PCB Assembly Cost: What Does the Price Include?
Last updated on Aug 20, 2026
Note
Prices may vary slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations.
| Fee Item | Economic PCBA | Standard PCBA |
|---|---|---|
Setup fee | $8.18 | $25.56/Single-side $51.12/Double-side |
Panel (Applicable when the number of panelized designs > 1) | $8.21 | $8.21 |
Stencil | $1.53 | $8.21/Single-side assembly $16.42/Double-side assembly |
Pre-reflow Soldering | 1–1,000,000 joints: $0.016/joint | 1–1,000,000 joints: $0.016/joint |
SMT Assembly | 1–100,000 joints: $0.0016/joint | 1–50,000 joints: $0.0016/joint 50,001–100,000 joints: $0.0013/joint 100,001–1,000,000 joints: $0.0012/joint |
Manual Assembly | 1–10,000 joints: $0.0164/joint 10,001–30,000 joints: $0.015/joint 30,001–100,000 joints: $0.012/joint | 1–10,000 joints: $0.0164/joint 10,001–30,000 joints: $0.015/joint 30,001–100,000 joints: $0.012/joint |
Hand-soldering Labor | $3.58 per order | $3.58 per order |
Components | Per system | Per system |
Feeder Loading | $3.07 Extend | $1.53 Basic/Extend |
Large Size (Charged when PCB area > 650 cm²) | $57.46 | $57.46 |
Packing | Free | $0.50 + $0.00003 × PCB Area (cm²) |
X-ray Inspection (Component Quantity) | 1–10 pcs: $1.64/pc 11–50 pcs: $0.82/pc 51–200 pcs: $0.49/pc 201–500 pcs: $0.33/pc 501–1,000 pcs: $0.25/pc 1,001–3,000 pcs: $0.16/pc 3,001–99,999 pcs: $0.082/pc | 1–10 pcs: $1.64/pc 11–50 pcs: $0.82/pc 51–200 pcs: $0.49/pc 201–500 pcs: $0.33/pc 501–1,000 pcs: $0.25/pc 1,001–3,000 pcs: $0.16/pc 3,001–99,999 pcs: $0.082/pc |
Handling fee | / | ≥ $14.93 |
Single board assembly surcharge | / | $0.48 |
Confirm Parts Placement | $0.45 | $0.45 |
Stencil Storage | / | $4.93 |
Fixture Storage | / | $4.93 |
Fixture (Standard Rigid PCB) | / | Fixture Fee: $8.21/fixture 1–29 pcs: 2 fixtures → $16.42 30–99 pcs: 3 fixtures → $24.63 100–199 pcs: 5 fixtures → $41.04 200–349 pcs: 10 fixtures → $82.09 350–499 pcs: 15 fixtures → $123.13 500–100,000 pcs: 20 fixtures → $164.18 |
Fixture (Flexible PCB) | / | Fixture Fee: $24.63/fixture 1–29 pcs: 2 fixtures → $49.25 30–99 pcs: 3 fixtures → $73.88 100–199 pcs: 5 fixtures → $123.13 200–349 pcs: 10 fixtures → $246.27 350–499 pcs: 15 fixtures → $369.40 500–100,000 pcs: 20 fixtures → $492.54 |
Fee Details and Explanations
Setup Fee: This fee covers the engineering work required to process the customer-provided design files and convert them into production-ready engineering data for SMT assembly.
Stencil: SMT engineers generate the stencil file based on the PCB pad layout, selected component packages, and established industry design guidelines. The stencil is used solely to support the SMT solder paste printing process and will not be shipped with the order.
SMT Assembly Fee: An automated assembly fee calculated based on the total number of solder joints placed during SMT assembly.
Manual Assembly Fee: A labor fee for assembly processes that require manual soldering or assembly. The fee is calculated based on the number of solder joints requiring manual soldering.
Extended Components Fee: For Economic PCBA orders, an additional labor fee applies to extended components that require extra feeder setup or changeover on pick-and-place machines.
Feeder Loading Fee: For Standard PCBA orders, all basic and extended components require feeder loading on pick-and-place machines. An additional labor fee applies.
X-ray Inspection Fee: To ensure solder joint quality, X-ray inspection is required for components such as BGA, QFN, and other leadless packages whose solder joints are not visible after SMT assembly.
Handling Fee: When both Economic PCBA and Standard PCBA are available for the same order, the total price difference between the two options must be at least $14.93. If the difference is less than $14.93, the shortfall is charged as a handling fee.
Single board assembly surcharge: For bulk orders, a minimum SMT assembly charge of $0.48 per board applies. If the calculated assembly fee is below $0.48 per board, the difference is charged as a surcharge. Panelizing PCBs can help avoid this surcharge.