Ordering PCBs online in the EU: prices, lead times, VAT and customs

Printed circuit boards have never been easier to get: a few clicks, a Gerber upload and the boards are on their way. Yet a few practical questions remain when ordering within the EU: how VAT and customs work, what kind of invoice you receive, how long delivery really takes and why the same board is sometimes noticeably more expensive than the last time. In this guide we answer all of them and describe the path from your files to a quote and an order at selektronik.si.

From files to a quote at selektronik.si

In our PCB configurator you upload a ZIP archive with the Gerber and drill files. The system reads the board outline, detects the number of layers and shows the basic parameters, which you then confirm or change:

• number of layers (2, 4 or 6),
• dimensions and quantity range,
• thickness (standard 1.6 mm),
• solder mask colour,
• surface finish (lead-free HASL, ENIG, OSP),
• delivery format (single boards or a panel) and a solder paste stencil.

Special requirements such as 2 oz copper, controlled impedance or castellated edges go into the field for special requirements.

A price estimate per board appears immediately. You then send an inquiry: we review the files (a basic DFM check) and usually send you a quote with the final price and lead time within a few hours. Once you confirm the quote, the files go into production at our manufacturing partner, one of the world's largest manufacturers of prototype and small-series boards. The boards are made and shipped to us or directly to you, and you receive an invoice from an EU company in euros – with no customs formalities on your side.

Why order through an EU-based service

Ordering directly from a manufacturer outside the EU is of course possible. The differences lie in what happens after you click the button:

For companies and public institutions, the simplicity of the accounting is often decisive: one EU invoice, one supplier, one contact for complaints.

VAT and customs: what applies when importing from outside the EU

When you order directly from China or another country outside the EU, the shipment is subject to the following when it enters the EU:

• import VAT at the rate of the destination country (for example 19 per cent in Germany, 20 per cent in Austria, 22 per cent in Slovenia) on the value of the goods and the transport,
• customs duty: since 1 July 2026 the exemption for consignments up to EUR 150 no longer applies. For online purchases up to that value a temporary duty of EUR 3 per type of goods in the consignment is charged until mid-2028; more expensive consignments pay the regular customs rate (usually 0 per cent for printed circuit boards, which does not, however, remove the procedure),
• customs clearance fees charged by the courier, typically EUR 5 to 20 per shipment regardless of value.

Some non-EU manufacturers offer IOSS or delivery with prepaid duties (DDP), which simplifies the shipment, but you still do not receive an invoice from an EU supplier that fits into your normal VAT accounting. When you order through selektronik.si, the import is done on our side and you deal with a supplier based in the EU.

On our invoice: business customers in another EU country with a valid VAT ID receive an invoice without VAT (intra-Community supply) and account for the VAT in their own VAT return, as with any EU supplier. Private customers receive an invoice with VAT.

What drives the price of a board

The price of a printed circuit board is not linear. Some parameters change it by a few per cent, others double it:

Parameters with a large impact

• Number of layers: going from 2 to 4 layers makes a prototype about 50 to 100 per cent more expensive, and from 4 to 6 layers similarly.
• Board area: for prototypes the price is based on the area; 100 × 100 mm is a price threshold above which the price rises noticeably.
• Quantity: the first 5 boards carry most of the fixed costs; 10 boards often cost only a few euros more than 5, and 50 boards are significantly cheaper per board.
• Surface finish: ENIG adds a few euros per order for prototypes, and for series it grows with the area.
• 2 oz copper and a thickness other than 1.6 mm mean a different laminate and a longer lead time.
• Controlled impedance, blind vias, via-in-pad: special technologies with their own surcharge.

Parameters with a small impact

• Mask colour (green is the fastest; other colours often have no or only a minimal surcharge for prototypes).
• Silkscreen on both sides.
• Rounded corners and simple cut-outs.

Example indicative prices

Prices are indicative and exclude VAT and delivery; you see the estimate per board for your own files immediately after uploading them to the PCB configurator.

Lead times

The lead time consists of three parts: file review, production and transport.

• File review: usually the same or the next working day. If we find an issue, the lead time extends until we solve it together.
• Production: 2 to 3 working days for standard two-layer boards, 3 to 5 days for four-layer boards, longer for special requirements.
• Transport: express delivery 3 to 5 working days, economy delivery 10 to 20 days.

Realistically, a standard two-layer board with express delivery is in your hands 7 to 10 working days after you confirm the quote, a four-layer board in 8 to 12. For delivery outside Slovenia allow one to three extra days. If you need it faster, let's talk about priority production.

Stencil and assembly in the same inquiry

Together with the boards you can order a solder paste stencil (stainless steel, framed or frameless), which is essential for machine or high-quality hand assembly of SMT components. If you want us to assemble the components as well, mark it in the inquiry and send us the BOM and the placement file; we prepare a quote for assembly in our workshop in Trzin, Slovenia, where we do SMT assembly with a pick-and-place machine as well as THT assembly.

Frequently asked questions

Can I order a single board? Technically yes, but the minimum production quantity is usually 5 boards at almost the same price. We recommend 5 or 10 boards, so you have spares for prototyping.

What if my Gerbers contain errors? We let you know during the review and suggest a solution. Production does not start until the error has been fixed.

Can I get the boards in a panel? Yes – specify panelisation with V-cut or mouse bites in the inquiry, or leave the panel design to us.

Do you also make flexible and aluminium boards? Yes, on request; prices and lead times differ from standard FR-4 boards.

How do I pay? Companies can pay against a pro-forma invoice or by invoice with agreed payment terms, private customers by card or bank transfer.

Need help?

Ordering printed circuit boards through selektronik.si is designed to save you paperwork, customs surprises and uncertainty about the quality of your files. Upload your Gerbers to the PCB configurator and see a price estimate right away; if you also need component assembly, a stencil or help with the layout, we are available at info@selektronik.si or +386 40 559 605.