Why Are PCB Prices Increasing?
A Buyer’s Guide to FR4 Material Costs in 2026
Last updated July 2026
If you’ve recently requested a PCB quotation, you may have noticed that quotation validity periods are becoming shorter and prices are changing more frequently.
At Tate Circuits, we believe in keeping our customers informed whenever significant market changes occur.
Our factory has recently advised us that further raw material price increases are expected. This is not unique to Tate Circuits – it is affecting PCB manufacturers and suppliers across the world.
The reason is simple.
The three core materials used to manufacture standard FR4 printed circuit boards have all experienced significant cost increases at the same time, creating one of the largest supply pressures the PCB industry has seen in recent years.
Unlike previous market fluctuations, industry experts expect these shortages to continue throughout 2026 and potentially into 2027.
What Is FR4 and Why Does It Affect PCB Prices?
FR4 is the world’s most commonly used material for manufacturing printed circuit boards.
Whether you’re ordering:
- Prototype PCBs
- Production PCBs
- Single-sided PCBs
- Double-sided PCBs
- Multilayer PCBs
…there is a good chance they will be manufactured using FR4 laminate.
FR4 is valued because it provides excellent electrical insulation, mechanical strength, thermal stability and long-term reliability.
As a result, when FR4 laminate prices increase, almost every standard PCB manufacturer experiences higher production costs.
Why Are FR4 Prices Increasing?
FR4 laminate is manufactured using three key raw materials:
- Copper foil
- Electronic glass fabric (glass cloth)
- Epoxy resin
Together, these account for more than 90% of the cost of PCB laminate.
Unfortunately, all three materials are currently experiencing supply shortages and rising prices.
This combination has led to repeated increases in laminate costs throughout the PCB industry.
Electronic Glass Fabric Shortages
Electronic glass fabric is one of the biggest factors behind today’s PCB material shortages.
Compared with late 2025, prices have increased dramatically.
The challenge is that expanding production capacity is not quick.
Manufacturing equipment for electronic glass fabric typically has lead times of 18 to 24 months, meaning new capacity cannot be brought online fast enough to meet current demand.
Until more manufacturing facilities become operational, supply is expected to remain constrained.
Copper Foil Continues to Rise
Copper foil is another critical material used in printed circuit board manufacture.
Higher-quality PCB constructions require specialist copper foils that are currently in particularly short supply.
As global demand continues to increase, copper foil manufacturers are struggling to keep pace, placing additional pressure on PCB laminate prices.
Because copper represents such a significant proportion of PCB manufacturing costs, increases quickly feed through to finished PCB pricing.
Epoxy Resin Is Also Under Pressure
The third major component of FR4 laminate is epoxy resin.
Like glass fabric and copper foil, epoxy resin has experienced significant supply pressures.
With all three key materials increasing simultaneously, laminate manufacturers have been forced to introduce multiple price rises throughout 2026.
Why Is Artificial Intelligence Affecting PCB Prices?
One of the biggest drivers behind today’s market is the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence infrastructure.
Modern AI servers require significantly more high-performance printed circuit boards than traditional computer hardware.
These advanced PCBs consume large quantities of specialist laminates and premium copper foils.
As manufacturers prioritise supplying the AI sector, less production capacity remains available for standard FR4 laminate used throughout the wider electronics industry.
The result is increased competition for materials and higher prices across almost every type of printed circuit board.
Why This Situation Is Different
The PCB industry has experienced material price increases before.
However, previous increases were often linked to short-term fluctuations in demand.
Today’s market is different.
Building new factories capable of producing electronic glass fabric and advanced PCB laminates takes considerable time.
New production facilities typically require one to two years to build, commission and certify before commercial production can begin.
Because of this, most industry analysts expect supply shortages to continue throughout 2026 and into the first half of 2027.
Is Every PCB Affected?
In most cases, yes.
Whether you’re buying:
- Prototype PCBs
- Production PCBs
- Standard FR4 PCBs
- Double-sided PCBs
- Multilayer PCBs
…the majority rely on FR4 laminate.
While specialist materials such as aluminium PCBs, flexible PCBs and RF laminates have their own supply chains, standard FR4 boards remain the largest part of the global PCB market and are currently experiencing the greatest pricing pressure.
How Can PCB Buyers Reduce the Impact?
Although material prices are outside everyone’s control, there are several practical steps buyers can take.
1. Plan Ahead
If you know you’ll need boards later in the year, placing orders earlier may help secure current pricing.
2. Order Repeat PCBs Early
If you’ve ordered the same PCB from Tate Circuits before, providing your previous Tate order number allows us to quickly process repeat requirements.
3. Confirm Quotations Promptly
Due to the rapidly changing material market, quotation validity periods across the industry are becoming shorter.
Confirming orders promptly helps reduce the risk of further increases.
4. Schedule Delivery When You Need It
At Tate Circuits, many customers choose to place orders now while scheduling delivery for a future date.
This helps secure today’s pricing while avoiding unnecessary stockholding.
5. Pay Only When Your Boards Are Despatched
Where appropriate, we can arrange manufacture now and invoice only when your boards are despatched.
This gives customers greater flexibility while helping protect against future material increases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are PCB prices increasing?
PCB prices are increasing primarily because FR4 laminate has become significantly more expensive due to shortages of copper foil, electronic glass fabric and epoxy resin.
Why are FR4 prices increasing?
FR4 prices have increased because demand for laminate has exceeded global manufacturing capacity, particularly following the rapid growth of AI server production.
Will PCB prices fall again?
Nobody can predict future pricing with certainty. However, most industry analysts expect supply pressures to remain throughout 2026 and into 2027 while new manufacturing capacity is built.
Why are PCB quotations now valid for seven days?
Material costs are changing much more frequently than in previous years. Shorter quotation validity periods help ensure pricing accurately reflects current material costs.
Can I order PCBs now but receive them later?
Yes.
Many Tate Circuits customers place orders in advance, choose a future delivery month and are invoiced only when their boards are despatched.
This allows them to secure today’s pricing while receiving boards when they are actually required.
How Tate Circuits Helps Customers Manage PCB Price Increases
At Tate Circuits, we work closely with our dedicated factory every day.
When significant changes occur within the PCB market, we’ll always try to keep our customers informed so they can make purchasing decisions with confidence.
If you have:
- A recent PCB quotation
- A repeat PCB order
- An upcoming PCB requirement
our team will be happy to discuss the best way to help secure today’s pricing.
Planning a PCB order?
If you’re planning a prototype PCB, repeat PCB order or production requirement over the coming months, we’d be happy to discuss the best way to help secure today’s pricing.
Our factory continues to keep us informed of market developments, allowing us to provide customers with early notice of significant changes wherever possible.
Contact the Tate Circuits team today to discuss your requirements.