Contact Sales & After-Sales Service

Contact & Quotation

  • Inquire: Call 0086-755-23203480, or reach out via the form below/your sales contact to discuss our design, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities.
  • Quote: Email your PCB files to Sales@pcbsync.com (Preferred for large files) or submit online. We will contact you promptly. Please ensure your email is correct.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 3 files.

Notes:
For PCB fabrication, we require PCB design file in Gerber RS-274X format (most preferred), *.PCB/DDB (Protel, inform your program version) format or *.BRD (Eagle) format. For PCB assembly, we require PCB design file in above mentioned format, drilling file and BOM. Click to download BOM template To avoid file missing, please include all files into one folder and compress it into .zip or .rar format.

Trace Width Calculator - PCBsync

Trace Width Calculator

PCBsync Engineering Tools
IPC-2221
Input Parameters
Current 2 A
Copper Weight 1 oz/ft²
Temperature Rise 10°C
Layer Type
Trace Length 50 mm
Ambient Temperature 25°C
Calculated Results
Minimum Trace Width
0.254
millimeters
10.00 mils
Resistance
33.425 mΩ
Voltage Drop
66.85 mV
Power Loss
133.70 mW
Max Temperature
35.0 °C
Width: 0.254 mm Thickness: 1.37 mils Area: 7.30 mil²
Design within safe thermal limits
IPC-2221 Standard
Calculations based on IPC-2221 Generic Standard on Printed Board Design. External layer coefficient k = 0.048. Results include 0% safety margin — add 10-20% for production.

Understanding PCB Trace Width Calculations

Proper trace width sizing is critical for PCB reliability. Undersized traces can overheat, causing board damage, solder joint failures, or even fires. This calculator uses the IPC-2221 standard formulas to determine the minimum trace width required to safely carry your specified current.

Area = (I / (k × ΔT^b))^(1/c)   →   Width = Area / Thickness

Where I is current in Amps, k is layer constant (0.048 external, 0.024 internal), ΔT is temperature rise in °C, b = 0.44, and c = 0.725. The result gives cross-sectional area in mil², which is divided by copper thickness to get width.

Copper Weight Guide
  • 0.5 oz (17 µm) — Signal traces, low power
  • 1 oz (35 µm) — Standard, most common
  • 2 oz (70 µm) — Power circuits, high current
  • 3-4 oz — Heavy power, automotive, industrial
Temperature Rise Guidelines
  • 10°C — Conservative, high reliability designs
  • 20°C — Standard commercial electronics
  • 30-40°C — Industrial, well-ventilated
  • 50°C+ — Only with active cooling
Internal vs External Layers
  • External layers dissipate heat to air more efficiently
  • Internal layers require ~2× wider traces for same current
  • Heat is trapped between FR4 dielectric layers
  • Consider thermal vias for internal power planes
Design Best Practices
  • Add 10-20% margin to calculated width
  • Account for manufacturing tolerances
  • Use copper pours for high-current paths
  • Consider thermal relief for component pads

Note: These calculations provide minimum values based on thermal considerations. Always verify your design meets impedance requirements for high-speed signals, and consider voltage drop for long traces in power distribution networks. For critical applications, consult your PCB manufacturer's design guidelines.

Contact Sales & After-Sales Service

Contact & Quotation

  • Inquire: Call 0086-755-23203480, or reach out via the form below/your sales contact to discuss our design, manufacturing, and assembly capabilities.

  • Quote: Email your PCB files to Sales@pcbsync.com (Preferred for large files) or submit online. We will contact you promptly. Please ensure your email is correct.

Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload You can upload up to 3 files.

Notes:
For PCB fabrication, we require PCB design file in Gerber RS-274X format (most preferred), *.PCB/DDB (Protel, inform your program version) format or *.BRD (Eagle) format. For PCB assembly, we require PCB design file in above mentioned format, drilling file and BOM. Click to download BOM template To avoid file missing, please include all files into one folder and compress it into .zip or .rar format.