How Much Does an EAS System Cost? UK 2026 Guide
A straight answer to the question retailers always ask. EAS system pricing varies by store size, technology choice and install complexity, but this guide gives real UK 2026 numbers you can take to your budget meeting.
The quick answer
For a typical UK independent or single-location retailer, expect to pay between £1,500 and £5,000 for a complete EAS installation at one entrance. That covers the gate pair, deactivator, installation, and commissioning. Ongoing label costs run from 2p to 5p per label depending on AM or RF technology.
A multi-entrance or larger retail unit is £3,500 to £12,000. A full multi-store rollout is quoted per project, typically £1,500 to £4,500 per store once volume kicks in.
What makes up the price
Hardware
The gate pair (the pedestals either side of your entrance) is the largest single cost. A CrossPoint AM or RF gate pair retails at £900 - £2,200 depending on aisle width and detection requirements. Wider entrances need wider-range gates.
Deactivator / detacher
One deactivator (for labels) or detacher (for hard tags) is needed per till point. Deactivators are £250 - £600 each. Detachers are £40 - £200.
Installation
Typical single-store install takes one to two days. Labour, cabling, commissioning, and sign-off are £400 - £900. Multi-store rollouts benefit from volume pricing.
Labels / tags (ongoing)
Labels are the consumable cost that adds up:
- RF labels (8.2 MHz): 2.0p - 3.0p per label in bulk
- AM labels (58 kHz): 2.5p - 4.5p per label in bulk
- Hard tags (reusable): 30p - 60p per tag, one-time cost
Worked examples
Independent fashion boutique
Single entrance, two tills, ~500 items tagged per month.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| RF gate pair (CrossPoint, 1.5m) | £1,400 |
| Deactivators × 2 | £600 |
| Installation and commissioning | £500 |
| Starting stock of 5,000 RF labels | £125 |
| Total (Year 1) | £2,625 |
| Ongoing labels (~6,000/year) | £150/year |
Mid-sized pharmacy
Single entrance, four tills, higher-value stock with metallic packaging.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| AM gate pair (CrossPoint, 1.8m) | £1,900 |
| Deactivators × 4 | £1,400 |
| Installation and commissioning | £700 |
| Starting stock of 10,000 AM labels | £350 |
| Total (Year 1) | £4,350 |
Small chain rollout (5 stores)
Typical cost per store at this volume is £2,000 - £2,800 plus central logistics and training.
Return on investment
Retail shrinkage in the UK averages 1.8% of turnover (BRC Crime Survey 2024). For a £500,000 turnover store, that is £9,000 annually. EAS typically reduces opportunist theft by 47% (ECR Retail Loss), recovering around £4,230 per year.
Payback on a £2,600 installation at that scale: under 8 months. After year one, the system returns £4,000+ annually for another 7 - 10 years of hardware life.
What you should not cheap out on
Label quality
Unbranded labels from unknown manufacturers often fail detection tests. Stick to labels from CrossPoint, Checkpoint, Sensormatic, or verified compatible equivalents.
Installation
A £400 installation from a qualified installer is worth more than a £150 self-install. Badly positioned gates with poor cabling cause false alarms that train staff to ignore the system.
After-sales support
Going with a reseller who will not answer the phone in 18 months is the biggest hidden cost. Installation is easy. Ongoing maintenance, label resupply, and fault diagnosis is what you actually pay for over the system life.
Questions to ask any EAS supplier
- What is the detection rate at the typical walking pace through this gate?
- Are you a partner or reseller of the manufacturer? (Partner = better support, direct firmware access.)
- Can you do a free site survey before quoting?
- What is the ongoing label cost per 1,000?
- Who handles the installation - your own engineers or a subcontractor?
- What is the warranty on the hardware?
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