PCB Manufacturability Class Checker
Find out if your board is standard, advanced or specialty capability — before you order.
What it does: Classify your PCB design into standard / advanced / specialty fab capability tiers.
When to use it: Before sending a board out — to know whether most fabs can build it cheaply or you need a specialist.
Disclaimer: This result is a reference estimate. For actual production, refer to the device datasheet / local regulations as authoritative.
Fill in the tightest value for each parameter in your design — leave any blank to skip it.
| Parameter | Value | Tier |
|---|
MEANS —
No history yet. Each calculation is automatically saved to this device.
How to check PCB manufacturability capability
Enter your tightest design rules and read the overall class.
- 01
Enter your tightest design rules
Fill in the smallest trace/space, smallest finished hole and smallest annular ring in your design. Leave any field blank to skip it.
- 02
Add layer count and copper weight
Enter the board layer count and copper weight (oz). These also drive the capability tier.
- 03
Read the class and breakdown
The overall class is the most demanding (worst) of all your parameters. Anything above standard costs more and narrows your supplier choice.
Capability tiers (industry baselines — verify with your fab)
Thresholds below are common prototype-fab baselines framed by IPC-6012 producibility classes. Exact limits vary by fab and material.
| Parameter | Standard | Advanced | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min trace width / spacing | ≥ 6 mil | 3.5–6 mil | < 3.5 mil |
| Min finished hole | ≥ 0.3 mm | 0.2–0.3 mm | < 0.2 mm |
| Min annular ring | ≥ 0.15 mm | 0.1–0.15 mm | < 0.1 mm |
| Layer count | ≤ 6 | 8–16 | > 16 |
| Copper weight | ≤ 2 oz | >2–4 oz | > 4 oz |
Common prototype-fab baseline capability, framed by IPC-6012 producibility classes. Exact limits vary by fab/material — confirm before ordering. No vendor-specific figures are fabricated.
Common questions, answered in 3 minutes
What counts as a standard-capability PCB?
A design with ≥6 mil trace/space, ≥0.3 mm finished holes, ≤6 layers and ≤2 oz copper. That sits inside almost every prototype fab's lowest price tier, so it is the cheapest and fastest to build.
Why does going below 6 mil cost more?
Tighter trace/space needs finer etching, which is an advanced, more tightly controlled process. Fewer suppliers offer it and yield loss is higher, so both the price and lead time go up.
Does this tell me which specific fab to use?
No. It classifies your design into capability tiers, not vendor-specific specs. It never claims a particular fab supports a particular number — always confirm the exact limits with your chosen board house.
What is an annular ring?
The ring of copper left around a drilled hole. If it is too small, the drill can break out of the pad, so the minimum annular ring is a key capability limit for fabrication.
Standards and sources referenced by this tool
| Item | Value / Formula | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Producibility classes | Standard / Advanced / Specialty tiers | IPC-6012 framework |
| Standard baseline | ≥6 mil trace/space, ≥0.3 mm hole, ≤6 layers | Common prototype-fab capability |
Tier thresholds are common industry baselines (IPC-6012 framework). Exact capability varies by fab, material and process — confirm with your board house before ordering. No vendor-specific numbers are fabricated.