What does PCB assembly cost?
An open example of a real quote, the parts of the price and the ways to bring the unit price down. At the end, a calculator for comparing the total cost of manufacturing in Finland and abroad.
Example: one PCB, a batch of 100
The example shown here is a real, anonymised quote for one customer board. The unit price includes assembly and solder joint inspection.
One-off costs are paid only once per product. In later batches you pay only the unit price.
A quote is always product-specific: the price depends on the number of components, single- or double-sided assembly, through-hole parts, testing and batch size.
| Example quote, batch of 100 | Price |
|---|---|
| Set-up (programs, settings) | €300 |
| Stencil | €150 |
| PCB films | €250 |
| Assembly + solder inspection, 100 × €47.98 | €4,798 |
| Total (= €54.98 per board in the first batch) | €5,498 |
Programming, if needed, is about €300 as a one-off cost. Prices exclude VAT.
| Effect of batch size in the same quote | Batch of 50 | Batch of 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Assembly + solder inspection | €53.82/pc | €47.98/pc |
| One-off costs (€700) divided by batch size | €14.00/pc | €7.00/pc |
| First batch in total | €67.82/pc | €54.98/pc |
| Repeat batch (no one-off costs) | €53.82/pc | €47.98/pc |
The assembly unit prices are from the same quote. The first-batch unit price is calculated by dividing the one-off costs by the batch size. Components and PCBs are itemised separately in the quote when we source them.
The three things a quote is made of
One-off costs
Paid once per product: set-up (placement programs and settings), stencil and PCB films. Programming, if needed, about €300. A test jig, if needed, case by case.
Unit price
Assembly and solder joint inspection. The price depends on the number of components and placements, whether both sides of the board are assembled, the number of through-hole parts, testing and batch size.
Materials
In contract manufacturing we source the components and PCBs, and they appear as separate lines in the quote. In subcontracting you supply the materials yourself – a combination also works.
8 ways to lower the unit price
Most of the price is decided on the drawing board and by the way you order. We are happy to go through these with you even before the board is finished.
Larger batches, less often
Batch-specific set-up is spread over more boards. In the example the unit price fell by about 11% when the batch grew from 50 to 100.
Framework agreement and call-off orders
An agreed annual volume and deliveries as needed: the price of a larger batch without the stock growing at your end.
Assembly on one side
Each assembled side is a run of its own: paste printing, placement and soldering. A single-sided board is faster to manufacture.
Fewer through-hole parts
THT parts are soldered in the wave or by hand. A surface-mount version of a connector or component is often cheaper.
Panelise small boards
Panelised boards pass through the line faster than small boards handled one by one.
Standard components and alternatives
Common components and approved alternatives listed in the BOM improve availability and price.
Fewer variants
The same board with different software is often cheaper than two different boards.
Build testability into the design
Test points and a programming connector speed up testing and programming in every batch.
Cheaper abroad – until you add everything up?
The difference in unit price is not the same as the difference in total cost. Enter your own figures and compare the total cost over a year.
The example values describe a distant manufacturer whose unit price is 10% lower. Replace them with your own figures – the calculator does not store or send anything.