PCB Manufacturing in China FAQ: Cost, MOQ, Shipping

These answers cover the decisions to make before requesting PCB fabrication or assembly in China. They explain what information to provide and what to confirm in a quotation. Project-specific prices, quantities, delivery dates and technical acceptance are established from the actual files and order scope.

What is the difference between PCB fabrication and assembly?

Fabrication produces the bare printed circuit board from its manufacturing data and construction requirements. Assembly adds the specified components and any agreed programming or testing. If you need both, include the fabrication package, BOM, placement data and assembly instructions in the inquiry. Start with manufacturing or assembly for the relevant checklist.

Which PCB types can I submit for review?

The reference scope includes rigid and multilayer boards, HDI, flexible circuits, rigid-flex, RF constructions, metal-core boards and heavy-copper requirements. Review the capability tables and identify the features important to your design. Final acceptance needs to consider those features together, including the material, layer structure, geometry, quantity and quality requirements.

How much will my PCB order cost?

A meaningful price needs a defined scope. Send the dimensions, layer count, quantity, material, copper, finish and critical tolerances for fabrication. For assembly, add the BOM, sourcing model, placement data and test requirements. Ask the quotation to make setup, special operations, documentation and delivery assumptions clear. This site does not publish a universal price formula or an unsupported instant estimate.

What is the minimum order quantity?

Request confirmation for the specific board and assembly scope. State the quantity you need now and any additional quantities you want compared. Distinguish the number of finished assemblies from bare boards, spare components or a future production forecast. If a material or component purchase creates an excess quantity, ask how that material will be priced and handled.

How long does manufacturing take?

Ask for a schedule tied to the completed engineering release and available material. Identify any remaining customer approvals, supplied components or test fixtures that could affect the start. Request separate confirmation of manufacturing completion and the delivery arrangement. A timing statement without those prerequisites is not enough to plan an installation or product launch.

How should I plan shipping and arrival?

Provide the receiving country, postal code and required arrival milestone. Ask the quote to identify the agreed transport arrangement and which delivery charges are included. Confirm the shipment documentation and the party responsible for clearance before dispatch. Use current information from your carrier or customs adviser for destination-specific charges; do not assume that a bare-board price includes every arrival cost.

Which files are needed for a bare-board quote?

Prepare the copper, mask and legend data, drill and route information, board profile and a readable manufacturing specification. Add the stack-up, material, thickness, copper, finish and critical requirements. Include the requested quantity and delivery destination. The quote preparation page organizes this into a checklist and explains how to keep revisions consistent.

What extra files are needed for assembly?

Include a BOM with complete manufacturer part numbers, placement data, an assembly drawing and the selected variant. Identify who supplies each component and whether alternatives are approved. Add programming and test instructions when those operations are required. State any unfinished instruction as an open item so it cannot be mistaken for a released requirement.

Can I supply my own components?

Consigned or shared sourcing can be included in an assembly inquiry. Provide a line-by-line ownership list and describe the supplied packaging. Before sending the kit, agree quantities, any process allowance, receipt checks and treatment of unused parts. Keep labels and component identities connected to the BOM so the receiving team can reconcile the material.

Can alternative components be used?

Only define an alternative as approved when the responsible engineering team has accepted it for the product. List approved manufacturer part numbers or state which substitutions require review. A matching value or package alone may not satisfy the design. Ask the sourcing response to identify any proposed change before it enters the released build.

Are the capability limits guaranteed for my layout?

No. The tables provide a reference envelope for an inquiry. Individual limits may apply under different material, geometry or process conditions, so they should not be combined into a presumed build specification. Ask for confirmation of the submitted revision and a written list of any changes needed to manufacture it.

How do I specify controlled impedance?

Identify the controlled structures, target values, tolerances and affected layers. Include the proposed stack-up if it is fixed, or request a stack-up proposal if it is open. Agree whether geometry changes require approval and what measurement record will be supplied. Keep the accepted stack-up and requirement with the production release rather than only in a quotation message.

What should I include for flex or rigid-flex?

Show the flexible zones, rigid sections where applicable, layer transitions, stiffeners and installed geometry. Explain whether the circuit stays in a fixed position after installation or moves in service. Include the mechanical restrictions and any required verification. A board outline and total layer count alone do not communicate the intended flexible construction.

Which certifications should I request?

Request the certifications and supporting documents required by your product and supplier-approval process. Check the entity, manufacturing site, scope, validity and issuing body on each certificate. Confirm that acceptance standards and product-specific requirements are addressed separately. The quality guide explains how to distinguish these types of evidence without treating a logo as sufficient proof.

Does inspection prove that the assembled board works?

An inspection result supports the criteria that were actually checked. Define a functional test when the order requires verification of product behavior, and supply the inputs, software, interfaces and pass/fail limits. Ask the quotation to distinguish inspection, electrical testing, programming and functional testing so there is no ambiguity about the delivered scope.

How can I protect confidential design information?

Describe your confidentiality and handling requirements before sharing a controlled package. Agree the intended recipient, permitted use and transfer method, and request the appropriate agreement where needed. Provide only the information needed for the current review. Commercial and confidentiality arrangements should be resolved with the party receiving the files.

How do I make a repeat order easier?

Reference the previous order, then state the exact part revision and quantity for the new build. Identify changes to files, components, firmware, inspection, packaging or delivery documentation. If nothing changed, say that explicitly and confirm availability and timing again. Retain the prior approved deviations so each is either carried forward deliberately or closed.

Where do I send a project question?

Email Tina@4PCBA.com with a short project summary and the question that needs review. Visit Contact for useful details to include, or prepare the files and Get a Quote.