what is pcb trace width, how to calculate pcb trace width
Hi Guys! Hope you’re well today. I welcome you on board. Thank you for clicking this read. In this post today, I’ll discuss how to calculate PCB trace width? The PCB (printed circuit board) is a mechanical layout that electrically connects different components on the board using conductive copper traces that maintained current throughout the circuit board. Different electrical components are placed on the non-conductive substrate which are soldered from the other side of the board. On the non-conductive side of the board copper traces electrically connect these components. Earlier end-to-end wiring was used in place of PCB boards but now it’s become obsolete. Needless to say, PCB has revolutionized the modern electronics that are precise and compact and cover less space compared to devices where wire wrap and point to point construction is used. Thanks to technology… nowadays, electrical devices are more sophisticated, economical and are capable of performing more functions than their predecessors. That was all the little intro about printed circuit boards. Let’s dive in and elaborate on how to calculate the PCB trace width.

How to Calculate PCB Trace Width

Before we move further and discuss how to calculate PCB trace width, let’s first define what PCB traces are, and why they are used.

Copper Traces

The base of the PCB is made of a substrate which is fiberglass. And most common fiberglass is composed of FR4 material. This substrate material is non-conductive and provides the core strength and rigidity to the board.
what is pcb trace width, how to calculate pcb trace width
On top of the substrate is the copper trace. These traces are conductive and electrically connect different electrical components on the board. They come with varying thickness depending on the applications they are used in. The capacity of the current passing through the copper traces mainly defines the width of the copper trace. More width of copper trace allows more amount of current to flow. If the PCB is a one-layer PCB, then the copper traces are laminated on one side of the board. If it is a two-layer PCB then copper traces are laminated on both sides of the board. Multiple-layer PCB can support up to 16 layers of copper traces on board.

Formula to Calculate Trace Width

The equation to calculate the width of the trace is given below.

Width [mils] = Area[mils^2]/(Thickness[oz]*1.378[mils/oz]) 

… where 1.378 is related to standard 1 ounce pour thickness. So, before calculating the width we must know the trace area which can be calculated by the following equation.
what is pcb trace width, how to calculate pcb trace width
Trace area can be calculated by the following equation:

Area [mils²] = (Current[Amps] / (k*( Temp_Rise[°C] )^b) )^(1/c) 

… where for external layer, k = 0.048, b = 0.44, c = 0.725. … and for internal layers value of ‘k’ will change and it will become 0.024 while both value of ‘b’ and ‘c’ remains same. This equation to calculate area tells us how wider the trace needs to be to conduct current without any potential issues. It is important to note that the required widths of traces for inner layers are commonly higher compared to the width of traces on the outer layers. You can use any width depending on the application. -- Know that… after designing the PCB on any software, you need to fabricate the board which you can fabricate yourself. If you don’t want to involve yourself in the hassle of fabrication of PCB right from the scratch, you can outsource the manufacturing of your boards.
what is pcb trace width, how to calculate pcb trace width
PCBWay is one of the renowned service providers. Just go to their website, connect with them, and order an online quote for your required board before making your decision for the final circuit board. We have always worked with them, when it comes to PCB designing and they have always provided best job. That’s all for today. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article. If you’re unsure or have any questions, you can approach me in the section below, I’d love to help you the best way I can. Feel free to share your valuable feedback and suggestions around the content we share so we keep coming back with quality content customized to your exact needs and requirements. Thank you for reading the article.