skin depth calculator
Calculate conductor skin depth based on material resistivity, relative magnetic permeability and operating frequency
Input Parameters
Calculation Results
Equivalent depth: 0.0652 mm
Skin depth of commonly used materials at 1MHz
| Material | Skin depth (μm) |
|---|---|
| Copper | 65.2 |
| Aluminum | 82.7 |
| Gold | 76.3 |
| Silver | 63.5 |
| Nickel | 22.4 |
Calculation formula
Skin depth δ represents the typical depth at which AC/RF current is effectively distributed in a conductor.
δ = √(ρ / (π × f × μr × μ₀))
Where: ρ = resistivity (Ω·m), f = frequency (Hz), μr = relative permeability, μ₀ = 4π × 10⁻⁷ H/m
FAQ
What is skin depth?
Skin depth δ represents the typical depth at which AC/RF current is effectively distributed in a conductor. The higher the frequency or the greater the magnetic permeability of the material, the smaller the delta and the more concentrated the current is on the surface.
What is the relationship between PCB trace thickness and skin depth?
When the thickness of the copper foil is much greater than the skin depth, high-frequency current mainly flows on the surface. Continuing to increase the thickness will have limited help in reducing AC resistance; optimizing line width, surface roughness, plating and wiring structure is more critical.