Laser-cut stainless steel stencils for precise solder paste application. Order stencils standalone or get one FREE with every assembly order.
Order Stencils NowThe critical first step in reliable surface mount assembly
An SMT stencil (Surface Mount Technology stencil) is a thin sheet of stainless steel with precision laser-cut apertures that match the pad locations on your PCB. It serves as a template for applying solder paste to the board before component placement.
During the assembly process, the stencil is aligned over the PCB, and a squeegee draws solder paste across the surface. The paste passes through the apertures and deposits precisely onto each pad. This ensures uniform, consistent solder deposits — critical for reliable solder joints, especially with fine-pitch components like QFPs, BGAs, and 0201 passives.
Without a quality stencil, you risk insufficient paste (cold joints), excess paste (bridging/shorts), or misaligned deposits — all of which lead to assembly defects and costly rework. At Mayio, we manufacture laser-cut stencils with ±0.01mm accuracy for consistently perfect solder paste deposits.
The stencil is the foundation of reliable SMT assembly
Laser-cut apertures ensure exact solder paste volume on every pad. Consistent deposits = reliable solder joints.
Proper stencil design prevents bridging, tombstoning, cold joints, and insufficient solder — the top SMT defects.
Stencils enable rapid, repeatable paste application — essential for high-volume production where speed matters.
A quality stencil costs $5–$15 but saves hundreds in rework, scrap, and field failure costs. Best ROI in assembly.
Enables assembly of 0.4mm pitch QFPs, BGAs, and 0201 passives that are impossible with manual paste application.
Same stencil, same paste volume, board after board. Consistency is critical for production quality control.
Affordable laser-cut stencils — FREE with assembly orders
| Stencil Type | Size | Thickness | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frameless Stencil (Standard) Prototype-friendly, easy storage |
Up to 370×470mm | 0.12mm (4 mil) | $5.00 |
| Framed Stencil Production-ready, tensioned frame |
Up to 370×470mm | 0.12mm (4 mil) | $15.00 |
| Fine-Pitch Stencil For BGAs, QFPs, 0201s |
Up to 370×470mm | 0.08mm (3 mil) | $18.00 |
| Step Stencil Mixed thickness for diverse components |
Up to 370×470mm | 0.08/0.12mm | $25.00 |
| FREE with Assembly Order BEST VALUE Frameless stencil included at no cost |
$0.00 | ||
* Custom sizes available. Multi-order discounts apply for 5+ stencils.
Learn from others' mistakes to get perfect paste deposits
Using a stencil that's too thick causes bridging; too thin leads to insufficient paste. Match thickness to your smallest component pitch.
Simply copying pad sizes doesn't work. Fine-pitch pads need reduced apertures (80–90%), while large pads may need expansion.
Dirty stencils cause paste clogging and inconsistent deposits. Clean stencils with IPA or dedicated stencil cleaner every 5–10 prints.
Too much pressure scrapes paste from pads; too little leaves excess. Adjust pressure based on stencil type and paste viscosity.
Poor stencil-to-board alignment causes offset paste deposits. Use fiducials for precise alignment in production environments.
Always verify paste deposits visually or with SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) before reflow. Catching defects early saves costly rework.
Simple 4-step process to get your stencil
Upload your PCB design files. We extract pad data and generate the stencil apertures automatically.
Select frame type, thickness, and material. Our team can recommend the best option for your design.
High-precision fiber laser cutting with ±0.01mm accuracy. Quality inspection on every stencil.
Express worldwide shipping via DHL/FedEx. Typical delivery in 2–5 working days.
Everything you need to know about SMT stencils
An SMT stencil (Surface Mount Technology stencil) is a thin sheet of stainless steel with laser-cut apertures that match the pad locations on a PCB. It is used to precisely apply solder paste to the board before component placement, ensuring consistent and accurate solder deposits for reliable SMT assembly.
SMT stencils start from $5 for standard frameless stencils and $15 for framed stencils. Pricing depends on stencil size, thickness (typically 0.08mm–0.15mm), and frame type. We offer FREE stencils with PCB assembly orders.
The most common stencil thickness is 0.12mm (4 mil), suitable for most standard SMT components. For fine-pitch components (0.4mm pitch QFPs, BGAs), use 0.08–0.10mm stencils. For larger components and power parts, 0.15mm stencils provide adequate paste volume.
Frameless stencils are ideal for prototyping and low-volume production — they're cheaper and easier to store. Framed stencils are better for production environments as they hold tension in a stencil printer frame, ensuring consistent paste application across many boards.
Yes! We include a FREE frameless stencil with every PCB assembly order at no extra charge. This applies to both prototype and production quantities.
Get a free stencil with your next assembly order, or order standalone stencils from just $5.