How much does it cost to make a PCB?

A printed circuit board is the heart of any modern electronic device. It is manufactured to connect various elements through electronic soldering and mechanical connections. 

However, it is essential to know how much a PCB costs. Whether you are producing a few PCBs or want to make different types of PCBs, various factors determine the cost of making a PCB. 

Factors that affect the cost of a PCB

There are various factors that determine the cost of a PCB. From the type of material used to the manufacturer and cost of labor, there are so many things to consider. Here are some of the factors that affect the cost of a PCB. 

Type of material used – printed circuit boards are made of various materials, including solder, fiberglass, inks, and others. These materials can affect the way the board reacts to heat. Hence, this affects the cost of producing a board. 

PCB number of layers and size – circuit board with more than one-layer costs more than a single-sided printed circuit board. Also, bigger boards are more expensive than smaller printed circuit boards. 

Size of board holes – printed circuit boards have a hole that can increase production costs. This is because the holes need precise drilling, and they help the PCB fit together. 

Turnaround time – some PCB manufacturers build circuit boards with a quick turnaround time. So, if you want your PCBs manufactured quickly, you may need to pay more. 

Cost of labor – labor cost is another factor affecting a PCB’s cost. Since you do not want to deal with inexperienced people, you should expect to pay more when you hire experienced workers. 

PCB design

When designing a new product, there are chances that you will need to hire a PCB designer to help you create a board. If you need to recruit a designer, you need to figure out their rates. 

Even though designing a PCB depends on the designer, some factors affect the cost. First, providing the engineer with enough information about what you need is important. 

For example, the designer needs a schematic of the PCB. This is a document that tells a lot about the circuit board you need. Moreover, it will help the designer figure out how much work is needed. 

Another factor determining PCB design cost is BOM or Bill of materials. This is a document that contains a list of materials to be used in creating the circuit board. 

The other thing that will determine PCB design cost is mechanical information. This is information that focuses on the dimensions of the printed circuit board. 

With the above information, the PCB designer will have an idea of what the final product should look like. Also, they should be able to quote how much it should cost. 

If you do not have the required information, you may need to hire someone before designing to get the files ready. This will ensure you do not incur extra costs just because you did not get the required information on time. 

Other factors that determine the PCB design cost include completion date, whether you have an internal component library, and your PCB cost estimate. 

You need to understand that most PCB designers charge by the hour. Hence, the quote you get estimates the hours it might take to complete the design. However, you must understand that design completion includes library component creation, critical placement, placement, routing, and output file generation. 

For instance, if the quote is 60 hours for a PCB board and the cost is $100 per hour, then you should expect your board to cost around $6000 to design. Nevertheless, most designers who specialize in PCB design charge between $90 and $150 an hour. 

Hence, you should be suspicious if you get a quote that seems too low. The design cost might have extra costs later. 

PCB manufacturing

Once you understand PCB design cost, the next is to know PCB manufacturing cost. Just like PCB design, various factors determine the cost of PCB manufacturing. 

But generally, manufacturing a printed circuit board costs between $15 to $60. Nevertheless, the actual price is determined by the manufacturer. Hence, it can be lower or higher depending on the size of the board, components, type of materials and manufacturing process, such as surface finishing, drilling hole and CNC milling.

In some cases, smaller printed circuit boards may cost more than bigger printed circuit boards. This is because they need more hours to ensure all the elements are working as expected. 

PCB assembly

PCB assembly costs include technology, cost of labor, turnaround time, packing of parts, and quantity of PCBs needed. PCB assembly costs range from $15 to $60 based on the number of units manufactured. 

Nevertheless, the cost of PCB assembly varies from one manufacturer to another. If you engage an experienced company, you should expect to pay more. 

In addition, you should look for ways how you can cut down on PCB assembly costs. For instance, you need to determine the size and shape of your PCB, and what kind of tests need to be done, from general PCB testing methods to the usb compliance test. This will help you reduce and get the general idea of the costs when manufacturing.

In addition, you should look for ways how you can cut down on PCB assembly costs. For instance, you need to determine the size and shape of your PCB. This will help you reduce the costs when manufacturing.

Bottom-line

In conclusion, how much it costs to make a PCB is affected by many factors. Hence, it is important to understand all the manufacturing steps and the measures you can take to reduce the costs. 

Also, selecting a company that meets your needs and your budget is important. If you are looking for measures on how you can reduce costs, you can design a PCB with a few unique parts.