How Much Does a PCB Cost? A Complete Pricing Breakdown
In This Article
What Determines PCB Cost?
PCB pricing isn't arbitrary. It follows predictable patterns based on six main factors:
๐ Layer Count
More layers = more manufacturing steps. Going from 2 to 4 layers roughly doubles the cost.
๐ฆ Quantity
Setup costs are spread across more boards. 50pcs cost much less per board than 5pcs.
๐ Board Size
Larger boards use more material and fit fewer per panel. Price scales with area.
๐งช Material
FR4 is cheapest. Rogers, polyimide, and metal-core cost significantly more.
โจ Surface Finish
HASL is cheapest. ENIG adds $5-15. Hard gold for edge connectors adds more.
โก Turnaround
Standard (5-7 days) is cheapest. 24-hour express adds 50-100% to the price.
Layer Count: The Biggest Price Factor
Layer count is the single biggest driver of PCB cost. Each additional layer requires another cycle of lamination, drilling, and plating.
| Layer Count | 5pcs (100ร100mm) | 10pcs | 50pcs | 100pcs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Layer | $1.50 | $2.50 | $8.00 | $12.00 |
| 2-Layer | $2.00 | $3.50 | $12.00 | $18.00 |
| 4-Layer | $5.00 | $8.00 | $30.00 | $55.00 |
| 6-Layer | $12.00 | $20.00 | $75.00 | $140.00 |
| 8-Layer | $25.00 | $45.00 | $160.00 | $300.00 |
| 10-Layer | $40.00 | $75.00 | $280.00 | $520.00 |
Quantity: More Boards, Lower Per-Unit Cost
The per-unit cost drops dramatically as quantity increases. Here's why: the setup cost (panelization, tooling, first-article inspection) is the same whether you make 5 boards or 500.
| Quantity | 2-Layer Unit Cost | 4-Layer Unit Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 5pcs | $0.40 | $1.00 |
| 10pcs | $0.35 | $0.80 |
| 50pcs | $0.24 | $0.60 |
| 100pcs | $0.18 | $0.55 |
| 500pcs | $0.10 | $0.30 |
| 1000pcs | $0.06 | $0.20 |
If you're prototyping, ordering 10pcs instead of 5 usually costs only $1.50 more but doubles your stock. Always worth it.
Board Material
| Material | Price vs FR4 | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| FR4 (standard) | Baseline | 90% of all PCBs |
| High-Tg FR4 | +10-15% | Lead-free soldering, high-temp |
| Aluminum substrate | +20-30% | LED boards, power electronics |
| Rogers | +200-500% | RF/microwave, high-frequency |
| Polyimide (flex) | +150-300% | Flexible circuits |
| Copper Core | +100-200% | High-power LED, power modules |
Surface Finish
| Finish | Added Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Lead-free HASL | Baseline (free) | Most prototypes, general use |
| ENIG (Immersion Gold) | +$5-15 | Fine-pitch SMT, BGA, flat pads |
| OSP | Free | Simple SMT, cost-sensitive |
| Hard Gold | +$15-30 | Edge connectors,้ๆๆ |
| Immersion Silver | +$5-10 | High-frequency, press-fit |
Turnaround Time
| Speed | Added Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (5-7 days) | Baseline | Non-urgent orders |
| Fast (3-5 days) | +10-20% | Most prototypes |
| Express (24-48 hours) | +50-100% | Urgent fixes, demos |
Real-World Pricing Examples
Example 1: Arduino Shield (2-layer, 70ร50mm)
- 10pcs, FR4 1.6mm, lead-free HASL, green solder mask
- Total: ~$3.50 ($0.35/board)
Example 2: Raspberry Pi HAT (4-layer, 65ร56mm)
- 10pcs, FR4 1.6mm, ENIG, black solder mask
- Total: ~$12.00 ($1.20/board)
Example 3: IoT Sensor Board (4-layer, 40ร30mm)
- 100pcs, FR4 1.0mm, ENIG, white solder mask
- Total: ~$85.00 ($0.85/board)
Example 4: Power Supply (2-layer, 150ร100mm, 2oz copper)
- 50pcs, FR4 1.6mm, lead-free HASL, 2oz copper
- Total: ~$45.00 ($0.90/board)
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
- Shipping โ Some factories advertise low board prices but charge high shipping. Always ask for the all-in price (DDP).
- Stencil โ If you're doing SMT assembly, you need a stencil. Some charge $10-20 extra. We include it free.
- Setup / Tooling Fees โ Some brokers add a "setup fee" per order. This shouldn't exist for standard boards.
- Re-spin costs โ If your DFM review finds issues and you need to re-submit, some factories charge a re-spin fee. We don't.
- Custom solder mask color โ Standard green is free. Black, white, yellow, and purple cost $5-10 extra per order.
Get Your Actual Price
Pricing depends on your specific board specs. Send us your Gerber files and we'll give you a real quote within 24 hours โ no games, no hidden fees.
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