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Yes—JLCPCB can fabricate your board and populate it with surface-mount components. A normal order needs Gerber and drill files, a bill of materials (BOM), and a component placement (CPL or pick-and-place) file. JLCPCB then matches your BOM to its component inventory, places and reflows the parts, and combines fabrication, assembly, sourcing, setup, shipping, and taxes into the final quote. It is usually a strong choice for prototypes and small batches built mostly from standard in-stock SMD parts. The advertised assembly fee is not the landed cost, however: component availability, extended-part fees, double-sided setup, manual work, inspection, freight, and import charges can matter more than the nominal placement price.

JLCPCB’s current service and file requirements are documented at jlcpcb.com/pcb-assembly and its PCB assembly FAQ. Prices and inventory change, so treat the generated quote on the day you order as authoritative.

What JLCPCB is assembling

SMD means a surface-mount device; SMT is the process used to apply solder paste, place those devices, and reflow the board; PCBA is the completed printed-circuit-board assembly. A turnkey order has JLCPCB fabricate the bare PCB, source parts, make a stencil, place components, and solder them. A bare-PCB order does none of the population work.

JLCPCB also advertises through-hole and mixed-technology assembly. Through-hole connectors, switches, wires, batteries, or large mechanical parts may need wave soldering or manual handling rather than the standard automated SMT line. The FAQ notes that wave-soldered work can add time and manual-assembly charges: JLCPCB assembly FAQ.

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Rindion 32 Pcs PCB Board, Green Circuit Board with 5 Sizes Compatible, Double Sided PCB Prototype Board for DIY Electronics Projects Apply to Soldering Projects
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Is JLCPCB a good fit for your board?

JLCPCB is usually a good fit when… Consider another route when…
you need prototypes or a small-to-mid-volume batch you need negotiated controls for high-volume production
the design is mostly standard SMD packages such as resistors, capacitors, SOIC, TSSOP, QFP, QFN, or similar parts exact specialty manufacturer part numbers dominate and are unavailable
common parts can be selected from JLCPCB’s in-stock library connectors, switches, batteries, shields, wires, or mechanical parts require extensive hand work
you value an integrated online quote for PCB, parts, stencil, and assembly domestic origin, local support, strict approved-vendor control, or formal traceability is mandatory
you can perform bring-up and functional testing yourself factory programming, calibration, functional test, or regulatory certification is essential
standard SMT processes meet your requirements unusual materials, specialized processes, or tightly controlled inspection are required

JLCPCB lists support for packages including 01005, 0201, QFN, QFP, BGA, and LGA on its service page. That capability does not guarantee a successful design: footprint geometry, paste apertures, placement data, reflow, and inspection still determine the result.

Files required for an SMD assembly order

Gerber and drill files

Gerbers define the fabricated board: copper, solder mask, silkscreen, outline, and other manufacturing layers. Export them with your CAD tool’s manufacturer-recommended settings and include the drill files. Open the export in an independent Gerber viewer before uploading it. Confirm that the outline is on the intended mechanical layer, top and bottom layers are not mirrored or swapped, solder-mask openings expose the right pads, and silkscreen does not cover pads or polarity marks.

Bill of materials (BOM)

Your assembly BOM should contain at least:

  • reference designators such as R1, C3, and U2;
  • quantity;
  • value or functional description;
  • package or footprint;
  • manufacturer part number when a specific device matters; and
  • the JLCPCB/LCSC part number when you have already approved a library component.

Do not write only “10 kΩ resistor” when tolerance, power rating, voltage rating, package, or temperature coefficient matters. Keep one unambiguous component line per electrical part or part number. Maintain a separate design BOM if you need alternates, lifecycle data, or purchasing information that should not be sent for assembly.

CPL, centroid, or pick-and-place file

The CPL instructs the placement machine where and how to install each part. It normally includes reference designator, X coordinate, Y coordinate, side, and rotation, with package or footprint information in some exports. JLCPCB’s SMT upload workflow accepts common spreadsheet formats including .xls, .xlsx, and .csv: SMT upload workflow.

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Assembly drawings or placement screenshots are not substitutes for the CPL, but they are useful for your own review and for resolving an engineering question.

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Make the BOM and CPL agree

JLCPCB’s guidance emphasizes exact reference matching, consistent capitalization, consistent side labels, and manageable BOM lines. Keep each BOM line to no more than 200 reference designators to avoid parsing problems. See BOM/CPL preparation advice and common matching issues.

  • Every placed assembly reference appears in both BOM and CPL.
  • Reference designators match character-for-character, including capitalization; R1 and r1 may not be treated as the same item.
  • Top and bottom sides use one consistent convention, such as T/B or Top/Bottom.
  • No duplicate references exist, and the BOM quantity agrees with the placement count.
  • The package in the BOM matches the actual footprint, not merely a similar package name.
  • Do-not-populate (DNP) parts are excluded or marked according to the upload format, and hand-installed parts are clearly separated from the automated assembly BOM.
  • Rotation conventions have been checked for LEDs, diodes, polarized capacitors, IC pin 1, connectors, crystals, and antennas.

Prepare the board for assembly

Audit the design first

Run schematic-to-layout checks, electrical and design-rule checks, and a deliberate footprint review before requesting a quote. Check pad dimensions, clearances, silkscreen readability, polarity and pin-1 marks, solder-mask expansion, thermal reliefs, copper balance, board-edge clearance, and any fiducials or test points needed for later testing. JLCPCB’s DFM review is useful, but it is not a replacement for design review.

Use defensible footprints

Prefer the component manufacturer’s recommended land pattern. Pay particular attention to QFN exposed pads, BGA escape and mask design, fine-pitch QFP/TSSOP pads, 01005/0201 passives, thermal pads, underside contacts, and large connectors. A package label in a library does not prove that its pad geometry is correct.

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Control orientation and polarity

Common expensive mistakes are reversed LEDs or diodes, reversed electrolytic capacitors, a 90- or 180-degree IC rotation, and a connector facing the wrong direction. Use clear silkscreen, but verify the CPL rotation convention against the CAD export and JLCPCB’s placement preview. Do not assume a preview is cosmetic; approve it as a manufacturing record.

Plan for one or two sides

Single-sided placement is normally simpler. Double-sided boards can require another setup and stencil, extra handling, and care with tall or heavy underside components. Choose two-sided assembly only where the layout benefit justifies those process costs.

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Panelize deliberately

A panel can improve throughput at higher quantities, but V-score or routed tabs, board spacing, fiducials, tooling holes, breakaway stress, orientation, and depanelization all need design decisions. In the upload workflow, distinguish between supplying a complete panelized design and asking JLCPCB to repeat one board across a panel.

Choose how parts will be sourced

JLCPCB in-stock parts

In-stock parts usually provide the simplest and fastest path for common passives and standard IC packages. Inventory changes, however, and a generic part is not automatically electrically equivalent to your original choice. Record the approved manufacturer part number, alternates, ratings, tolerance, temperature range, and package dimensions in your project documentation instead of designing around an unreviewed cheapest option.

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Global sourcing

Parts outside the in-stock library can be requested through global sourcing. JLCPCB shows a longer-lead-time signal for this option, but availability and logistics change; it is not a fixed delivery promise. Confirm the current quote and sourcing status before payment.

Pre-order or private-library parts

These options can help when you expect repeat orders and want parts associated with your account or reserved. Check minimum quantities, storage, reservation, and expiry conditions before making them part of your supply plan.

Customer-consigned parts

JLCPCB accepts customer-supplied components. Consignment shifts responsibility for part identity, quantity, packaging, moisture-sensitive-device handling, reels or trays, cut tape, customs, lot traceability, excess inventory, and shortages to you. The FAQ describes the applicable process: JLCPCB assembly FAQ.

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Order SMD assembly step by step

  1. Finish the design revision. Freeze the schematic, layout, footprints, DNP list, and assembly side assignments. Export Gerbers, drills, BOM, and CPL from that same revision.
  2. Upload the Gerbers. Start the PCB quote, upload the fabrication package, and select PCB assembly or SMT assembly rather than bare PCB only.
  3. Upload BOM and CPL. Use the SMT workflow at cart.jlcpcb.com. Specify whether the placement file is a complete panel or one board to be repeated.
  4. Match every component. Review manufacturer, part number, package, value, tolerance, voltage, current, temperature rating, polarity, availability, component category, minimum quantity, and handling or loading charges. Matching a value and footprint is not electrical validation.
  5. Review placement. Use the interactive preview or 3D view to inspect side, rotation, pin 1, diode and LED polarity, electrolytic polarity, connector direction, mechanical interference, and missing parts. Correct the CAD export or CPL and re-upload rather than silently accepting a suspicious placement.
  6. Select process options. Choose economic or standard service, single- or double-sided assembly, panelization, stencil handling, customer-consigned parts, manual or wave-soldered work, and any required X-ray inspection.
  7. Read the complete quote. Expand component, setup, stencil, feeder/loading, manual, inspection, shipping, and tax lines. Verify board quantity and the selected shipping destination.
  8. Confirm production data and pay. Save the final BOM, selected parts, quote, placement preview, production-file revision, engineering messages, and order number before payment.
  9. Inspect the shipment. Count boards, verify revision, inspect fabrication and soldering, check polarity and orientation, and test electrical operation. Define acceptance criteria before ordering if the hardware is safety-critical or going into production.

What the assembly really costs

As checked August 18, 2026, JLCPCB’s detailed price page displayed an economic PCBA setup charge of $8, an economic stencil charge of $1.50, and automated assembly at $0.0016 per solder joint. The same page lists separate standard setup charges, manual-assembly tiers, hand-soldering labor, extended-part or feeder/loading charges, large-board charges, and X-ray inspection: JLCPCB assembly price.

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The FAQ displays older or differently configured figures, including approximately $0.0017 per SMT joint and a $1.50 stencil. This inconsistency means the live generated quote, not a static number in an article, controls the transaction: JLCPCB FAQ.

Use this model when comparing suppliers:

Total landed cost = PCB fabrication + assembly labor + stencil/setup + components + extended-part or loading fees + manual/wave work + inspection + shipping + taxes, duties, and brokerage.

Joint count is only one variable. A board with 100 inexpensive resistors can cost less to source than a board with five unavailable specialty parts. Double-sided assembly, large boards, global sourcing, customer-consigned logistics, and hidden-joint inspection can change the result substantially.

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Inspect hidden joints and special packages

BGA, QFN, and other leadless packages can hide solder joints from normal visual inspection. JLCPCB lists X-ray inspection as a chargeable option. X-ray can reveal voids, bridges, or missing joints, but it cannot compensate for a wrong footprint, poor paste design, incorrect reflow, or bad placement data. Decide in advance whether your acceptance plan needs X-ray, flying-probe, ICT, boundary scan, or functional testing.

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Best Value
ELEGOO 32Pcs Double Sided PCB Board Prototype Kit for DIY Soldering
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Troubleshoot common problems

Unmatched or missing BOM entries

  1. Compare each reference designator character by character.
  2. Correct capitalization, spaces, punctuation, and accidental duplicates.
  3. Check that DNP handling is consistent.
  4. Re-export BOM and CPL from the same PCB revision.
  5. Re-upload and inspect the new match report.

A plausible value but the wrong part

Open the datasheet and compare manufacturer part number, pinout, package dimensions, voltage and current ratings, tolerance, temperature range, ESR, dielectric, polarity, and power rating. Reject a substitute when any design-critical characteristic differs.

A required part is unavailable

Select an approved alternative, request global sourcing, investigate pre-order or reservation, consign the part, redesign around an available device, or mark it DNP for later hand installation. The matching-issues guide covers these situations: JLCPCB matching issues.

Wrong side or rotation

Check the CAD tool’s rotation convention and top/bottom mapping, correct the footprint or CPL, re-export both files, and repeat the preview review. Patching one spreadsheet cell without checking the footprint can create a new mismatch.

The quote suddenly increases

Look for extended or globally sourced parts, feeder/loading charges, manual work, double-sided setup, X-ray, large-board fees, changed inventory, shipping, and destination taxes or brokerage. Also verify that the assembly mode did not change from economic to standard.

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The delivered board does not work

  1. Photograph and inspect every board.
  2. Check polarity, pin 1, bridges, opens, tombstones, and insufficient solder.
  3. Measure power rails before installing expensive or sensitive ICs.
  4. Compare the board with the approved placement preview and production files.
  5. Check firmware, programming headers, and connector pinout.
  6. Test one known-good board separately from the rest of the batch.
  7. Contact JLCPCB with the order number, photographs, measurements, and approved files.

JLCPCB compared with alternatives

Option Most relevant when… Important qualification
PCBWay you want a second China-based turnkey quote or different engineering and process options compare the same BOM, sourcing policy, inspection, shipping, and lead time; no current price is stated here
Seeed Fusion you prefer a turnkey workflow linked to distributor sourcing such as DigiKey or Mouser the service page advertises assembly from seven working days, but actual timing depends on design and parts
DigiKey DKRed you need a U.S.-oriented bare-PCB service the displayed service lists a four-copy minimum, $1.50 per square inch starting price, 5–10 business-day build time, and free U.S. shipping; it is not presented as turnkey SMD assembly
OSH Park you want a domestic bare-PCB prototype option verify current assembly availability before treating it as an alternative to populated-board service
Local contract manufacturer you need programming, functional test, calibration, traceability, regulatory support, or rapid local communication expect higher setup or unit costs and possibly higher minimum quantities

Final pre-order checklist

  • Gerbers and drills open correctly in an independent viewer.
  • BOM and CPL come from the same design revision.
  • Every assembly reference matches exactly and DNP items are controlled.
  • Every selected part has been checked against its datasheet and footprint.
  • Top/bottom side and rotation have been verified in the preview.
  • Polarity, pin 1, connectors, antennas, crystals, and mechanical clearances are correct.
  • Single- or double-sided processing and panelization match the intended design.
  • Manual, wave, consigned, global-source, and hidden-joint requirements are explicit.
  • The quote includes components, setup, stencil, loading, inspection, shipping, and destination charges.
  • You have saved the approved production files and defined how received boards will be tested.

JLCPCB is most compelling when an already-reviewed design uses readily available SMD parts and the customer wants a fast integrated prototype workflow. The decision becomes less favorable when exact parts, extensive manual work, factory testing, domestic origin, or formal supply-chain controls outweigh low setup and placement costs.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.