2. Layer Count and Stackup Complicated

The cost of multi-layer PCBs increases with each additional layer. The additional drilling, lamination, and chemical processing are the reasons for this. The price per unit increases when moving from a 2-layer board to a 4-layer one.

3. Board Dimensions and Panelization

PCB Price per Square Inch is influenced heavily by how your boards fit on a standard production board. Optimizing board sizes to maximize panels utilization will reduce waste and your manufacturing costs.

4. Minimum Trace Widths and Spacing

High-end imaging equipment is required to produce fine-pitch PCB designs. (Traces below 5/5 mil). Cleanroom conditions are also more stringent. Due to the lower yield rates, you can expect a higher cost for PCB manufacturing if your design requires extreme precision.

5. Surface Finish Options

The PCB finish that you select will affect both the solderability and cost. Lead free HASL has the lowest cost. Electroless Nickel Immersion gold, on the other hand, is preferred by many for SMT components due to its oxidation resistance and flat surface.

Learn more about Surface Finish Options

(ENEPIG PCB Manufacturing KnownPCB)

6. Order volume / PCB Mass productions

There is a huge price difference between prototyping compared to mass-production. The "economies-of-scale" benefit of large orders is that setup costs, such as tooling and photolithography, are spread across thousands of boards. This lowers the price of each board.

7. Advanced Drill Technology

Complexity is added by incorporating HDI technology (High Density Interconnect,) or blind vias. This requires sequential lamination and a laser drill, which is significantly more expensive than through-hole drilling.