How much does a PCB cost?

A 50×50 mm 2-layer board at qty 10 is roughly $5–20 depending on fab. Cost scales with area × layers × quantity, plus a base fee.

Which fab is cheapest?

JLCPCB is typically cheapest for standard 2-4 layer boards at 5-100 pcs. PCBWay is competitive and better for advanced options. OSH Park is best for small US prototype runs.

Why is a 4-layer board twice the price of a 2-layer?

Doubles the copper etching, drilling, and lamination steps. The dielectric cores add material cost too.

Do fabs charge for setup?

Yes — every order includes a base setup cost that covers tooling, film, and machine time. This is why 100 pcs isn't 10× the price of 10 pcs.

PCB Cost Estimator (JLCPCB, PCBWay, OSH Park)

Estimate PCB fabrication cost by board size, layer count, quantity, and finish. Indicative pricing across major fabs.

LENGTH

WIDTH

LAYERS

QUANTITY

pcs

Result

~$5.00 at JLCPCB

50×50 mm · 2L · 10 pcs · $0.50/board

JLCPCB: $5.00 total · $0.50/pc
PCBWay: $9.00 total · $0.90/pc
OSH Park: $232.50 total · $23.25/pc

Indicative pricing based on public rate sheets. Actual quote depends on finish, min trace/space, lead time, and promotions.

Design a board within this budget →

JLCPCB: Cheapest at 5–100 qty for 2–4 layer boards. Standard 5-day lead.

PCBWay: Similar to JLCPCB. Better for advanced options (impedance-controlled, flex).

OSH Park: Purple boards, 3-of-a-kind. Priced per in². Higher unit cost, no setup fees.

Method & assumptions

Model: per-fab base + (area × layers × per-cm² rate) + (quantity × per-piece). OSH Park is per-in², sold in packs of 3.

Indicative only. Actual pricing depends on surface finish (HASL vs ENIG), minimum trace/space, lead time, controlled impedance, and current promotions. For a real quote, upload Gerbers to the fab's own quoter.

JLCPCB vs PCBWay vs OSH Park

JLCPCB: cheapest at 5–100 pcs for 2–4 layer standard boards, 5-day lead is standard. PCBWay: similar pricing, better for advanced options (impedance-controlled, flex, aluminum). OSH Park: prototype-oriented, purple boards, higher per-unit but no setup fees, US-based, comes in threes.

How PCB pricing scales

Cost is dominated by area × layers. Doubling board area roughly doubles cost. Going from 2 to 4 layers roughly doubles cost. Doubling quantity from 5 → 10 pcs typically only adds ~30% — the fab's setup fee dominates at low quantities.

Where the estimate might be wrong

This estimator ignores: surface finish (ENIG adds ~30–50%), impedance control (adds $10–30 setup), 5-mil trace/space vs 6-mil (small difference), and expedited shipping (can double total). For any project above ~$100, get the fab's actual quote before ordering.

Frequently asked

How much does a PCB cost?: A 50×50 mm 2-layer board at qty 10 is roughly $5–20 depending on fab. Cost scales with area × layers × quantity, plus a base fee.
Which fab is cheapest?: JLCPCB is typically cheapest for standard 2-4 layer boards at 5-100 pcs. PCBWay is competitive and better for advanced options. OSH Park is best for small US prototype runs.
Why is a 4-layer board twice the price of a 2-layer?: Doubles the copper etching, drilling, and lamination steps. The dielectric cores add material cost too.
Do fabs charge for setup?: Yes — every order includes a base setup cost that covers tooling, film, and machine time. This is why 100 pcs isn't 10× the price of 10 pcs.

Next step

Board size drives most of the price. Tell PCBEditor the largest size you will pay for and it lays the parts out within it.