What 26-Bit H10301 Is: The Open Industry Standard
H10301 is the formal designation for the 26-bit Wiegand format originally published by HID Corporation and subsequently adopted industry-wide as an open specification. Unlike proprietary extended formats — such as HID Corporate 1000 48-bit or the range of HID custom bit-length formats — H10301 is not controlled by any single manufacturer. Any reader that decodes Wiegand output can interpret a 26-bit credential without licensing, configuration, or reader firmware updates.
The result is the highest-volume proximity format in existence. Panels and readers from HID, Lenel, Software House, Bosch, Gallagher, Kantech, and dozens of other manufacturers accept 26-bit credentials out of the box. If you are commissioning a new site, verifying compatibility with an existing fleet, or procuring replacement cards at scale, identifying whether your system runs H10301 takes a matter of minutes and usually reveals the answer is yes.
The open nature of H10301 is what makes it the default choice for facilities managers, systems integrators, and security consultants alike. When a format has no licence fees, no manufacturer lock-in, and no proprietary reader firmware dependency, procurement becomes a straightforward supplier comparison rather than a managed-relationship exercise. That practical freedom is why H10301 remains dominant decades after its introduction, even as higher-security smart-card formats have proliferated alongside it.
Field Layout: Facility Code, Card Number, and Parity
A 26-bit H10301 credential transmits exactly 26 bits in a fixed structure. Bit 1 is an even parity bit covering bits 2–13. Bits 2–9 carry the 8-bit facility code, giving a range of 0–255. Bits 10–25 carry the 16-bit card number, giving a range of 0–65,535. Bit 26 is an odd parity bit covering bits 14–25. The two parity bits allow readers to detect single-bit transmission errors and reject malformed reads — a basic integrity check built into the wire protocol.
Understanding this layout matters when you order replacements or expand a credential pool. The facility code is site-specific and is normally a fixed value across all cards issued to a given installation. The card number is unique per credential. Security ID Systems encodes both fields to your specification, so cards arrive programmed to the facility code already in your panel and numbered within the range your system expects. Our complete Wiegand format guide covers the full encoding process and explains how facility codes interact with anti-passback and muster reporting.
It is worth noting that the facility code and card number together define the credential's identity as the reader sees it. Two cards with identical facility codes and card numbers are indistinguishable at the reader — which is why careful numbering administration matters as much as the encoding itself. A well-maintained credential register, tracking which number range is active at each site, prevents conflicts when adding cards or onboarding new locations under the same management umbrella.
Why 26-Bit Is the Easiest Format to Match
Because the H10301 bit structure is fully public, encoding a compatible credential follows a defined mapping process using documented field widths, a published parity algorithm, and a fixed bit order. That documented specification is why 26-bit cards are produced by multiple manufacturers worldwide and why lead times and minimum order quantities are lower than for proprietary formats. It also means that when a card is lost or a batch is damaged, a replacement run does not require OEM involvement or a manufacturer account.
For integrators managing dozens of sites, 26-bit is the baseline format they quote against. Where a site runs a proprietary extended format — say, an ADT 31-bit installation or an Inner Range 36-bit system — matched compatibles require format-specific encoding expertise. With H10301, the specification removes that complexity entirely. The T5577 programmable chip used as the LF carrier for 26-bit credentials is itself an open-standard blank, reinforcing the non-proprietary nature of the format end to end.
The openness of 26-bit does come with a known security constraint: with only 256 possible facility codes and 65,536 card numbers per code, the credential space is finite. Sites with high security requirements or large user populations often transition to a proprietary extended format, an iCLASS Elite credential, or a 13.56 MHz smart-card format for a larger address space and mutual authentication. Security ID Systems supplies compatible credentials across that full spectrum.
For many sites, particularly those with a modest user population and no near-term plans to change their reader infrastructure, 26-bit remains entirely adequate. The practical risk on a well-administered site is low, and the operational simplicity — one format, one encoding workflow, near-universal reader support — is a genuine advantage. Where the risk profile changes, the upgrade path to an HID Seos credential or a smart-card format is straightforward, and Security ID Systems can supply both simultaneously during any transition period.
Encoded to Your Facility Code and Card Range
Every 26-bit compatible card or fob Security ID Systems ships is encoded before dispatch. You supply the facility code (a value from 0 to 255) and the card-number range for the batch. Cards arrive ready to present to your readers — no field programming, no enrollment at a separate workstation, no additional hardware required on your end. This applies equally to 125 kHz LF proximity cards and fobs and to 26-bit payloads carried on a dual-technology or HF carrier.
For bulk and wholesale orders, we encode sequential or non-sequential number ranges to suit your access-control software. For single-card replacement orders, we match the exact facility code and card number from the credential being replaced. Both workflows ship on the same lead time. Locksmiths and security integrators ordering on behalf of end clients can supply multiple facility codes in a single order — each batch is encoded and labelled separately.
Carriers available for 26-bit encoding include T5577 and EM4305 for standard 125 kHz LF proximity, and genuine NXP HF silicon where a customer's existing card stock is high-frequency or the site is migrating. The carrier choice does not affect how the reader interprets the Wiegand output — the facility code and card number read identically regardless of carrier technology. Consult our HID-compatible credential range for reader-specific notes if your installation uses HID readers with site-key validation enabled.
Order accuracy is especially important for 26-bit because the format's finite credential space means duplicate card numbers can occur when two separately managed batches collide. We maintain records of previously supplied ranges for returning customers on request, and we recommend that integrators maintain a site-level credential register for any installation that has received cards from multiple suppliers over its lifetime.
Form Factors: Cards, Fobs, and Adhesive Discs
26-bit H10301 credentials are available in every standard access-control form factor. ISO CR80 clamshell and thin PVC cards are the most common choice for facilities requiring photo-ID badging or colour printing. Key fobs in a range of housing styles suit car parks, car fleets, and environments where a card format is inconvenient to carry. Adhesive disc format is used for asset tagging, vehicle dashboards, and retrofit installations where a standard card reader has been mounted in a location unsuited to card presentation.
Standard card stock includes a printable white PVC face. Custom print options — your organisation's logo, cardholder data fields, department colour coding, and barcodes — are available on larger runs. Lamination overlay, sequential numbering printed on the face, and hot-stamp options are also supported. For projects where visual identity consistency across credential types matters, we can produce matching card and fob batches encoded to the same facility code and number range.
All form factors are supplied in any quantity from a single replacement to pallet-scale procurement. There is no minimum order on standard 26-bit stock. Delivery includes credentials encoded to your specification and, where applicable, a packing list keyed to card number for easy inventory intake.
Ordering 26-Bit H10301 Compatible Cards
To place an order, contact our team with your facility code, starting card number, quantity, and preferred form factor. If you are unsure of your facility code, we can assist you in reading it from an existing card — the format identification guide explains the process. Lead times are short for standard 26-bit stock; custom-print runs add working days depending on artwork complexity.
Repeat customers with an established facility-code record on file can place replacement or expansion orders with a single message specifying quantity and number range. New customers procuring cards for a site they are taking over or newly installing should supply one or two sample credentials where possible, so we can verify the encoding against a reader on your system before the full batch ships.
Security ID Systems is an independent manufacturer and supplier of compatible access-control credentials and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by HID Corporation.
26-Bit H10301 Format Specification
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total bit length | 26 bits | Fixed; defined by H10301 specification |
| Facility code field | 8 bits (bits 2–9) | Range 0–255; site-specific fixed value |
| Card number field | 16 bits (bits 10–25) | Range 0–65,535 per facility code |
| Parity bits | 2 bits (bits 1 and 26) | Bit 1 even parity (bits 2–13); bit 26 odd parity (bits 14–25) |
| Wire protocol | Wiegand 26 | DATA0 / DATA1 two-wire differential |
| Typical LF carrier | T5577 or EM4305 | 125 kHz; open-standard programmable blanks |
| HF carrier option | Genuine NXP silicon | 13.56 MHz; used where site runs HF readers or is migrating |
| Specification status | Open / non-proprietary | No licensing required; universally supported |
All referenced brands and all other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Security ID Systems is an independent manufacturer and supplier of compatible access-control credentials and is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by these companies. Brand and format names are used only to identify the systems our products are compatible with. MIFARE and DESFire are registered trademarks of NXP B.V.