PCB Stackup Planner
Compare layer order, thickness and entered relative permittivity in two PCB stackups. This tool identifies only ground planes directly adjacent to a signal layer and calculates ideal parallel-plate capacitance only for adjacent power-ground pairs, assuming continuous full-board planes and uniform dielectric. Check material source/date and fabrication feasibility with your manufacturer. Defaults are invented examples, not manufacturer data.
Key features
- Edit two alternating copper/dielectric stacks with 2–12 copper layers
- Sum entered copper and dielectric thickness and compare board thickness
- Show each signal layer's immediate ground neighbor or its absence
- Estimate ideal adjacent power-ground plane capacitance from area, permittivity and gap
- Download schematic SVGs, comparison CSV and design JSON
How to use
- Set board width and height for A and B plus the date of material data you checked.
- Choose copper signal/ground/power roles and thickness; enter core/prepreg, material, permittivity and thickness for dielectrics. Add pairs if needed.
- Run comparison to see total thickness, immediate ground gaps and ideal plane-pair values.
- Confirm actual material, thickness tolerance, plane continuity and controlled impedance with a fabricator; save SVG, CSV or JSON as needed.
Use cases
- Compare total thickness after changing the core in a four-layer board
- Check whether a signal layer has an immediately adjacent ground plane
- Explore how plane spacing changes idealized area capacitance
- Prepare a layer schematic and material table for fabricator discussion
Frequently asked questions
Does this validate controlled impedance or fabrication?
No. It does not solve trace width, spacing, plating, etching or frequency-dependent loss. Check the final stack with a fabricator and a suitable impedance field solver.
Why is plane capacitance only ideal?
It assumes full-board continuous planes and uniform dielectric while ignoring fringing, vias and plane splits. The equation is ε0εrA/d; actual boards differ.
Is an adjacent power plane automatically a ground return?
No. Only directly adjacent GND-role copper is shown as a ground reference. Return through a power plane depends on decoupling and geometry.
Are example material values real manufacturer specifications?
No. Permittivity 4.2 and 0.18/1.10 mm thicknesses are invented for trying the tool. Replace them with fabricator-confirmed data and a reference date.
Are designs sent outside this browser?
No. They are calculated in this tab without automatic save or app-server upload. Downloads occur only on request.
Privacy
Designs and calculations stay in this browser tab. No automatic save or application-server upload occurs; files download only when requested.
Comments & questions