Lead Time for JLCPCB Order?

[trag]

It's been a while since I ordered any boards. How much time should I allow from order placement to delivery in the USA for a JLCPCB order? Whatever shipping is inexpensive, not anything expedited and expensive.

I'm thinking about assembling some boards for VCFMW 2026 and am working out by what date I should order boards.

 

[campbellashe]

I ordered some 4 layer boards on June 10th, got them June 24… using the cheapest (GOFO).

 

[luRaichu]

How much time should I allow from order placement to delivery in the USA for a JLCPCB order?

About 2 weeks for "Global Standard Direct Line" shipping

 

[Froggy814]

About 2 weeks for "Global Standard Direct Line" shipping

Agreed! That's about the amount of time it took for my pcb's to arrive. (It's also the cheapest)

 

[Sideburn]

JLC is pretty fast but if in USA the duty fees are insane.. and $80.00 order cost me $180.
PCB way cheaper but its been two months and my boards aren't here.

 

[trag]

JLC is pretty fast but if in USA the duty fees are insane.. and $80.00 order cost me $180.
PCB way cheaper but its been two months and my boards aren't here.

Customs duties were more than 100% of the cost of the boards? How does that happen? I ordered some parts from Japan last month and I think customs ended up being about 15%. Different countries I guess?

 

[phunguss]

I ordered ten small boards for $9.59 in April 2026, and there were no import fees to the USA. Maybe there is a minimum threshold?

 

[Sideburn]

If the boards you order (assembled in my case) are over $50.00 I think it is then you are forced to use DHL shipping (JLCPCB makes that your only option) which is about $40.00 plus $40.00 in duty and tax fees I was ending up at $170 to $180.

Same boards from PCBway were $60 plus about $5 shipping. But they take forever

 

[Sideburn]

Here’s the receipt from my last order. Same order was $60 something at PCBway.

 

[Sideburn]

Here’s the same order (after board revisions) but ordered from PCBway instead. It’s a bummer cuz I prefer JLCPCB and EasyEda makes linking the parts and ordering a breaze and their turn around is fast but the cost is insane.

 

[trag]

Here’s the same order (after board revisions) but ordered from PCBway instead. It’s a bummer cuz I prefer JLCPCB and EasyEda makes linking the parts and ordering a breaze and their turn around is fast but the cost is insane.

Thank you for the heads up. I will definitely compare carefully before ordering. Although, if PCBWay takes forever, maybe I need to order now... Or punt to next year.

 

[Froggy814]

Agreed to @Sideburn above post. If you're board is smaller then 102mm x 102mm then it's cheaper. But the price goes up astronomically if you buy a board bigger then that or want more then 4 layers.

 

[Sideburn]

Well.. one thing is they (PCBWAY) kept dropping the ball and then waiting for me to respond when i already had so i think at least 3 or 4 weeks of the two months its been were communication breakdown.. The reason JLC was much faster is them forcing you to use DHL. if your boards are < $50 (at JLCPCB) then you choose the global shipping thats only $5.00 and they will also be slow... about 3 to 4 weeks.

So my suggestion is if you are getting boards assembled go with PCBWay or at least check first because overall their prices are cheaper.
And if you board cost > $50 assembled then you probably definitely want to go with PCBway so you dont have to pay $40 shipping (unless you want your boards fast within a week or two and willing to pay for it).

 

[Sideburn]

Agreed to @Sideburn above post. If you're board is smaller then 102mm x 102mm then it's cheaper. But the price goes up astronomically if you buy a board bigger then that or want more then 4 layers.

My boards were small only about 50mm.. it was the assembly that drove them up to $20 per board and then forced to use DHL.

 

[Froggy814]

it was the assembly that drove them up to $20 per board and then forced to use DHL.

Oh. I've never used PCBA before, so that would explain it.

 

[Sideburn]

Oh. I've never used PCBA before, so that would explain it.

yes thats the kicker.... after you do that X 5 boards your price is past the cheap shipping / duties threshold

 

[trag]

The boards I'm looking at are ~4.5" X 1.25" (113MM X 32MM) 4 layers. I think the last time I ordered 20 of them from JLCPCB they were a little over $50 total, including shipping, but that was back in 2020 or 2022.

 

[Sideburn]

$59.00 order is the threshold for the low cost global standard shipping... once past that you have to use DHL ($40 + bucks).

PCBWay allows global standard regardless of order $

 

[ClassicHasClass]

Customs duties were more than 100% of the cost of the boards? How does that happen? I ordered some parts from Japan last month and I think customs ended up being about 15%. Different countries I guess?

It could be the shipper. UPS still owes me $600 in tariffs that they overcharged me (it was reduced down to $51, but they still haven't sent me the difference).

 

[Sideburn]

I’ve had multiple tarrif charges from UPS where they come to the door to deliver my package (after I’ve already paid shipping) and tell me I have to pay $40 for the package (pay by check only). I finally got a refund check from them yesterday for $12.00.