurement team within four working hours of your RFQ or RFP email. We do not publish them online, because document fraud is common in this sector and published certificates get copied and misused.
Not sure which tag you need?
Question 1 of 4
Where do these assets live?
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Questions about asset tag types and prices
What do asset tags cost in Kenya?
From KSh 35 per tag excluding VAT for polyester at our 39 × 13 mm anchor size, up to KSh 175 for a large tamper-evident aluminium tag. Aluminium barcode tags start at KSh 50. Minimum order is 100 pieces on every type, and full-colour logo printing is included. Our published price list shows every size and material.
published price listWhich asset tag is most commonly used in Kenya?
Anodised aluminium barcode tags at 39 × 13 mm or 50 × 20 mm. They handle the UV, they survive cleaning and handling, they work indoors and outdoors, and they are what most Kenyan tender specifications call for. For indoor-only office assets, polyester at KSh 35 does the same job for less.
aluminium asset tagsCan you supply asset tags outside Nairobi?
Yes, countrywide. Tags ship to any county. For on-site tagging outside Nairobi, transport, accommodation and subsistence apply: we confirm an exact itemised figure before any work begins rather than leaving it open-ended. We also supply into Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan.
delivery locationsHow long do asset tags last in Kenyan conditions?
Anodised aluminium gives nine years or more outdoors, subject to UV exposure, chemicals, the surface it is fixed to and the adhesive system. Indoors it will normally outlast the asset. Polyester is an indoor product and should not be specified for outdoor use regardless of what a supplier claims.
What is the minimum order for asset tags?
100 pieces on every tag type. Artwork, setup and plate costs are fixed regardless of run length, so below 100 the per-tag price stops making sense. We will quote smaller batches, but not at list price.
Do I need barcode, QR or RFID?
Barcode if your team already has scanners. QR if you would rather they used phones. RFID only above roughly 2,000 assets counted more than once a year: below that it costs several times as much and saves nothing. We will tell you if you do not need it.
barcode asset tagsCan you print our existing asset numbers?
Yes. Send your numbering convention, prefix and starting number, or the tag-number column from your existing register, and we print to match exactly. We return a digital tag-number schedule as CSV or Excel with every order.
What goes wrong with cheap asset tags?
Thermal and inkjet-printed labels fade and rub off, usually within a year. Adhesive labels fail on oily, textured or vibrating surfaces. Undersized barcodes will not scan reliably. And a tag with no unique number against a register line identifies nothing, which is the failure that actually costs money, because it is invisible until the audit.
How soon can we get tags?
Same day up to 200 tags, two working days up to 1,000, three to five working days up to 5,000. All from artwork approval. Approving the proof quickly is the fastest way to speed up delivery.
Can we see a sample before ordering?
Yes, free. We send physical aluminium, acetone-activated, tamper-evident and polyester tags so you can test the bond on your own equipment. Free to collect from our Harambee Avenue office, KSh 300 delivery within Nairobi CBD, elsewhere confirmed before dispatch.
request samplesNeed another answer? Browse the complete FAQ.
Discuss your asset identification requirement
Tell us what you need tagged, how many assets you have and where they are used.