Rigid-flex PCB

Flexible printed circuit boards (flexible PCBs or flex circuit boards) offer unmatched form factor benefits but come at a premium price compared to rigid PCBs – the average flexible PCB cost is 5-10 times higher due to expensive base materials like polyimide, complex manufacturing processes, and customizations like stiffeners and controlled impedances. However, there are ways to minimize flexible PCB pricing, such as reducing layer counts, ordering in higher volumes, simplifying designs with less drilling, and using rigid-flex combinations which can substantially cut costs. Careful design choices allow taking advantage of flex circuits’ compact nature without overpaying. This guide explains the key cost drivers behind flexible circuit board pricing and provides actionable tips to reduce expenses when specifying flex PCBs for your next project.