PCB Price Calculator
Configure the board and watch the range move. Fourteen specifications, unit price, NRE, setup, and quantity breaks — with the factory rate card behind it.
Indicative estimate for budgeting. Final price is confirmed after DFM review. Rate card v1.0.
What actually drives a PCB price
Two boards with the same outline can differ by a factor of five. The price is mostly a function of seven things: the amount of panel area the board consumes, the layer count, the quantity, the copper weight, the surface finish, the minimum trace and drill, and the lead time. Everything else is a smaller multiplier.
The calculator applies those levers in the open. If a number surprises you, open the configuration summary in the right-hand panel and look at which line moved. The goal is not to hide the pricing model — it is to let you see why a quote changes when you add a layer or switch to ENIG.
Area and panelization
Fabrication is priced on panel area, not finished board area. A small board that fits many-up in a standard panel is cheaper per unit than its area suggests. A board that crosses a panel boundary, needs a special jig, or leaves a lot of waste is more expensive. Panelization is why two 50 × 50 mm boards can price differently from one 100 × 50 mm board even though the copper area is the same.
Layer count
Each additional layer adds lamination, drilling, imaging, and inspection steps. The jump from 2 to 4 layers is the biggest relative step; beyond 8 layers the yield and registration requirements start to dominate. The calculator's layer multiplier is a smooth curve, not a series of arbitrary steps, so you can compare 4, 6, and 8 layers without re-entering the rest of the board.
Quantity and the one-time costs
Setup, NRE, test programming, and tooling are one-time costs. At 5 pieces they dominate the total; at 1,000 pieces they are noise. The calculator shows them separately so you can see the crossover point. If you are prototyping, the cheapest path is often a shared panel or a standard process; if you are in production, the unit price and yield matter more.
Copper, finish, and tolerance
Heavy copper (2 oz and above) is slower to etch, harder to drill, and more expensive to laminate. ENIG, ENEPIG, hard gold, and immersion silver add process steps and metal cost. Tight trace/space and small drills reduce the process window and increase scrap. None of these are inherently bad — they are simply levers. Use them when the design needs them, not by default.
Testing and lead time
Flying-probe test is the standard for prototypes. A fixture is worth it when the volume justifies the tooling. “No test” is rarely a saving worth taking on a production board. Lead time is a multiplier because rush orders interrupt the normal queue and consume capacity; the 24-hour and 48-hour options are priced accordingly.
How to read the estimate
The large number is a range, not a quote. The point estimate underneath is the calculator's best single number; the range reflects the normal variation between a clean standard board and one that needs engineering attention. A final price is confirmed after the Gerber is reviewed.
- Unit price is the fabrication cost per board at the selected quantity, before one-time costs.
- NRE covers engineering, CAM, tooling, and test programming. It is charged once.
- Setup covers the production setup for the selected process.
- Shipping and tax are excluded; they depend on the destination and the Incoterm.
Seven ways to lower the price without hurting quality
- Use the standard 1.6 mm FR-4 stackup. It is the most available material and the least expensive.
- Keep the finish standard. HASL is fine for many through-hole and coarse SMT boards; use ENIG only when the design needs it.
- Stay at 6/6 mil trace and space. Going to 4/4 or 3/3 shrinks the process window and raises scrap.
- Choose a standard mask color. Green, blue, black, red, and white are common; matte and specialty colors add cost.
- Increase the quantity if the design allows. The one-time costs spread over more boards.
- Panelize small boards. More boards per panel means less waste and a lower unit price.
- Take the standard lead time. Rush options are priced for queue interruption, not for the board itself.
Assumptions and limits
The calculator assumes a manufacturable board with standard tolerances, a single shipment destination, and no special certification. It excludes components, assembly, shipping, taxes, duties, and any test beyond the selected electrical test. It does not know the Gerber, the actual stackup, or the panelization; the factory quote does.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is a PCB price calculator?
A calculator gives a budgeting range, not a binding quote. The final price depends on the Gerber, the DFM review, the exact stackup, panelization, test requirements, and shipping. A well-calibrated calculator should land within about 15–20% of the factory quote for standard boards; unusual materials and tolerances move it more.
Why does the price drop so much at higher quantities?
Setup, NRE, tooling, and test fixture costs are spread over more boards, and the fabrication line runs more efficiently. The unit price falls quickly from 5 to 100 pieces, then more slowly. The calculator shows the unit price and the one-time costs separately so you can see the crossover.
What is NRE on a PCB quote?
NRE means non-recurring engineering: the one-time work to set up the job. It covers CAM engineering, tooling, test programming, and any special process setup. It is charged once per order or per revision, not per board.
Why is ENIG more expensive than HASL?
ENIG uses a nickel barrier and a thin gold layer, with more process steps, bath control, and gold cost. HASL is a simpler solder-coating process. ENIG is usually worth it for fine-pitch parts, aluminum wire bonding, and long shelf life; HASL is fine for standard through-hole and coarse SMT.
Does board size affect price linearly?
Roughly, within a panel. The fab prices the panel area, so two small boards that fit in the same panel cost less than the area suggests. Once the board no longer fits the standard panel, the price steps up. Panelization and the number of boards per panel matter as much as the raw area.
What is excluded from the estimate?
Shipping, taxes, duties, component cost, assembly, and any special test or certification are excluded unless the page says otherwise. The estimate is for bare PCB fabrication with the selected process. A final quote after DFM review includes the actual stackup and test plan.
Can I get a binding quote from this page?
No. The calculator is an indicative range. Send the configuration or upload a Gerber for a DFM review and a binding quotation. The factory confirms the stackup, panelization, tolerances, and lead time before the price is fixed.
How do I lower the price without hurting quality?
Use the standard 1.6 mm FR-4 stackup, HASL if the product allows it, green or a standard mask color, 6/6 mil trace and space, and a longer lead time. Increase quantity if the design allows it, and panelize small boards. Avoid unnecessary 2 oz copper, tight tolerances, and exotic materials unless the design needs them.
From estimate to quote
Send the configuration. Get a real price.
We will check the stackup, panelization, and tolerances, then reply with a binding quote and a DFM report. No account, no sales sequence.